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An Introduction to American Baseball

By: Jethro Jordans

Among the most popular sports in the United States is baseball. Major League Baseball attracts thousands of fans every summer and they just keep wanting more. When it's World Series time each fall, millions watch the games on TV and loudly cheer their favorite teams.

Baseball is known as the national pastime, and there are many offshoots of baseball including softball and slow- pitch. While most people won't play the real game of baseball (pitching can be very hard to do) there are many softball and slow-pitch leagues that are fun to participate in.

Basically baseball is a game centred on skill with an emphasis on hand-eye coordination involved in hitting a ball travelling at 50 miles per hour. This is the reason that parents put their children into baseball rather than hockey or football which involve body contact. Baseball has a well developed infrastructure in America through its various leagues, little, minor, major etc.

In the end of the 19th century baseball which was based on an English game called rounders took on its modern form and became the most popular American sport. Alexander Cartwright is the one who is credited for developing the modern version of baseball rules. In 1845 he created the modern baseball field. Though the first baseball teams had started appearing as far back as early 1800's

In 1946 Cartwright and his team played the first recorded baseball game, and the rest as they say is history. Baseball has progressed from that game to be popular with both the young and old, men and women. And one of the best things about baseball or its off shoots is that you don't have to be exceptionally athletic to play. Anyone can do it.

Top baseball players have always attracted our interest. Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, and Mark McGwire are names we all know. Kids play for hours hoping to become the next Willie Mays. A lot of people love to go to batting cages and just practice hitting baseballs.

A popular attraction, bringing thousands to visit each year, is the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. It holds souvenirs that once belonged to the most famous players in baseball's American past and present. You can look at jerseys, bats and any number of other things. Any time you are on the east coast, head for Cooperstown, New York and pay a visit to the Hall of Fame. You don't necessarily have to love baseball. It's a great place to take a tour of this popular American sport, learn its history, and find out about the most prominent players.

All kinds of people continue to love baseball. They enjoy playing it as well as watching it. Proff of its popularity (were it needed) is the fact that we can even listen to baseball songs.

Article Source: http://www.bodyformind.com/db

About the author: Jethro Jordan writes exclusively for FWCDS Baseball, it's a really 'up-to-the-minute' Baseball website, why not sign up for the free Baseball newsletter. Want to read more Baseball articles?, just go to: www.fwcdsbaseball.com/articles
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