VOL. XV, NO. 11
APRIL 5, 1974
Bench Beat
By BROCK AKERS
It's the beginning of April; and like every year about this time, we as Americans are faced with the coming of the national pastime. Baseball will shortly be seen and heard on every station from NBC to our very own WMTH. Blind umpires will be calling strikes for the little and big leaguers from now until October.
But should baseball still be considered the national pastime? Granted it is older and lasts longer than any other professional sport, draws the most people, and still puts more players on bubblegum cards, but is the interest really still there?
The events of recent years would seem to indicate that the sport of baseball is on the decline. What has happened to the upper deck in Wrigley Field, Willie Mays, or the Yankees? In a fast‑changing world baseball has remained the same game it was over a half century ago. Expansion is a thing of the past. The only true innovation was batgirls, and that was not due to the brainstorming of baseball executives, but of Womens' Lib.
While the baseball world has been at a standstill, the rest of professional sports have been making steady advances. Football, basketball, and hockey contain two major professional leagues apiece. The competition for spectators brings to these athletics a higher degree of entertainment.
It's the beginning of April; and like every year about this time, we as Americans are faced with the coming of the national pastime. Baseball will shortly be seen and heard on every station from NBC to our very own WMTH. Blind umpires will be calling strikes for the little and big leaguers from now until October.
But should baseball still be considered the national pastime? Granted it is older and lasts longer than any other professional sport, draws the most people, and still puts more players on bubblegum cards, but is the interest really still there?
The events of recent years would seem to indicate that the sport of baseball is on the decline. What has happened to the upper deck in Wrigley Field, Willie Mays, or the Yankees? In a fast‑changing world baseball has remained the same game it was over a half century ago. Expansion is a thing of the past. The only true innovation was batgirls, and that was not due to the brainstorming of baseball executives, but of Womens' Lib.
While the baseball world has been at a standstill, the rest of professional sports have been making steady advances. Football, basketball, and hockey contain two major professional leagues apiece. The competition for spectators brings to these athletics a higher degree of entertainment.
This competition does not exist in baseball. In fact, baseball has an advantage that the other sports do not; they monopolize the summer months while the other sports battle to fill their seats during winter.
Yet, despite the national slow down, baseball on the local front is as strong as ever. Probably gaining the most support over the past decade is Little League. Mothers and fathers will never give up their space reserved in the grandstand by their sons. The kids are all so "cute" that watching them is better than Lawrence Welk.
As those Little Leaguers get older and play the game in a more sophisticated manner, the enthusiasm dwindles.. It's too bad that the fine brand of ball presented in leagues such as the CSL does not get its well‑deserved support in the stands.
If baseball is really the national pastime, the American athletic tradition rests on the broad shoulders of nine year olds.
Yet, despite the national slow down, baseball on the local front is as strong as ever. Probably gaining the most support over the past decade is Little League. Mothers and fathers will never give up their space reserved in the grandstand by their sons. The kids are all so "cute" that watching them is better than Lawrence Welk.
As those Little Leaguers get older and play the game in a more sophisticated manner, the enthusiasm dwindles.. It's too bad that the fine brand of ball presented in leagues such as the CSL does not get its well‑deserved support in the stands.
If baseball is really the national pastime, the American athletic tradition rests on the broad shoulders of nine year olds.
