Baseball – America’s pastime.
Baseball is one of the most popular sports in the United States, and it’s also often called the nation’s pastime. Before the age of smart phones, WiFi, and premium cable, most American children passed the time by playing baseball. The sport has also been around longer than other current popular sports such as football, basketball, and hockey. Although some may argue that baseball is no longer the national pastime, the sport is still an important part of American culture. One of the biggest events in the 162-game long season for the MLB (Major League Baseball) is the All-Star Game, also called the Midsummer Classic. Fans across the country vote for their favorite players to represent both the American League and National League in this game, which is held in the middle of July.
Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. Host of the 2015 game.
A different city hosts the event every year, and it’s a weeklong celebration of all things baseball. In addition to the All-Star Game, there’s a Futures Game with a team of young American players facing a team of youngsters from other countries. There’s also a Legends and Celebrities Game, where teams are a mixture of former baseball stars and famous people from movies, music, and TV. There’s a Fan Fest that goes on throughout the week, where thousands of fans gather to practice hitting, pitching, and running just like the pros. A wide variety of memorabilia and collector’s items are also on display. Fans can even take their photo with the World Series trophy or get autographs from famous players.
Fan Fest is a huge event.
The World Series trophy.
On the night before the All-Star Game, a few select players take part in the Home Run Derby. It’s a small tournament where players who are known to be big hitters compete to see who can hit the most home runs. Although this started out as a small event, it is now one of the highlights of the baseball season.
The parade leading up to the game.
Before the big game, there’s a parade through the city that brings the players and their families to the ballpark. Even the mascots join in the fun and march in the parade. Fans line the streets and wait with their cameras ready for pictures to get a shot of their favorite players. Many also bring cards, photos, and baseballs to try and get the players to sign. Even if you’re not crazy about baseball, it’s an exciting event to be a part of.
Players sign autographs for fans.
The mascots get involved, too!
In many sports the All-Star Game is just for fun, but it’s a bit more important these days in baseball. The winning team now gets home field advantage for that league in the World Series. If the AL wins the game, then the AL team will have the upper hand on the NL team in the World Series. Win or lose, the All-Star Game is a fun week for both the players and fans to get together and celebrate the culture of this important American sport.
Vocabulary
All about baseball!
- pastime: an activity that someone does regularly for enjoyment rather than work
- MLB: Major League Baseball, the professional baseball league in the USA
- memorabilia: objects kept or collected because of their historical
- trophy: a cup or other decorative object awarded as a prize for a victory or success
- autograph: a signature, especially that of a celebrity written as a memento for an admirer
- tournament: a series of contests between a number of competitors, who compete for an overall prize
- home run: a fair hit that allows the batter to make a complete circuit of the bases without stopping and score a run.
- ballpark: a baseball stadium/field
- mascot: a person/thing that represents a team and is meant to bring them good luck
- home field advantage: when one team has more home games than the other in a series
