'Baseball: Then and Now Essay\r'

'â€Å"The feisty of baseball game game has immediately die beyond question the leaders feature of the outdoor sports of the United States…It is a game which is peculiarly suited to the American temperament and disposition:… in short, the pleasure suits the pile, and the people suit the pastime”(Charles Peverelly, 1866). Although baseball is still America’s dearie pastime, the mien it is processed has falsifyd greatly since it’s founding in the 1800’s. baseball was in the beginning created so in that respect would be something the boys could do to keep busy during the summer months. Now, baseball has departd greatly because of technological and technique advancements, figure alterations, and the commercialization of the game.\r\nSince its origination in the mid(prenominal)dle 1800’s, baseball has undergone umteen changes and advancements in applied science and technique. When it was archetypal played, there was no m uch(prenominal) thing as a hand used to help catch the ball. The fielders would play bargon-handed, making line drives automatic hits and principle balls even harder to handle. The bat has undergone many changes as well. Batters used to hit the ball with a bat that had a flat side. This was equal to a cricket paddle notwithstanding slightly longer and slimmer. Now, players of any succession or level use cracked that are cylinder shaped with a slightly wider section on the end.\r\nIn the 1800’s, the general public was not as safety oriented as is directly’s society. This is shown by the complete insufficiency of helmets worn by players in the mid 1800’s. Now, helmets are required by notice to be worn by the spank when he is hitting. Helmets are do of a highly dur equal, shock absorbent outside shell with soft interior overstate for comfort. Other advances were demonstrated by the change in angleing style and technique. The first pitchers threw two k inds of pitches: a high pitch and a low pitch. Then, they added outside and deep downward(a) pitches. After that, change ups and fastballs were developed. Now, sliders, sinkers, curveballs, forkballs, screwballs, and knuckleballs are telephone number pitches.\r\nAs a result of directly’s pitchers like Pedro Martinez and Greg Maddux †who throw less(prenominal) hittable pitches †hitting techniques have been worked on, and players have become better hitters. For example, the first great hitters such as Babe Ruth and paddy field Mantle would not be able to compete with Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds †the best batters of immediately. The advancements in engineering science and style have completely changed the way baseball is played, as have the many changes that were made to the rulebook.\r\nSince its early beginning in the mid 1800’s through 1975, baseball has developed and modified many archaic rules into new rules that keep the game flowing. In 18 89, a rule was introduced that if four balls were impel during the span of one player’s at-bat, the player was allowed to â€Å" notch” to first base. This was an coarse change from the old rule, which stated that if nightclub pitches total were thrown during the at-bat, the hitter would â€Å"walk” to first base. Also that year, the batter could be thrown tho 3 strikes onwards he was called out. In 1969, a regulation strike zone was added that included the celestial orbit from the batter’s armpits to the top of his knees.\r\nThese three rules eliminated the lengthy at bats that slowed down the game, standardized play, and made less fashion for controversial called strikes or balls. Not only were changes made in the playing rules, there were also many changes in the equipment rules. In 1889, the catcher was allowed to wear a dramatize leather mitt and a dressing table protector. This rule made being the catcher more bearable. By 1893, bat siz e of it and shape was enforced, and in 1975, the last change was made; the baseball could be cover with cowhide because of the shortage of horses. Because of the plethora of changes that were made to the rulebook, baseball today contrasts baseball in the 1800’s.\r\nThe most explicit cause of the changes in baseball is the amount of commercialization that occurs today. The master key baseball players of today are shown on TV and in newspapers; their replica jerseys are sold at around $70 per item; and the players make an average of $600,000 per year. Compared to the absence seizure of salary until the 1920’s, this is a major difference. In 1922, Babe Ruth made $50,000 in 1989, Kirby Puckett made $3,000,000 and in 2000, Alex Rodriguez made $27,000,000. numerous players of today play for money, not for their fill in of the game like they used to. This shows that baseball is no longer a game, alone a job. Another change is the furtherance baseball receives. Stadiums t oday can contrive as many as 62,409\r\npeople (Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia).\r\nThe first ball parks did not even have a run for spectators to watch. Not only do passkey stadiums attract viewers, but they attract salesmen and the media. For example, Hormel® does not provide 7th inning least sandpiper entertainment to show their support for baseball; they do it simply to advertise to a very large crowd for a very small price. Baseball today has self-aggrandising rapidly into a sucker for cheap advertising and money-making. With the emphasis and grandeur of baseball on Americans’ lives today, it has rapidly grown into America’s favorite pastime.\r\n through with(predicate) technological and technique advancements, rule alterations, and the commercialization of the game, baseball has changed greatly from the unorganized backyard game into America’s favorite pastime. â€Å"I think Little League Baseball is wonderful. It keeps the kids out of the house. ” (Yogi Berra, 1954)\r\n'