As the unofficial start of summer is upon us, our minds are starting to fill up with all things summer and the fun that comes with it. One thing that comes to mind for me as a sports fan is baseball. To me nothing else says summer quite like a night at the ballpark eating popcorn and peanuts, smelling the cinnamon-covered nuts that taste awful, despite how good they smell and hearing the crack of the bat that gets the crowd up on its' feet. To me there are 10 things about baseball season that make me think summer and that I look forward to experiencing each year.

1. It's peaceful.

Baseball is a slow moving game, much like the lazy summer days that can drag on. Everyone needs a chance to slow down and sitting at a baseball game on a warm summer night can be the best feeling in the world.

2. The food.

Baseball food is picnic food, and who doesn't enjoy a hot dog or hamburger with a bag of chips while watching your favorite team at the ballpark?

3. It's outside.

During the warm summer months, who doesn’t want to be outside enjoying the weather? Why not spend that time outside watching baseball while working on your summer tan?

4. The bonding experience.

Baseball just has something about it that brings people together. My extended family comes to Detroit for a Tiger game every summer, allowing our family to make memories we will have forever. Baseball is something that most people know something about, and sitting around with fellow baseball fans watching a game has the same effect as any summer activity.

5. It’s affordable.

Most sporting events are expensive, but baseball is the one sport where as long as you are in the stadium, you are part of the action. During the summer, most people want to make the most of their spending money, and watching a baseball game is a good way to spend a night.

6. It's easy to follow.

Some sports are complicated, which can turn away non-sports fans from watching a game. However, baseball is fairly simple and does not require someone’s full attention to know what is going on. The sport has a song that explains the rules. Summer fun should not require a lot of deep thinking, making baseball a perfect summer activity whether you are playing or watching

7. The atmosphere.

The easy-going atmosphere of baseball is the epitome of summer. The “no worries” attitude of the baseball fans makes for good company to enjoy a summer night with friends and family.

8. It's America’s pastime.

There are a few things that describe summer in America: warm weather, picnics and baseball. All these things have an ambiance about them that just cannot be explained and to me, no summer is complete without a baseball game on a warm night, eating picnic food.

9. It lasts all summer.

Baseball season is a long sports season and is always getting longer. While summer doesn’t last forever, if baseball is on television or streaming through your radio, a little piece of summer is still present.

10. There is nothing else like it.

Whether you are a sports fan or not, baseball is something that everyone has probably experienced at some point. Whether you find it boring or exciting, you can say that baseball is a sport that doesn’t require a whole lot of effort to enjoy and will always be a part of summer.

So next time you are looking for a summer activity that is easy-going, fairly cheap and can create priceless summer memories, consider a baseball game. Just remember to stand tall and sing proud when “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” plays at the seventh inning stretch.