In a day and age where football and basketball are rising as America's sports, baseball sits in the back seat as America's pastime. During the controversial period between 1995 and 2007, baseball was arguably more popular than it ever was. Fans flew in flocks to see Cal Ripken Jr. break Lou Gehrig's all-time record for consecutive games played. Fans all across America religiously followed the amazing home run chase in 1998 with Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Fans came in bundles to AT&T Park in San Francisco in 2001 to watch Barry Bonds break the MLB single-season home run record. Fans once again came in packs to watch him break Hank Aaron's legendary all-time home run record. Those were the days that made baseball America's sport.
For some fans, those years feel like an eternity ago. Now, people aren't coming to baseball games as rapidly as they once were. Some teams barely draw 15,000 people, and in some cases, not even 10,000. Baseball has transitioned from America's sport into a past memory, and it's extraordinarily sad. Fans today say "I don't have time to watch baseball games," or "I don't want to sit in the sun for that long," or "baseball is a boring sport, so why should I watch it?" Clearly, arguments can be made as to why people don't like the sport anymore. However, let's not forget about the positives.
Fans watch baseball to expect the unexpected. Anything can happen at any time, anywhere, with anybody. Basketball is predictable: someone dribbles up and down the court and shoots baskets. We know what's going to happen. In baseball, though, you never know what could happen. Baseball has the surprise factor that almost no other sport does. In the blink of an eye, the score can change. In the blink of an eye, the crowd can erupt in applause after a home run.
With the element of surprise brings level of thrill, energy and emotion. Who can forget when David Freese tied a pivotal Game 6 of the 2011 World Series with his two-run triple? That moment brought Busch Stadium to a frenzy, took social media by storm, and was arguably considered the greatest postseason play in history. Who can forget when Travis Ishikawa hit the walk-off home run to clinch the National League Pennant for the Giants in 2014? AT&T Park exploded in applause, showing that memories can be made at any time?
Those are the moments baseball fans live for. So don't give up on the sport. It is still something that fans can watch and call America’s sport. Live for the memories that the sport gave you, and for the memories it will give you in the future.
