The Great American Pastime?

[deanchristopher]

American imperialism doesn’t extend to politics alone. It’s been alive and well in Sport for more than a century. Major League Baseball started it all with the World Series. Professional baseball became known as the Great American Pastime at the turn of the twentieth century, but there was nothing international about MLB until decades later. Technically, baseball wasn’t even our national sport until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. Before that, the game was little more than the exclusive pastime of white people in America. Given the rising influx of Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Japanese stars, just to name a few, MLB has made significant strides in legitimizing the name of the Fall Classic. One day, the World Series may truly become the series of the world. And one day, Major League Baseball might be hailed as the Great International Pastime…

[PopTop]

Technically, baseball wasn’t even our national sport until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. Before that, the game was little more than the exclusive pastime of white people in America.

Wrong! Major League Baseball might have been exclusive to whites, but the game of baseball was not. Black Americans were playing it, and it was the owners in the negro leagues who played their own small part in delaying the color line being broken. The Japanese were playing the game, Cubans and many in Central America were as well.

[Durango53]

I think you dont take into account how many non whites played stick ball in the streets and how that is still being done.

[Thedatch]

pops said it right. MLB is not baseball. Baseball is not just one organization. Just look around you...there are baseball diamonds all over the place, and kids playing catch.

(although at college you'd think frisbee was :))

[RockieBill]

Those damn American Imperialists - you never know what sport they'll invade next...