Celebrating the Thrilling Comeback of Baseball

The Status of Baseball

Baseball's popularity has seen a significant decline in the last few decades. In the early 1960s, baseball was the most popular sport in America. According to a Gallup poll in March of 1961, 45% of Americans listed baseball as their favorite sport. In comparison, only 29% of Americans recorded football as their favorite sport and only 8% listed basketball.

Baseball's popularity has gradually declined over the years. The Gallup poll from March 2017 showed that only 18% of Americans listed baseball as their favorite sport. This is a significant decline from 1961, making baseball the third most popular sport in America, behind football (33%) and basketball (31%).

I grew up in a small town where baseball was everything. There was a single league of 3 teams for football and 0 league teams for basketball. The only basketball we played was in our backyards and middle and high school. Don't get me wrong, we played a lot of every sport as kids. When your parents kick you out of the house until dark, you learn to play all sports and even make up some. However, baseball was huge. We had a league of 6-10 teams for every age group. Everyone went to the little league fields on Saturdays regardless rather they played baseball or not. It was the cool place to be.

Baseballs Demise

Somewhere right after that, everything changed. When I coached my son through t ball and coach pitch in the same area, there were nowhere near as many teams, volunteers, players, and, most importantly, fans or crowd. It's almost like the entire sport was deflating. The only sensible reason was that the pro-level teams displayed so much greed and arrogance that it disgusted the spectators with the sport. Baseball was now dull and no fun to watch. I'm guilty of it. I completely lost interest in playing, coaching, or watching the sport of baseball.

Travel Ball

And then travel ball leagues started showing up. As the age of social media grew, so did everyone else's awareness of travel ball opportunities. A passion was returning to the sport at the youngest level. Competitiveness was the driving factor. Baseball got off track when greed overtook the player's competitiveness.

You see this everywhere but especially in the NFL. When a player is playing the last year of their existing contract, and they play well and earn a huge contract, they frequently don't seem worth it from then on. It's almost like they completely lost their passion and determination to win. Maybe football is on the same path baseball was back in the 80s and early 90s.

Inspiration in Sports

Sports inspire us for two reasons. The first reason is competitiveness. Some of us are just hard-core competitors. We battle it out from who gets the front seat to who wins at jumbo Jenga. Everything is a competition. Lord knows we have it in my house. We can't have game nights, so we didn't kill each other. Sports inspire us because we are fascinated with those who are great at what they do. We idolize superstars, and for a good reason. They are usually so incredibly great at what they do that it's simply inspiring.

Travel ball saved baseball, in my opinion. Travel ball redeveloped a passion that was gone. Any travel ball parent of any sport will tell you that travel leagues are incredibly intense. Intensity involves passion. You can't have one without the other. Parents are just as fierce as the kids. It's widespread for parents to be heard screaming and yelling from the dugouts during games.

Baseball is Back

As this newfound passion and intensity filtered its way to high school & college, it eventually started making it back into the big leagues. Players were becoming passionate again. Is baseball's popularity increasing? The answer is an absolute yes. We see players becoming passionate about the game again rather than simply about the money. Ultimately is a passion for both being displayed. That's why sometimes when a professional player gets their payday, they never seem to be the same again. You took away a significant part of their passion. They were no longer passionate about getting the big contract because they already got it.

All professional sports have players that have all kinds of mixtures of passions. Tom Brady's desire is for competition and greatness. He has passed on the big contracts to ensure he surrounds himself with winners. It's been a beautiful example of success and an inspiration for all athletes.

We had major league baseball teams finally showing the excitement baseball was born with. It is the original Americas game. Social media has taken notice and further enhanced the atmosphere around baseball. The world series is exciting again. America's pastime was making a resurgence and still is today. The MLB is back!

Baseball Today

The players are excited again, even though they're still greedy. The league has energy again. There's excitement in October again. The regular season still isn't fantastic, but the postseason is. Players like Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, Fernando Tatis Jr, and Bryce Harper are pushing baseball games back into fans' interest. I'm going to my first postseason baseball this Saturday for the first time ever. There's a massive market for baseball. Passionate fans raised in the 80s and 90s are now adults who have the finances to spend on jerseys, game tickets, and swag. Seeing the energy flooding back into the sport and MLB is excellent. Major League Baseball has the opportunity to be great again.

NFL football is now the sport flooded with stupid rules, politics, and drama, while baseball is back to competing and winning. Now they need to shorten the season and capitalize on the opportunity. No one wants to follow a team for that long of a season. We need the games to be more memorable than another day at the park.

The Reason for the Return

Major League Baseball found its key to success again. Baseball, the sport, was found again. The sport still has a long way to go, but for the first time in a long time, baseball is trying to revive its energy via the game and the players in the game. For the first time since I was a kid, I'm excited about watching baseball in the postseason, and it just makes things even more intense since I'm an Atlanta Braves fan. The Braves were world series champs last year by overcoming adversity. There also in the postseason by overcoming the hardship at the start of the season. The act of winning the game has returned. The bottom of the 9th game-winning grand slams is back.

The NFL is full of star-making playmakers, but we're watching what happened to baseball starting to invade the NFL, and I wouldn't be shocked to see the same kind of implosion of football that we saw in baseball.

Final Thought

Sports have always played a pivotal role in inspiring our lives, and baseball is no exception. It demonstrates that dedication and hard work trump ego in the path to success. Losing focus can lead to swift downfalls, akin to slipping on ice, emphasizing the importance of keeping our eyes on the essential aspects, not just the rewards.

The revival of Major League Baseball (MLB) is a testament to this, with statistics showing a notable increase in fan engagement, attendance, and viewership. This resurgence is attributed to players and the league refocusing on the love for the game rather than financial gains alone. While money remains a significant factor, the equilibrium between passion for the sport and financial incentives is crucial. The MLB's comeback is a reminder of the power of sports to inspire and motivate us, encouraging fans to dream and find inspiration in the dedication of those at the pinnacle of their careers. As we face life's challenges, the MLB's journey of overcoming adversity serves as a beacon of hope. For those yet to experience the magic of an MLB game, tuning in during October might just reignite your passion for the sport. Play ball!

FAQ

Q: What is the "Baseball Back" concept?
A: "Baseball Back" is a campaign aimed at revitalizing interest and excitement in baseball, encouraging both fans and players to reconnect with the sport’s core values of fun, teamwork, and competition.

Q: Who is this movement for?
A: This is for everyone who loves baseball—long-time fans, casual viewers, and those interested in bringing fresh energy to the sport.

Q: How can I get involved with "Baseball Back"?
A: You can participate by attending games, sharing the message on social media, and engaging with local baseball communities.

Q: What are the key goals of the campaign?
A: The goals include increasing fan engagement, promoting community involvement, and encouraging young athletes to get involved in the sport.

Q: Why is this initiative important now?
A: With changing interests and competition from other sports, "Baseball Back" aims to reinvigorate the sport and ensure its legacy for future generations.