World History
Why Baseball Should be Taught in High School
Thesis
Baseball history should be taught in high school because it helped people through hard times, gained enough popularity to be called America’s pastime, and changed many people’s assumptions about race.
Helped people through hard times.
On April 15, 2013 the Boston Marathon was bombed and it killed 3 people and injured over two hundred. The city was frightened by this tragic event. The only thing that kept the city together was baseball. The Boston Red Sox went on to win the World Series for their city. After they won, Johnny Gomes, left fielder, placed the trophy on the finish line of the Boston Marathon as a sign of respect.
Johnny Gomes Puts 617 Jersey, World Series Trophy On Boston Marathon Finish Line
Gained enough popularity to be considered Americas pastime.
Variations of baseball were played as a folk game in many civilizations throughout the world, but the modern sport can be traced back most closely to England. Several alternate versions were played in Colonial America, including stoolball, cricket, and other "bat and ball" games. Modern day baseball and the rules first came to being when Alexander Cartwright, of the Knickerbocker Baseball Club, published the 20 rules of Baseball on September 20, 1845.
Changed many peoples opinions about race.
On April 15, 1947 Jackie Robinson was signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first African American to be signed to a professional baseball team. Jackie played in the Negro Leagues because at that time in the world African Americans could not play in the MLB. He played in the Negro Leagues for many years but when the opportunity to play for a MLB team came up he could not pass it up. The Dodgers fans and many other baseball teams did not like what the Dodgers did. But over time the fans and many teams saw what Jackie could do. Jackie and baseball changed many peoples opinions about race.