Baseball in the USA

Americans have played baseball nearly since the founding of the nation. The game has survived civil wars and World Wars, labor struggles between owners and players, the civil rights movement and social unrest. Its history is abound with contradictions, a reflection of the changing American culture that the sport has evolved within. It is frequently viewed as a pastoral game, but it is played professionally in the middle of urban America. It is seen as a game among equals, but it has excluded as many Americans as it has included. And it is believed a conservative game, but often helps lead national no=s and values.

This research examines the sport of baseball, from its beginnings to its current status in American life. The first section of this essay will discuss the origins of baseball and its evolution into a professional sport. The issue of racial separatism and the role of baseball in helping break down the barriers of race will be analyzed next. A third section will discuss the institutional structure of professional baseball, including the labor disputes and controversies over the power of the baseball commissioner. Finally, the current nature.of the game will be scrutinized, followed by a conclusion of the future of the sport.

Baseball is officially recognized as having its origins one summer afternoon in 1839, at Cooperstown, on the shore of Otsego Lake in upper-state New York. This is the official finding of a commission headed by Gen

s City and Indianapolis, moving the American League teams into Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston. This move showed the American League's intent to become a major league. Like the previous interleague battles, the conflict between the American and National Leagues was characterized by competition for players. The American League was successful at luring National League players by offering salary increases and a chance to get away from the "repressive" conditions of the National League. The American League ignored the reserve clause, and the courts were generally reluctant to enforce the reserve clause. However, the biggest losers in the interleague competition for players were the minor leagues. After two years of battling with the American League, the National League owners did not want to face another unprofitable season. American and National League officials met in Cincinnati on January 9, 1903 and settled their differences. After the meeting, a new National Agreement was concluded, setting the foundation for Organized Baseball as we experience it today. Under the 1903 Agreement, both leagues were obligated to respect the reserve rights of member clubs. A uniform contract for both leagues was approved. A