For many people not addicted to the sports, being keen on baseball might be something short of insanity. For them there is no fun in watching grown-up men chase a small ball, flung or whacked by another grown-up man who clearly wanted the ball to go beyond the grasp of others. But for baseball enthusiasts, it is the greatest game in the world, even immortalized in little pieces of cardboard called baseball cards. Most treasured are Topps baseball cards, those plain reminders of the great men of baseball, complete with the performance statistics, names, autographs and other data so precious to the spirit of baseball fans.
But why is baseball so popular? The first reason is because it is a viewer sport. For the reason that it is held in a large area, it may be viewed by many persons. Even if watching is limited to the number of people who stand at the edge of the baseball field, the number is still great. Compare baseball to chess and you get the idea. If merely a percentage of the number is truly engrossed in the sports, the real fans will be more numerous. One irrefutable proof is the gigantic stadiums mainly for staging baseball games.
Second, baseball is an actiongame. There is much action, but normally in spurts, so the viewer is not overpowered. A viewer can truly follow the movement of the main players as they sprint around the bases, throw the ball, or dash home to score. But suspenseful, quick action happens fairly regularly, enoughsufficient to get many enthusiastic in watching the games. Moreover, the game is quite easy to keep up with, the players easily seen, winning and losing quickly grasped.
Next, it is a game of heroes. The guyplayer who hits the ball to beyond the field and score numerous homeruns is a hero. The pitcher who regularly outs his batting competitors is a hero. The outfielder who catches the fly ball with the bright sun shining in his eyes is a hero. Anyone who accomplishes a home run inspite of great odds, is also a hero. They may be infrequent, true, but they are there and you must watch the games to see them.
Baseball is a many player sports, from two persons to 20 or even more. It is adaptable enough that from two players one bats, the other as pitcher and fielder it can include to as numerous as wanted, as long as the area can hold them and everyone agrees to the arrangement.
Then it is a game for everybody. For every age, any status, from all styles of life: there is no prejudice or requirements. A child, a father or a grandfather and all the others between and all family sides can enjoy it at the same time, in the same stadium, for the same reasons. It makes for a great bonding not only for family members but for friends, neighbors and even strangers.
Last, it is a game of skill, guts, willpower and cleverness, all of which we hold ideal for ourselves and thus in others, too.
