[Baseball, Oakland A's]
[MLB]

by Jerry Feitelberg

The All-American game on America’s Birthday

This 4th of July America will be celebrating her 238th birthday. Still a young country compared

to China or many countries in Europe such as England and France. Without a doubt, baseball

is the most quintessential of all American sports and was the first professional sport in the Unites States. The first professional team was started in Cincinnati and the National League was established in 1876. The second Major League was created in 1901 when Ban Johnson created the new American League.

Hockey and football created pro leagues in the 1920’s and basketball came of age in the 40’s but baseball is the DNA of the American people. No other sport has the history of baseball and the stats that players put up are followed by the fans of today and they can compare them against the numbers put up by the greats of the past and argue about whether or not the players of yesteryear were better than today’s players.

All of this brings us to baseball and the 4th of July. What could be better than to go to a ballgame on the 4th? Not everyone lives in a city where Major League baseball is played but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a barbecue and then watch the hot dog eating contest from Coney Island and then watch a game or two or three on TV. However, it’s better if you can go to the game in your city and record the hot dog eating contest for viewing later then have a hot dog or two and maybe a beer at the park and watch your favorite team play and hope that your team wins. It’s so much better when that happens. You will be in a good mood for the second cookout of the day and more hot dogs and apple pie, of course for dessert, perhaps with some ice cream added. An All-American holiday menu on America’s birthday.

After the game, attendance at a fireworks show is mandatory and then conclude the day with a good night’s sleep and have fond memories of a day well spent with family and friends as you celebrate the freedoms that we have living in the United States. Life doesn’t get much better than that.