Baseball is still the ultimate American sport, most representative of us as a people. I believe baseball best showcases the individual as part of a team. Every at-bat is truly a one-on-one situation where individuals can find personal glory, yet it is more likely the hitter will fail. For the pitcher, it is he who must overpower or trick the hitter. Very occasionally, individuals are asked to sacrifice with a bunt or an intentional walk. This shows humility, or placing the team higher than the individual.
It's not that other sports do not have these elements, it just seems to me that the elements are more nakedly on display in baseball. Plus, individual games are usually not existential, until late in the season when a team is contending, and in the playoffs, of course (but even then, not until Game 7). Even then, a person is going to meet with more failure within a game. I could even mention errors, because in baseball, everyone knows it was you, yet another individual failure. There is no one else to blame if you throw the ball 10 feet over the first baseman's head on an easy ground ball.
Plus, with 162 games a season, baseball is truly meant to be a "day at the park" rather than entering a Roman Coliseum-style arena filled with gladiators fighting to the death. It is meant to be fun.
Baseball is still the ultimate American sport, most representative of us as a people. I believe baseball best showcases the individual as part of a team. Every at-bat is truly a one-on-one situation where individuals can find personal glory, yet it is more likely the hitter will fail. For the pitcher, it is he who must overpower or trick the hitter. Very occasionally, individuals are asked to sacrifice with a bunt or an intentional walk. This shows humility, or placing the team higher than the individual.
It's not that other sports do not have these elements, it just seems to me that the elements are more nakedly on display in baseball. Plus, individual games are usually not existential, until late in the season when a team is contending, and in the playoffs, of course (but even then, not until Game 7). Even then, a person is going to meet with more failure within a game. I could even mention errors, because in baseball, everyone knows it was you, yet another individual failure. There is no one else to blame if you throw the ball 10 feet over the first baseman's head on an easy ground ball.
Plus, with 162 games a season, baseball is truly meant to be a "day at the park" rather than entering a Roman Coliseum-style arena filled with gladiators fighting to the death. It is meant to be fun.