The Roots of American Disdain of Sport

Many people firmly believe that sport does not deserve a moments thought nor any form of dedicated study. Indeed, many share a passionate disdain for sport—and baseball in particular—as a distraction from the important things in life. Surely three hours in the library, plowing the fields, or engaging in civic activism is time better spent than watching a ball game. Surely conversation should be more concerned with politics and fine art than the World Series or the designated hitter. Surely conversation centered on Plato, or Joyce is more rewarding and builds more character than a debate over who will win the NL West or who should be MVP. As a journalist once said, “to love sports is to love the lowest common denominator, to be lower-class, adolescent, patriotic in a corny way.” I dissent, respectfully.

Nevertheless, if we are to assert that baseball does indeed breed national character and that it is inherently American, then we must do our due diligence in exploring why so many pass over sport as being a side-car, a distraction. After all, America's roots in the Puritan work ethic in some ways necessitate an opposition to sports. For the most part, as America was being built and was growing, her citizens did not play—they worked. When Alexis de Tocqueville traveled to America he was somewhat intrigued by American values of work. He noted that Americans did not play, had no real sports, teams or leagues. He found that Americans centered their lives on work not leisure.

Play for play's sake was frowned upon during de Tocqueville's visit and continued throughout the 19th century. The Puritan and Victorian values that were en mode at the time were particularly antithetical to sports and play. These ethics and principles have led us to seriously undervalue sports. Back then sports were not only a distraction from work but led to individual and societal moral degradation.