Cultural Artifact: Baseball

Noah Martinez

Cultural Artifact: Baseball

Introduction

Attention Getter: “Take me out to the ball game” in the united states Baseball has become America's favorite pastime.

Thesis: I will familiarize you with the greatest and the most patriotic sport known to America.

Preview: First we’ll talk a little about the origin of the true sport and how it came to be, second, we will break down the many stages of evolution of the glove and third I’ll explain my personal experience to the sport.

Body

A) Main Point 1 Topic sentence (History of Baseball): First I'll explain the origin of baseball, growth, and baseball today.

1. Claim: (origin) the origin of baseball is shady at best, but one story stands out in American history is that Baseball originated from two British games, cricket, and rounders. The real inventor of the rules of the game was Alexander Cartwright, a bookseller.

Support: History website, Who Invented Baseball?

June 28, 2018. Alexander Cartwright’s new set of rules formed the basis for modern baseball. The rules included a diamond-shaped infield, the three-strike rule. And tagging runners by throwing balls at them was not allowed in his rules.

Impact: Alexander Cartwright’s changes made the game faster-paced and more challenging while setting it apart from games like cricket and rounders. In 1846, the Knickerbockers (Cartwright’s team) played the first official game of baseball against a team of cricket players, beginning a new, uniquely American tradition. In a matter of years, baseball became a professional

sport.

2. Claim: (growth) The early years of baseball has changed dramatically over the years.

Support: Stated in History Channel, March 27, 2013. That in September 1845, a group the New York Knickerbocker Baseball Club was founded. They were the ones that stated the rules stating for the diamond shape infield, the three strike rule and then abolishment tagging the runner by throwing the balls at them.

Impact: Over the years the impact of baseball has expanded to other states and countries as just a sport in general.

3. Claim: (today) The difference between baseball then and now would be the actual baseball.

Support: According to a New York Times article in 1946, Australia started getting into baseball. That they started using Australian wool on the insides. William McNeil Wrote that the Australian wool would evolve the ball to be much stronger. The new ball proved to be much more accurately stitched then the last one.

Impact: This impacted the player because they were able to get a better grip on the ball and were able to throw more accurate and faster.

Transition: As baseball became more organized and the popularity of rival games grew new clubs/baseball teams began to grow.

B) Main Point 2 Topic Sentence (The glove): Now I’ll explain the origin of the glove, why it frowned upon/why it wasn't allowed, and its popularity.

1. Claim: (origin) Like in any sport, the progression of equipment has shaped and transformed the game. The first gloves were black, backless gloves and after a few years added to the design were made.

Support: College Baseball Daily, The Evolution of the Baseball Glove, October 26, 2016. With the acceptance of the glove, players requested their own specific glove for the different positions of the game and gloves were created to give the player the features they felt strengthen their position.

Impact: Today there are many designs to choose from for all positions. They can be customized and specifically measured. Today's gloves are larger and have advanced technology to allow every player the best chance of succeeding in the playing field.

2. Claim: (why wasn’t it allowed, frowned upon)
In the early days of professional baseball players were very skillful to play with a glove. Wearing a glove was seen as a form of weakness.

Support: Baseball Hall of Fame website, Same Game, Different Equipment. Gloves were first made of a thin layer of leather and as it evolved it started to get webs and a mitt-like quality.

Impact: The glove has made the most important effect on the game. The gloves allow for better comfort and range of motion for players.

3. Claim: (popular)
The baseball mitt was not popular during the very beginning of the history of professional baseball. Not until 1877 when Albert Spalding finally removed the stigma and cleared the way by wearing his own handmade black gloves and then selling them for profit.

Support: NPR website, Baseball “Glove Affairs”, September 4, 2003 Players began to accept the idea of using gloves to avoid painful injuries. As time passed gloves became an important part of the defense.

Impact: Once players saw the benefits and acceptance within teams, major leaguers at all positions began to wear gloves. Today Baseball players have a deep connection to their glove and rely on their favorite brands or model.

C) Main Point 3 Topic Sentence (My personal connection to Baseball): Today I’ll discuss how I got started with baseball, why I enjoy baseball, and how it benefited me.

1.Claim: I began baseball when I was 4 years old in a little league. And as I got older and more independent I started to know more and more of what I was doing.

Support: One session I was in a slump and I was having a hard time making contact with the ball but when I did it would go far. So what I did was practice more and go to the batting cages more often.

Impact: Later that session my hitting was getting more consistent and not only would I’d hit hard I’d hit more often.

2. Claim: As I’ve gotten better I had started looking for more competitive leagues to play in.

Support: I had joined a team that was much more competitive with more interest players in each team. As the session came to an end we had won a number of games to compete in the playoffs.

Impact: But even though we came in third I still remember this because of how much fun I had making new friends on that team and then going so far with them.

3. Claim: I don't only play Baseball because I'm in love with the sport but also to spend time with my dad.

Support: Since I started baseball he’s taught me a lot. Like what to do at each position and what they did.

Impact: As I learned from him I started to get better at every position and understand why they were so important.

Conclusion

Review: so today I’ve gone over the history of Baseball and the evolution of the Baseball glove and my own personal experience with this amazing sport.

Restate Thesis: That Baseball is the greatest and most patriotic sport in American history.

Closing Statements: Thank you all for listening and I wish the rest of you good luck.