“Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball, the rules and realities of the game—and do it by watching first some high school or small-town teams.”

– Jacques Barzun, French-American historian and cultural critic in his 1954 book God’s Country and Mine

What’s considered America’s pastime? Baseball! ⚾

While American football may dominate TV ratings today, baseball is still stitched into the cultural fabric of the United States. The Major League Baseball (MLB) season runs from late March through October, with 30 teams across 17 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada (hello Toronto Blue Jays). The 30 teams are divided into the American League and National League. They play a jaw-dropping 162 games each. That’s nearly 2,500 games before playoffs even begin!

By the time the World Series arrives in late October (often called the “Fall Classic”) fans have already invested seven months of emotions, snacks, and superstitions.

Diamonds Are Forever (At Least in Baseball)

Baseball is played on a diamond-shaped field with four bases: first, second, third, and home plate. Two teams of nine players each take turns batting and fielding. The batting team sends up successive players, or batters, to home plate. The opposing team’s pitcher stands on the mound in the center of the diamond and throws the ball to the batter from ~60 ft away. Each team’s goal is to score runs by hitting the ball and circling all the bases to reach home plate.

The Rhythm of the Game

A game lasts nine innings, and each inning has two halves. The “top” of the inning is when the visiting team bats. And the “bottom” is when the home team gets its turn. Each half inning ends when the batting team makes three outs. Unlike many sports, there’s no game clock. The drama unfolds until the final out is recorded.

The duel between pitcher and batter is at the heart of baseball. A pitcher winds up on the mound and throws fastballs, curveballs, and sliders. Each one is a mix of strategy and precision.

The batter has less than half a second to decide whether to swing. A missed swing is called a strike and three strikes equal an out. A hit puts the ball in play, giving the batter a chance to run to base. Sometimes the ball goes foul (outside the field of play). And the rarest outcome is a home run, when the batter circles all the bases in one trip. On the flip side, if a pitcher throws four pitches outside the strike zone, the batter earns a “walk” to first base.

Meanwhile, fielders work in a tight choreography. The infielders cover ground and make quick throws. The outfielders sprint after fly balls. And the catcher crouches behind home plate directing the action. It’s a blend of patience and bursts of intensity that is part chess match, part sprint.

Numbers, Uniforms, and Traditions

Baseball isn’t just about what happens on the field though. It’s also about how the game looks and feels.

Player uniforms traditionally reflect whether the team is home or away. While bright white is typical at home, muted gray is common on the road. Uniform numbers, now standard, were first introduced by the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees in 1929 so fans in the stands could identify players more easily. Jackie Robinson famously wore number 42 when he broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947. Every team has retired the number since.

And then there are the rituals. For example, the 7th inning stretch when fans stand and sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame. Or, some hitters choose their own walk-up songs to express their personality and send a message to the opposing team. Ballparks also have a range of classic foods, from hot dogs and peanuts to local specialties. As the aforementioned song goes, “…buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, I don’t care if I never get back!”

Shaping the Modern Game

For all its tradition, baseball evolves too. In 2023, MLB introduced a pitch clock to speed up play. As a result, pitchers now have 15 seconds to deliver a pitch with bases empty, and 20 seconds if runners are on. The change has cut the average game time by about 30 minutes, making the sport more fast-paced for modern fans.

In days past, the American and National league teams only met in the World Series. But now, there is at least one interleague game every day.

A Fun Curveball

The longest professional game in MLB history (by total time) took place in 1984 between the Chicago White Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers. It was 25 innings and more than 8 hours of play!

From the Ballpark to the Boardroom

Baseball isn’t just America’s pastime on the field. It’s also shaped the way Americans talk at work. Some expressions you might hear in a business context are:

⚾ Touch base
Meaning: To briefly get in contact with someone.
Origin: In baseball, runners must touch each base in order as they advance.
Example: “Let’s touch base next week to finalize the training schedule.”

⚾ Ballpark figure
Meaning: A rough estimate, not meant to be exact.
Origin: While every baseball field has the same infield dimensions, outfield sizes vary — giving rise to the idea of approximate numbers.
Example: “Can you give me a ballpark figure for next year’s budget?”

⚾ Pinch hitter
Meaning: A substitute who steps in temporarily, often for their specific skills.
Origin: In baseball, a pinch hitter bats in place of another player.
Example: “Sarah will be our pinch hitter for tomorrow’s client presentation.”

Baseball Across Cultures

While baseball is quintessentially American, it thrives far beyond US borders:

🇯🇵 Japan: The Nippon Professional Baseball league fills stadiums with coordinated cheers and remarkable passion. Players like Shohei Ohtani bridge the two baseball worlds.

🇨🇺 Cuba: Baseball is the national sport, producing countless MLB stars and reflecting national pride.

🇰🇷 South Korea: Known for bat flips, enthusiastic fans, and cheerleaders who lead chants, games are equal parts athletic contest and celebration.

🇩🇴 Dominican Republic: Despite its size, the country consistently produces some of MLB’s biggest names and baseball is practically a national identity.

🇲🇽 Mexico: With its own professional league and strong northern fan base, baseball thrives alongside soccer.

🇪🇺 Europe: While soccer dominates, baseball is growing steadily, especially in Italy and the Netherlands, with London now hosting regular-season MLB games.

Baseball may seem slow at first, but its rhythms, rituals, and traditions offer a window into American life. Watching a game, you’re not just seeing sport. You’re experiencing a culture that has shaped generations.