Student Essay on Romance of the Bat - Baseball's Relation to Romanticism

Romance of the Bat - Baseball's Relation to Romanticism

Summary:   Baseball, and its relation to Romanticism.

People generally don't classify baseball as being romantic, mainly because we view the word in a different way. First, we must show what romanticism is in a nut shell. Beginning in Germany and England in the 1770s, by the 1820s it had swept through Europe. Romanticism traveled quickly to the Western Hemisphere, and in its musical form has triumphed around the globe. The most popular orchestral music in the world is that of the romantic era. Romanticism stressed strong emotion, imagination, freedom from classical correctness in art forms, and rebellion against social conventions.

The game of baseball was most likely invented by a man named Alexander Cartwright. In 1845 he was looking for some recreational activity to do with his friends. They began to play a version of rounders but added some new rules. He made the bases each ninety feet apart and placed them in a diamond formation. He also created the idea that a 90 angle should be used to determine if a ball was to be in play or not. This is where we got the foul ball. Soon after his specifications were put into play, the organized sport of baseball rose to the top of America's interest.

Baseball's romantic ties come up first and for most because of the democracy of the game. Almost all groups are in multiples of three which notes the games equality. Also, there is no rush to make a rash move; everything is decided in time after careful deliberation. Furthermore, everyone has their chance at the plate as well as the chance to be struck out. Judges are placed around the field to ensure the games equality, if they make statement another doesn't agree with, that person has the right to an appeal. Baseball is better than democracy, because baseball acknowledges loss.

The idea of a baseball game is a utopia. The summer wind, coca cola, bubble gum, even while playing the game it is a utopia Baseball is a relaxed game based more upon instant reflexes than drawn out blood and sweat. The spring air turning to summer reminds everyone that baseball is around the corner. Furthermore, the game is played on a field with natural connections at first, not a court or a track.

Romantic music often draws its inspiration from national folk music. This would explain the annual singing of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game", since it so closely resembles a national anthem. In addition, individualism was on the rise. Previously people had been classified as peasants, merchants or nobles. The creation of the possibility for anyone to become a king became apparent. Napoleon Bonaparte rose dramatically because of the revolution. Fifty years after his death he was still inspiring people to write of tossing responsibility and tradition to the wind. Baseball also showed rebellion against social conventions like the government. Consequentially, the baseball stadium is here to serve the people who created it. Baseball had enthralled audiences with such prominent icons as Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, and Ted Williams. Also, the idea of "the past" also shows since it was a popular game with children not like cricket or rounders. The black and white photograph of Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe captivated America everyone wanted to be them or be caught of in the fervor. It showed concern for the common man; anyone who had 5 cents could attend a game and sit to watch the game with rich powerful men. It brings back the idea of the gladiators in Rome, which would be another tie to Romanticism and Roman history. Baseball shows a perfectly liberal world in which everything is as equal as humanly possible.

Even though baseball was a relatively slow sport, it is emotionally shaped. Every hit and catch was more emotional because of the focus put on it by Americans. The American Romantic Movement was quite similar to the British Romantic Movement. They both grew on Wordsworth's encounter with nature and himself. There was a stronger feeling of anti-British sentiment. Baseball seemed to be a thumbing in the nose to the British, who played cricket religiously. This was also a time where man's ability to perfect and produce anything was believed in regardless of social class. This didn't necessarily pertain to blacks and women. This idea of independence was plagued by a sense of fragmentation. The Romantic Movement favored the metaphysical, thus our heroes of baseball seem even more surreal. However, people could easily float back in time by simply smelling dirt or leather, or perhaps hearing the word "peanuts" yelled in a jovial manner. The emotion becomes dramatic when there is a full count, everyone is cringing with anticipation.

Romanticism has changed our world and in its wake, created a legend of baseball that enchants people to this day. The equality, nostalgia all mixed into a summer utopia. There is nothing in my opinion more romantic than baseball. Communes behind the dugouts, with thousands of spectators rise to their feet, coming together at night under the lights to watch their heroes make their mark at the plate. Romanticism stressed strong emotion, imaginations, freedom from classical correctness in art forms, and rebellion against social conventions. An equal game played in nature as dramatic and nationalistic as can be. This is baseball in all its history in America.