Before the turn of the nineteenth century baseball was always the most celebrated and popular sport in America. It was the sport of choice for many young boys located around the nation and they could be found "converting every grassy lot within ten miles into playing fields," (Tygiel 6). Children idolized the famous players from various teams, while imitating them with every swing of the bat and throw of the ball. Baseball was America's sport, our pastime. However, times have changed since the early days of baseball. Baseball franchises are considered to be big business, and it seems as if the enjoyment has been left behind. Player's strike, and the creation of players union, makes the sport appear as if it is being played by a great number of spoiled millionaires. Player's loyalty to one team has been completely shattered by the introduction of free agency to Major League Baseball twenty-two years ago. Baseball, once a form of pure entertainment, has now taken a deep change. Major League Baseball was once considered by most to be America's pastime; however with current circumstances, it no longer truly deserves that prestigious title.
             Baseball was a sport that, in the beginning, represented all Americans. Simple, ordinary people who worked hard to get by on what little they had were the ones that supported baseball in its prime. These individuals would come and watch the games during the evenings whenever time would allow them. Baseball represented the millions of little boys, whose afternoons consisted of playing ball in the local sandlot, constantly practicing in order to make it to the big leagues. Baseball consisted of fathers that would take their sons to the ballpark simply to feel the magic and to smell the freshly cutgrass. Baseball represents the "white picket- fence" American, when life was simple and many families found baseball to be an outlet for leisure time. Du...