Baseball is more than just a game. It's part of our national identity. The game's roots date back to 1845 when Alexander Cartwright created what we now call the rules for modern-day baseball. But it wasn't until the 1850s that the country started to form teams in earnest. Since then, America has come to love baseball in a variety of different ways. Baseball has become an iconic American pastime through its rich history and cultural influence on everything from music to literature to politics. Even our language reflects this deep-rooted passion with phrases like "it's not over till it's over" or "go for broke." It's because of this significance that major league teams are worth millions, and major league players are millionaires. Yet, despite all that money invested into the sport, it remains relatively unknown outside the United States. The History of Baseball One of the earliest forms of baseball is a game called "rounders" that was played in England. The modern version of the sport was created by Alexander Cartwright, who codified the rules for playing baseball in 1845. In the 1850s, America started to form teams and play with local variations of ball games. In 1869, a new version of the rules was written by William Hulbert, and it became known as "the National Association." Baseball became more popular through its association with college football, and soon colleges and universities were playing baseball as part of their athletic programs. Baseball was also brought to Japan by American teachers and students in 1873 and soon became a popular sport there as well. The first professional team was established in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1869, and then other teams quickly followed suit. Even though the first professional team wasn't established until 1869, some people claim that there were professional players as far back as 1865. Baseball soon became an iconic American pastime because it's been so deeply rooted in our culture for such a long time - from music to literature to politics. It's this deep-rooted passion that makes major league teams worth millions and major league players millionaires. It's also what makes baseball relatively unknown outside of America - despite all that money invested into developing it as a sport - which might be one of its biggest problems. A Game of Numbers Baseball is a game of numbers. It's why some people call baseball "America's religion." There are constant numbers being thrown at you, from statistics about your favorite team to the number of games left in the season to odds on who will win the World Series. Baseball is all about numbers. You can't talk about baseball without talking about numbers because they're so fundamental to the game. And yet, it's not just players and teams that are interested in numbers. Fans also love them. They often come up with their own theories about how to predict future outcomes based on stats alone. Major League Teams and Players Teams in the major leagues are worth millions of dollars. For example, the average Major League Baseball team is worth $1.54 billion. The costliest franchise, the New York Yankees, is worth a whopping $4 billion. This value comes from how profitable these franchises can be and how big of an impact they have on their community. Players are also making tons of money. The average salary for a major league player is $4,485,000 per season for those who've played at least one game in the 2017 season (including playoffs). Players like Albert Pujols make up to $30 million per year, while players like Yoenis Cespedes make up to $25 million per year. Surprisingly, there are only 28 countries outside of America where baseball is considered to be the most popular sport (the United States ranks first). And it's not just America's love for baseball that's causing this lack of popularity around the world-it's international leagues' unwillingness to adopt some American traditions that may increase their appeal overseas. The American Obsession Baseball is a sport that's been around for centuries, and it's become part of our national identity. With roots going back to 1845, Alexander Cartwright created what we now call the rules for modern-day baseball. In spite of its history, baseball hasn't found an audience outside of North America. And with revenue from Major League Baseball steadily decreasing--from 11 billion in 2000 to 8 billion in 2016--the future looks bleak without a change. Baseball is a national obsession worth preserving, but there are some things that need to be addressed before it fades into obscurity outside the States. Baseball is an American pastime. It’s a game of numbers, big league hitters, and the American obsession. But why is baseball so important? It’s a cultural icon that’s been around for centuries, and it has significance for people of all ages. It’s a game that anyone can decide to play, which makes it accessible to everyone. It’s also a passionate game that can bring people closer together or drive them apart. Baseball is important because it symbolizes freedom, hard work, and team spirit.
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