A Cultural Change-Up

America’s Pastime as a Looking Glass

By Ashley Sudeta

The congregation seems to buzz as the organ’s song swells, and the officiant begins service with a cry of “play ball!” This is the place of worship for what could be called the United States’ true religion: baseball. Originating in New York from debated beginnings in the first half of the 19th century, baseball has been a quintessentially American sport. As our country has grown and changed, so has the professional Major League Baseball (MLB). Baseball is a looking glass that allows us to reflect on American culture, and by examining changes in the MLB throughout history, one can observe growth throughout the years. While baseball was at least 80 years old by the time the 1920s hit, it was just beginning to enter what some refer to as a golden age. Multiple factors contributed to this, the most obvious one being the superstar players of the time. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees were just two players who contributed to baseball’s boom in popularity. Their home run hitting abilities drew Americans to the grandstands. Increased media coverage through radio and the press only amplified this effect, pushing awareness of the Yankees’ athletic success during the 1920s in order to stir up national enthusiasm. The phenomenal players of the time distracted from the corruption seen within the league in the 1919 World Series, establishing a new, better era.

As iconic as baseball was in the 1920s, it had undeniable flaws. Most significantly, professional baseball was racially segregated until 1947. The MLB of the 1920s was full of white players, whether they were first generation European immigrants or had deep American roots. Baseball was the face of America and white men were the face of baseball. Black athletes were forced to play in a segregated league that, despite holding the same level of skill, was broadly overlooked and paid significantly less. If professional baseball is the cultural meter stick we use to measure America’s values, then it is clear in the 1920s, the MLB was responsible for reflecting and upholding racist ideals.

The MLB changed and grew in stride with the United States’ social progress over time. In 1947 Jackie Robinson became the first Black player in the MLB, opening the door for countless others after himself. After Robinson, racial and ethnic diversity within the league only grew, expanding the idea of who an American hero could be. Baseball isn’t just about the sport, it’s about the players and the stories they tell. When a team puts a certain player on the field, they’re placing them in a position of influence, subconsciously deciding that they’re worthy of being role models.

In the 1920s, the MLB believed American baseball fans should see and praise white athletes exclusively. By only including white players in the league, they enforced this concept, upholding white supremacist ideals. Today, the MLB provides a platform for athletes from various backgrounds. This means the different cultures being brought into homes across the U.S. are not just being accepted and normalized, but also celebrated.

My family is from an overwhelmingly white area of Omaha, Nebraska, a highly segregated city. The little league teams my brothers played were always almost entirely white, but the MLB players they looked up to provided a window into other cultures and showed baseball was for people of all backgrounds.

Last fall when my family attended a Minnesota Twins game, my younger brother spent the entire game in anticipation of Jhoan Duran, a Dominican athlete, taking the pitcher’s mound. When the closer was finally released from the bullpen, the stadium filled with an energizing reggaeton remix and fans waved their phone flashlights. Minnesota, stereotypically known for its Nordic influences, may not be where you expect to hear reggaeton, but baseball serves as a lens into the state’s cultural diversity.

The MLB is not only helping to facilitate a dynamic of cultural exchange, but in its occurrence, it shows us how far American attitudes have come. Athletes from the Dominican Republic, Japan, Venezuela, and other countries now receive the celebration they deserve when they join the MLB. America’s religion is finally being exercised in an environment that reflects a culture of greater respect and acceptance. Today, in holy stadiums, you can find congregants listening to reggaeton while eating kimchi hotdogs.