Chapter 3

    Origination and Evolution

When “Baseball” was at first introduced and beginning its development, rules had to be established to define its purpose and civility. Even while devising an orderly standard of play, it was obvious that the specific qualifications for individuals participating in the game were those involving simple tasks like throwing, batting, fielding, and running. The only skill that didn’t really need to be specifically defined was running.

The development and refinement of all those skills began to take shape as individuals determined to perform at higher and higher standards. And as today, so back then, there were positions (both offensively and defensively) and specific attributes which garnered for individuals more prominence and prestige to whoever demonstrated the highest proficiency.

The individual who “naturally” threw the hardest and most accurately was the best candidate for “Pitcher.” The batters who stroked the ball most effectively were placed at the beginning of the batting order. The more consistent fielders were the best prospects for “middle-infield” where most “grounders” would be hit. The fastest runner was usually in “centerfield,” while the slowest was usually the “catcher,” “first-baseman,” or “third baseman.”

When mere strength and “natural ability” reached the limits for peak performance, conscientious devotees found “technique” to add to their effectiveness and longevity. Certain natural principles began to be applied to the peculiar aspects of this game of “Baseball.” The power of the throw and of the swing of the bat was not maximized by strength alone but was more reliant on the principles of “mechanics.” Strength was important and vital, but without proper mechanics, the integrity to optimal performance was undermined.

Throwing and hitting a baseball effectively are very important parts of the game. In fact, Pitchers and Power-Hitters are considered the most prominent characters in the game. The ability to throw and hit a ball hard and far evokes a mythical aggrandizement from which legends are made. What is it that enables one individual to throw or hit harder and farther than another? Are some people blessed with natural ability to perform better than others? What made players like Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson, and George Herman Ruth so prominent in those early days of our National Pastime?

The game of Baseball is gradually receiving a “facelift” that inevitably will introduce a new paradigm into the minds and hearts of modern baseball enthusiasts. A new story of America’s beloved pastime is at a point of superseding the original model. (It had already surpassed the deviant, and bigoted hypocrisy of deplorable segregationist tendencies with the advent of Jackie Robinson into the flow of an enlightened and progressive advance of Integrity into the Game.)  The beauty and grandeur of a glorious past is even now reinventing itself to other nations in a form suitable to days immemorial.

Babe Ruth was first acclaimed as a most accomplished Pitcher who also had an extraordinary penchant for Hitting a baseball, as did many other pitchers with less than his proficiency. Management soon acknowledged that his propensity for hitting the “long-ball” everyday was more important to “the team” than pitching once every 4^th or 5^th day, so he was relegated only to playing the field and Batting and pulverizing a baseball.

Later, Latin and Japanese admiration for the American Pastime, created an Asiatic and a South of America stir for incorporating the unique qualities of the “Game” into their respective cultures while cultivating enhanced characteristics of their own. (Black Americans had finally been incorporated into the Baseball heritage and have proven themselves capable if not superior in skill and adaptability. And Latin born negroes like Roberto Clemente have ultimately formed a network of incomparable talent and homespun philanthropy.)   

The Baseball world has fast become a theatrical stage for public sentiment to display both outrageous and benevolent characterizations of humanity. A universal demand for the highest possible standard of excellence could be embodied by those who would be model heroes for aspiring youth as well as Baseball executives to accept they no longer can enslave the players by (most egregious – “Elastic-Clause”) Authoritative strategy. (Jackie Robinson’s impact provides depth to his own life and career and that of diversity in sports – He said, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” And Clemente’s story far exceeds Baseball with his philanthropy and commitment to others through his phenomenal play and Heroism that ultimately ended in his tragic death.)

So far, Japan seems to have cultivated the mentality for achievement that surpasses excellence with both hitting and pitching potential. Ichiro Suzuki took America by storm in his introductory year (2001) winning the American League Batting Title, Rookie of the year and Most Valuable Player awards for his unique batting technique and amazing fielding and throwing ability. From 2001 to 2010, he had 10 consecutive seasons with 200 or more hits, he won 10 consecutive Gold Glove awards and was selected to 10 All-Star teams. With his great speed, he also stole a lot of bases. He holds many Baseball records, one of which for 262 hits in a single season (2004).

With a plethora of Japanese pitchers coming to America and performing well, one in particular has caught America’s attention with his ability to dominate MLB batters with extraordinary Pitching talent and mechanical technique. But not only does he remind Baseball fans of “the Babe’s” Pitching prowess, Shohei Ohtani also has Ruth’s hitting ability and prodigious power, but runs with the speed of Ichiro. So far, Management has allowed him to help the Team in all 3 Arenas, making him a perennial MVP candidate. He’s already won Three!

From where is the next Super-Nova going to materialize? Is there an unofficial Prodigy evolving in the “Back-woods” somewhere in rural America, Cuba, South America, or Asia? He, or She, in order to surpass the grandeur of a Ruth, Ohtani, or Ichiro, will have had to apply Einstein’s Unified Field Theory to the Quantum level and “imagine” him or her self as not only ambidextrous at bat with power and precision from both sides, but also demonstrate the ability to throw equally well from both sides while either Pitching, Catching, playing Short-stop or Center-field, and having the speed to steal bases like a Ricky Henderson and Ichiro.

Baseball’s certain Utopian appeal has become more in evidence. While Baseball will always be America’s endearing National Pastime, it certainly holds a greater prospect of being embraced universally for its ever-expanding scope of defined SIMPLICITY rather than for any past reverence to Making IT Great Again.