Baseball came to America through the European game of rounders. In the late 1790s, men played the game after town hall meetings, slowly evolving it into baseball. Fifty years later, Alexander Cartwright perfected the modern baseball field and his club, the New Yor Knickerbockers, formalized the rules known today. The Civil War increased the popularity of the game and it spread as far as California. With scandal and the strife of WWI, the game hit a plateau in the early 1900s, but skyrocketed when Babe Ruth entered the scene. Reflecting social change, baseball was the first sport to integrate African Americans into the white Major League. Throughout the last two centuries, baseball has echoed the changing social and technological climate in America. Weight rooms, televised games and grand advertising schemes have rapidly integrated themselves into the game. However, the purity of the game can still be seen in little leagues across the country. The White Sox is an age 10-12 team in the Daniel Boone Little League from Columbia, Missouri. This team exemplifies the basic components of baseball: summer, family, competition, teamwork, pride, nature, pace, and most of all, American symbolism.
Kaden Wilborn anxiously checks the batting order for the season opener against the Athletics. In baseball, the batting order becomes its own hierarchy of hitters. Placing the most consistent hitters first allows the third or fourth power hitters to bat them in. Moving down the list decreases in batters’ skills with the pitcher hitting last.
The White Sox play at Daniel Boone Little League fields on the south side of Columbia, Missouri. Divisions start at age 5 and continue until age 16. From tee ball to player pitch to stealing and all-star status, the league’s principles include teaching boys the basics and strategy of baseball.
The league started in 1959 and was only open to boys 10-12 living west of Garth Road. Boys rode their bikes to games and drank cold sodas after a victory. The league has grown about 150 players each year since the 60s.
Pete Kardon critiques his son Alex’s batting after a strikeout against the Athletics. Baseball naturally bonds fathers and sons together. With the Daniel Boone Little League, fathers are often the coaches of their sons’ teams. Balancing the family bond with improving and teaching skills is a challenge and a joy according to Ric Wilborn, father and coach to Kaden Wilborn.
Sam Mitten hangs his head after pitching one of his first innings with the White Sox. Usually a steady and consistent pitcher, Sam let one loose, and injured the catcher for a moment in the process. While passion is necessary to continue playing the game of baseball, struggle and disappointment is inevitable.
Coach Ric Wilborn talks with the White Sox after a tied game against the Indians. “We have to hit boys, and we have to swing to hit the ball,” he chides. Tie games usually only occur in little and minor leagues, with the professionals playing until a lead is established in the bottom of an inning. According to the Baseball Almanac, the longest baseball game lasted 8 hours and 25 innings when the Chicago Cubs faced the Milwaukee Brewers in 1984.
The imitation of professional league players is clear even at the age of 11. Sam Mitten chews gum while anticipating the game-ending out. Chewing has become a staple in the slow pace of baseball. Players first starting chewing tobacco in the early 1920s when tobacco companies gave free samples to players waiting to bat in the dugouts.
The sun sets on the creation of Alexander Cartwright, reminding passersby that the field, like baseball, will continue to exist. Dubbed, “America’s Pastime,” even in its early days, baseball has been known to persevere through wars, technology and changing social values. As Walt Whitman once said, “In our sundown perambulations of late...we have observed several parties of youngsters playing base, a certain game of ball...Let us go forth awhile and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our close rooms...The game of ball is glorious.”
