Children Are Abandoning Baseball • Hacker News Board

Re: Children Are Abandoning Baseball

#21

Post by agumonkey » Sat, Dec 26, 2015, 1:59 AM UTC

douche wrote: post #16

Let's see... 1.) You need a shit-load of people to play baseball anything like for-real. At minimum 15-20 people for two teams. Pretty tough to do as a kid, unless you're free to roam free all over town to gather a crew, which approximately 0% of kids have license/protection from CPS to do. 2.) You need a big enough area for a baseball diamond, where you don't have to worry about knocking out a window with a foul bal…

Makes me wonder why did this sport ever become so famous. It's like cricket, except there are two large competing sports (football and basketball, even hockey and tennis somehow).

Re: Children Are Abandoning Baseball

#22

Post by brandonmenc » Sat, Dec 26, 2015, 1:59 AM UTC

rogerthis wrote: post #8

Didn't read it but, as a non-american, non-japanese nor venezuelan, i wonder what is the fun of playing baseball, as it is mostly a still sport, with some sporadic movement. I really enjoy watching it because I can easily read a book without paying much attention to the game, which I can't do by watching basketball. But I usually sleep over the book and when i wake up, the game hasn't finished yet.

> as a non-american, non-japanese nor venezuelan, i wonder what is the fun of playing baseball

You see other kids playing it, and that's where the fun is - with just about any game.

Growing up, we liked to play fast-paced games like soccer and tag, and games that emphasized skill like baseball, or even bocce.

I cannot remember a game that any of us thought was too boring to play.

Re: Children Are Abandoning Baseball

#23

Post by potatote » Sat, Dec 26, 2015, 2:06 AM UTC

MisterBastahrd wrote: post #9

rogerthis wrote: post #8

Didn't read it but, as a non-american, non-japanese nor venezuelan, i wonder what is the fun of playing baseball, as it is mostly a still sport, with some sporadic movement. I really enjoy watching it because I can easily read a book without paying much attention to the game, which I can't do by watching basketball. But I usually sleep over the book and when i wake up, the game hasn't finished yet.

I can do this while watching soccer, too. A lot of movement, nothing actually happening.

Actually, it all comes down to whether you can see and appreciate the skills involved or not. I didn't realize that in the beginning, but now I do. You have to know that there's a lot of skill and practice involved in making the way the players pass the ball (in soccer/basketball/hockey), the decisions they make to distribute the ball (e.g., attack from the middle, from the side, one-two passes and sometimes, individual dribbling skills). These are all very difficult to do for any amateur (or even some professional) players, and it becomes to see it AND appreciate that only after you've played soccer (basketball, hockey, or any sports you name it) yourself. I could watch a soccer game without any goals being scored and yet still get enjoyment out of it.

Another somewhat related analogy would be that I was never trained in playing any musical instruments; I never am interested in learning how to play one myself. But when I see an orchestra playing a random classical music (i.e. the kind of music I personally find boring), I still appreciate that they are showing off skill that they practiced to acquire for many years.

Re: Children Are Abandoning Baseball

#24

Post by brudgers » Sat, Dec 26, 2015, 2:07 AM UTC

rogerthis wrote: post #8

Didn't read it but, as a non-american, non-japanese nor venezuelan, i wonder what is the fun of playing baseball, as it is mostly a still sport, with some sporadic movement. I really enjoy watching it because I can easily read a book without paying much attention to the game, which I can't do by watching basketball. But I usually sleep over the book and when i wake up, the game hasn't finished yet.

My beloved's grandpa Fred played on Iowa Sunday afternoons. A grown man with four kids, a wife, and full time work - first on the farm and later in the factory - standing around except for those moments when in a burst he beat the opponent or the opponent beat him was part of the appeal. Baseball is not called "The American sport." Baseball is the American pass time.

Re: Children Are Abandoning Baseball

#25

Post by brandonmenc » Sat, Dec 26, 2015, 2:08 AM UTC

w1ntermute wrote: post #19

That's because baseball is terribly boring, especially compared to football or basketball. Who wants to spend 90% of the time standing around?

> Who wants to spend 90% of the time standing around?

If you've never managed to throw a nice curveball, or hit a homer, or make a great diving catch, you'll never understand.

You do something like that once, and you can easily get hooked on standing in line for another chance to replicate it.

It's kind of like golf, but it sounds like you probably don't like that game either.

Re: Children Are Abandoning Baseball

#26

Post by yareally » Sat, Dec 26, 2015, 2:10 AM UTC

agumonkey wrote: post #21

douche wrote: post #16

Let's see... 1.) You need a shit-load of people to play baseball anything like for-real. At minimum 15-20 people for two teams. Pretty tough to do as a kid, unless you're free to roam free all over town to gather a crew, which approximately 0% of kids have license/protection from CPS to do. 2.) You need a big enough area for a baseball diamond, where you don't have to worry about knocking out a window with a foul bal…

Makes me wonder why did this sport ever become so famous. It's like cricket, except there are two large competing sports (football and basketball, even hockey and tennis somehow).

Baseball, in its original form (circa 1860s and 70s) was played with a softer makeshift ball and a modified axe handle and no gloves. It was an activity a small town could play together as well as a community event where two nearby communities would come together to play. I believe the American Civil War played a part in spreading it thoughout the country in a time where news didn't travel as fast. Basketball also came after baseball and not sure if it was quite as casual in its early form.

My brothers play for a historic reenactment team of that era and the game resembles present day softball than baseball with its casual play. There's players on their team age 18 to 70 and most of the teams they play are composed of people in smaller towns doing what they did 140 years ago, today. One of the more interesting games they hold every year is played on the statehouse lawn against our state representatives after work.

Re: Children Are Abandoning Baseball

#27

Post by MisterBastahrd » Sat, Dec 26, 2015, 2:13 AM UTC

potatote wrote: post #23

MisterBastahrd wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can do this while watching soccer, too. A lot of movement, nothing actually happening.

Actually, it all comes down to whether you can see and appreciate the skills involved or not. I didn't realize that in the beginning, but now I do. You have to know that there's a lot of skill and practice involved in making the way the players pass the ball (in soccer/basketball/hockey), the decisions they make to distribute the ball (e.g., attack from the middle, from the side, one-two passes and sometimes, individ…

Actually, you have no idea what my background in the sport is. I enjoyed playing it for years. I hate watching it because it's boring as hell. Baseball is boring too, but there's a hell of a lot more strategy going on in that sport.

Re: Children Are Abandoning Baseball

#28

Post by coldicetea » Sat, Dec 26, 2015, 2:13 AM UTC

douche wrote: post #16

Let's see... 1.) You need a shit-load of people to play baseball anything like for-real. At minimum 15-20 people for two teams. Pretty tough to do as a kid, unless you're free to roam free all over town to gather a crew, which approximately 0% of kids have license/protection from CPS to do. 2.) You need a big enough area for a baseball diamond, where you don't have to worry about knocking out a window with a foul bal…

Interestingly though, lacrosse is gaining popularity and hits most of those points as well:

1. It's difficult to play without least a couple midfielders, a goalie, and some defenders

3. Everyone needs at least a lacrosse stick, and a ball (although lacrosse balls are small and easy to lose, so it's better to have a few on hand)

4. Same

It's also one of the most expensive sports to play, and few schools (high schools at least) subsidize it like they do with American Football.

Re: Children Are Abandoning Baseball

#29

Post by bluedevil2k » Sat, Dec 26, 2015, 2:16 AM UTC

douche wrote: post #16

Let's see... 1.) You need a shit-load of people to play baseball anything like for-real. At minimum 15-20 people for two teams. Pretty tough to do as a kid, unless you're free to roam free all over town to gather a crew, which approximately 0% of kids have license/protection from CPS to do. 2.) You need a big enough area for a baseball diamond, where you don't have to worry about knocking out a window with a foul bal…

I grew up playing wiffleball 2 vs 2, with ghost runners in a friend's backyard where the patio was 1st and the garden was 3rd. If you want to play a sport, when you're young you can make it happen. Kids playing soccer in Brazil don't need an 11 X 11 game with a regulation ball and goal

Re: Children Are Abandoning Baseball

#30

Post by thomaskcr » Sat, Dec 26, 2015, 2:16 AM UTC

douche wrote: post #16

Let's see... 1.) You need a shit-load of people to play baseball anything like for-real. At minimum 15-20 people for two teams. Pretty tough to do as a kid, unless you're free to roam free all over town to gather a crew, which approximately 0% of kids have license/protection from CPS to do. 2.) You need a big enough area for a baseball diamond, where you don't have to worry about knocking out a window with a foul bal…

When we were kids we played with as few as 3 per team. Self pitching, ghost runners (if you toss to 3rd base before the runner reaches 2nd it's an out), etc

On the space side, we played where ever - you just needed a place to put down some bases or some trees that are relatively evenly spaced in 4 corners.

We made it more fun by playing with crappy tennis rackets and tennis balls we "popped".

You're right about "pure" baseball, but kids create their own ways to play games and baseball can be changed enough to be fun and fast paced.