“It’s true. Baseball is more than just a game where men wearing high socks hit balls with big ol' wooden bats. It is a piece of New York culture that has left a diamond-shaped print on our city.”
It's crazy to think that the two original New York baseball teams aren't here anymore. No seriously, the New York Giants moved to San Francisco and the Brooklyn Dodgers took off for L.A. Regardless of this, however, the impact that was left by their influence will forever be felt by the people of New York. Their presence paved the way for countless new cultures to embrace the game, making the game more than just a game with men wearing high socks while hitting a white ball with a big 'ol wooden bat.
In 1845, the first "official" baseball club was founded by Alexander Cartwright right here in our city. And right off the rip, it had a huge impact on the game by setting the groundwork on how it should be played, creating well known rules and conditions such as "three outs," foul lines, and even the distance between each plate. At the same time, it established baseball as the city's pastime as many men joined and played for the club. A few years later in 1876, The MLB (Major League Baseball) was founded, and a few years after that in 1883, New York was given not one...but two official teams: The New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers. By 1903, we got The New York Yankees, who have stayed since. It is at this point here where baseball's story in New York really begins.
During the early days of professional baseball in New York City, the sport quickly became loved by all that watched. In this span, these two New York teams won two championships during this span (1888 and1889 Giants) and had one draw (1890 Dodgers). The Yankees, however, would go on to have one of the richest winning histories in all of sports. Outside of winning, they once again still found ways to change the game, introducing traditions that still live on to this very day. For instance, according to the official Parks Department website, New Yorkers were the first fans to "eat hot dogs" at games (this food became the go-to dish at baseball games). The site also states that in 1908, New Yorkers were the first to hear “Take Me Out to the Ballgame," as the song was created on a subway on the way to a game. It's really facts like these that make all the trips to the ballgame that much more special.
While writing this piece, I actually attended a Yankees game back on the 24th of September. I had the typical ballpark experience: I got a hot dog and a soda while sitting back and enjoying the night. It was while the team was actually playing the old tune, where it hit me. This game is truly more than just a game here. I went around and actually asked fellow Yankees fans at the game how this team has affected their lives or views on the game of baseball. One fan that has chosen to stay anonymous, said that "I've been a Yankee fan for life, my dad is a fan, my grandpa was a fan, this s*** runs in my blood and always will." Another said that, "The Yankees have gotten me through some rough points in my life. I will always support them because they supported me." If writing this piece taught me anything new about the sport that I love, it's that baseball is an activity built on the passion of us New Yorkers. A passion that would actually go on to break barriers across all sports everywhere.
You see, all of this history also took place in the midst of one of America's low points, segregation. And sadly, baseball was also segregated as African Americans were forced to play and stay in their own league named "Negro League Baseball." The NLB was a thing from 1920 - 1948. And this league also had some legends to the game that inspired millions. Players like Buck O'Neil, John Donaldson, Pop Lloyd and most notably, Jackie Robinson. A man that would quickly become the face of African American baseball, or just baseball in general.
On April 15th, 1947, the impossible seemed to happen. Jackie Robinson made his MLB debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers, being the first African American player to play in Major League Baseball. This actually destroyed the door that kept African American players out of baseball, as way, way, way more players made their way into the big leagues and became legends in their own right. Even though they faced adversity, these legends fought through and made the change. And all of this started right here in our city. This change might seem small, but this sent shockwaves all over the country, as this was the first stage of the death of segregation. We're even feeling the impact of this broken barrier today, as there are still countless records that are held by these same barrier breakers and players after them. Records such as the most career home runs, most stolen bases among other records are held by African Americans, feats that wouldn't have happened if the team from Brooklyn didn't take a chance on Mr. Robinson, a man who has forever left his stamp on our city and our game. He is forever memorialized right here in our city, as you can go visit his grave, which lies in Cypress Hills, Queens, right next to his very own highway.
Now let's shine some light on the other two clubs that also once called New York City home. In 1958, both teams made the choice to actually leave the city they called home for 75 years up until this point. The Giants made the move to San Francisco and the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. You might think that they just left and things like their ballparks were just left for dead, but that was not the case. As both sites were immediately used for the local communities in 1964, the Polo Grounds broke ground for multiple public housing buildings that still house hundreds of New Yorkers to this day. And of course, to honor the site before it, the home plate stands right where it always has, representing the culture of the game that represents the city so well. In 1960, the same took place for the former home of the Dodgers, as public housing was also placed there, where it now supports more hardworking New Yorkers while also honoring the franchise before it. Even in their absence, these teams have played a huge role in New York City.
After the Dodgers and Giants made their leave, New York was mainly a Yankee's city. That was until 1962, when New York was given its second team. The Mets. When the news broke that New York would once again have two teams, New Yorkers were filled with excitement and joy. According to The New York Post, the Mets were a "welcome addition even before they fumbled their first pop up, or hit into their first triple play."
Regardless of failure, New Yorkers loved their new team like a sibling welcoming their new younger sibling into the world. And that little brother team understood the assignment real quick as just two years, yes... two years after entering the league they won their first World Series, already fitting in perfectly with the winning culture in New York. Ever since then, the Mets and Yankees rivalry has been one of the most exciting parts of sports. The two even faced each other in the World Series in 2000, where the Yankees won 4 games to 1. Even with that, the Mets have always been able to maintain a strong and loyal fan base through it all.
I attended a Mets game as well as a part of this little "baseball passion experiment.” One fan that I will call "Nick" described the Mets as a team "that just loves to have fun. No matter if they win or lose in the dumbest ways the team is fun, and I love them for that." They've even consistently sold the most merch in the league, as the Mets have always ranked "within the top 10 best-selling caps" according to 59FIFTY (the official cap brand of the MLB). New York is more than just a Yankees town.
Ever since both teams have called New York home, the Yankees and Mets have both found a way to give back to their city. For instance, according to MLB.com, both teams host events to provide food and other needs to people in the city that are in need. They give back and donate to local education systems, while also investing millions of dollars into baseball equipment for youth players. Not only that, the Yankees actually have a partnership with CUNY schools, where the team would help provide "mentoring and sessions" with front office New York Yankees staff. They even have special games dedicated to these schools such as "CUNY Day," where they invite students and staff to the game in order to be honored for their hard work or to do something like perform the national anthem, or throw out the first pitch.
The Mets have hosted events very similar to this. The day I went to a Mets game was actually a day where they gave away up to 2,000 tickets for free to local schools all across New York City. Not only that, but the team also allowed some local colleges to stop by and speak to the students before the game, giving the future of our city some exposure to some possibilities in their future. Such moments show us that these teams do in fact see the passion that these fans have put in for years on end, giving them more than a "Thank You Fans" social media post at the end of each season. No, they actually give them something that would actually have a long term affect on them not as fans, but as people.
It’s true. Baseball is more than just a game where men wearing high socks hit balls with big ol' wooden bats. It is a piece of New York culture that has left a diamond-shaped print on our city.