Baseball has long been associated with the nationalism of America. The National Anthem was first sporadically played at games during post-war periods to rally the country in support and encouragement. More so than any of the other mentioned sports, baseball is widely regarded as the pastime of America, having an active role in the shaping of the nation. Its most notable role in society was leading the way in integration with Jackie Robinson becoming a key symbol of equality during the civil rights struggles of the 1960s.

 

As time has gone on baseball has continued to provide a sense of comfort for American’s during difficult times. In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks in 2001 baseball was the first sport to resume play and provided something for people to rally around and honor those who helped rescue people and those who lost their lives trying. Similarly, after the Boston bombing in 2013, baseball was a platform for advocacy and recognition. Finally, as Houston dealt with the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, baseball served an important role in motivating and encouraging residents (3). 

 

Baseball was also the first sport where we saw rituals take shape and influence the game in a big way. After the 9/11 attacks, the sport provided “religious-like ritual experiences that would heighten a sense of national unity” (4). With the introduction of “God Bless America” played at every game, miniature US flags being handed out to fans, ceremonies honoring police officers and firefighters, and military flyovers, this outcome was hardly a surprise. 

 

While we have seen other sports in recent times heavily pushing back against this nationalist narrative, it has stayed largely on the sidelines for baseball. This may be due to the deep-rooted nationalistic culture of the sport highlighted above that would make it even more difficult to implement change. The MLB did little to support any efforts to make a statement for justice, ceding all responsibility for organized demonstrations to players alone. 

 

In response to the Black Lives Matter movement, some teams did choose to silently protest and not play their games, while other teams scheduled at the same time did play, leaving the public with a mixed and confusing message about what the league was trying to convey. In discussing Jackie Robinson and what he would think of the current situation Milwaukee Brewer’s player Lorenzo Cain said “I think he would be amazed at the lack of progress in his eyes” (5).  In a sport that so proudly boasts its accomplishment of integration, it is striking to see how little they are now doing to support black athletes. 

However, not all hope is lost. Just this year the league decided to pull the 2021 All-Star Game out of Atlanta following the new Georgia voting law that is likely to disenfranchise black voters (6). By citing that this move was the best way to demonstrate the league's values as a sport there is some encouragement that baseball is finally recognizing its troubled past and seems to be moving in the right direction towards activism.