Baseball is a sport that unifies people across all demographics and bridges the gap between generations. Its rich history is part of the fabric of our country. Legends have been born on the fields for their athletic feats, but these players often symbolize more than their accomplishments with a bat, glove, and ball. They represent greatness, hope, promise, success, grit, determination and inspiration. Little ones who eventually want to join a team will get to experience firsthand all the ways kids benefit by playing baseball.
Cool Baseball Facts for Little Athletes
The first recorded competitive game of baseball was played in Hoboken, New Jersey. In 1846, the KnickerBockers lost to the New York Mutuals after four innings with a score of 23-1.
Baseball is said to be enjoyed by 500 million people all over the world, with the heaviest concentration of fans in the US, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic.
The very first World Series game was in 1903 between the Pittsburgh Pirates (National League) and the Boston Americans (American League). Boston won the series five games to three.
African Americans were not permitted to play in the MLB during the first half of the 20th century, so they formed the Negro Leagues. All of that changed when Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
The lifespan of a baseball in the MLB is about 7 pitches. Approximately 7-10 dozen balls are used in every major league baseball game.Each of these ball has 108 double-sewn red stitches.
The oldest MLB stadium is Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. The park, originally built in 1912, has since gone through several expansions and renovations. Fenway Park has hosted 11 World Series games since its construction.
There have been several fathers and sons who have played in the MLB at the same time. The very first duo to play for the same team, however, was Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. They played for the Seattle Mariners at the same time, and even hit back-to-back home runs during one momentous game.
It should come as no surprise that hot dogs are the most popular food consumed at ballparks. Recent data indicates as many as 26 million hot dogs are consumed every year at baseball games.
