Baseball is alive and well in America
Not only do I think baseball has a future as a major sport in the United States, I think it has potential to reclaim the top spot from the NFL.
First off, yes, I realize Little League numbers are down. Kids aren’t playing baseball as much as they used to. Soccer has eaten into it, as has lacrosse. But baseball is still a huge sport for kids, and it’s even bigger in the warmer climates of America, where it’s played yearround at the youth level.
Then there’s the threat of soccer in general, but I think the hype is overblown. Really. My whole life I’ve been hearing how soccer is the next big pro sport in America. Not happening. Major League Soccer seems to be doing a fair job of things, but you don’t see many sneaker commercials with soccer stars, eh?
Then there’s the influx of foreign cultures in America, but I think that actually plays into the future of baseball. Just like mom, Chevrolet, and apple pie, baseball is seen (and rightly so) as a the quintessential American sport. It’s not going anywhere. (And know this: Attendance at Major League Baseball games continues to hold steady. In fact, last year was the sport’s 11th biggest attendance year ever.)
Does baseball hold sway over the American public like it used to? It doesn’t. But that doesn’t mean it’s going anywhere. And as far as the NFL goes - my favorite league these days I have my worries. If there’s ever a death on the field which honestly, seems like something that’s bound to happen - this sport starts to crater. Talk about a dryup at the youth level. (And if we’re being completely honest, the only reason the NFL has risen to dominance is because of Fantasy Football. No one can tell me different.)
Baseball will survive. It’s America’s Pastime. It will wax and wane, but it will always be there. Trust me.