American soldiers explaining to British soldiers what the American game of baseball is like during World War I on May 18, 1918.
American soldiers explaining to British soldiers what the American game of baseball is like during World War I on May 18, 1918.
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During World War I, American soldiers played over 600 organized baseball games in Europe to boost morale and these informal matches actually helped introduce baseball to many Europeans for the first time.
By the end of the war, U.S. troops had even built makeshift stadiums in France, some seating up to 10,000 spectators, blending sport and diplomacy on the battlefield.
Baseball MLB players died as a result of their service in WorldWar I:
Eddie Grant Tom Burr Bun Troy Ralph Sharman Larry Chappell Harry Glenn Newt Halliday Harry Chapman
Negro League players died as a result of their service World War I:
Ted Kimbro Norman Triplett Pearl Webster
https://preview.redd.it/6nlnearu7h0g1.jpeg?width=425&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0707fcf311c3ba13ec15c129e888a6eb51534712
You see it’s like cricket, but instead of cucumber sandwiches we drink beer
Nah, I’ve seen Inglorious Basterds. Can’t fool me.
Different war. Same energy.
One seems excited the other seems bewildered
Wow, so this is what the Babe Ruth days looked like.
I grew up in London, and moved to America when I was ten. We played a game called Rounders, during playtime which is basically baseball. The uncoordinated kids would use a giant ping pong paddle as the bat.
Britain could not understand why there were 4 bases or why you could not just roll the ball when pitching. 😝
Wish baseball took off in Europe like it did the Caribbean and East Asia
Even the infield fly rule?
As a European I’ll say this: WHY DIDN’T YOU ALL LEARN AND MAKE THIS A SPORT AS BIG AS FOOTBALL?
Oh yes, the war, sorry. Still, a shame
“It’s like cricket, just not all over the damn place”
What’s funny is if you try to explain the rules of baseball or even American football out loud to someone who knows nothing about it, it sounds pretty crazy like a Nate Bargatze sketch. “So why does one walk to first on 4 inaccurate pitches and not 3?”
“….nobody knows. But home will be called a plate, and first second and third will be called bases. A pitch in the strike zone will be called a strike, a pitch outside the zone will be called the same word of the object that was thrown, so a ball.”
The British have a game called rounders which is essentially dumbed down baseball.
Two things that drive me crazy because I cant believe nobody else sees it, amd people also call me crazy for these beliefs.
1) There is SOMETHING GOING ON with NFL field goal kickers, 60 doesnt become the new 50 in juat a few years without something going on. Was vindicated on this one with the news of “kicking balls”.
2) Still not vindicated – There is NO WAY the game of baseball did not originate from Cricket, there’s JUST NO WAY. Everyone calls me crazy but I read about cricket and theres no way they arent derivatives of each other