The World Series, the championship series that determines Major League Baseball’s (MLB) annual champion, came to a close November 1. The excitement around MLB’s biggest event, featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers facing off against the Toronto Blue Jays, reached its annual peak. The Los Angeles came out victorious in the seventh game of the series, winning 5-4. Yet, not every student is caught up in the action. While some watched every pitch, others admit that they have not watched a single inning. The championship has sparked a wider conversation on campus about baseball’s place in sports culture today, and whether America’s pastime still holds the same power that it once did.
“On the American League side, I was a little surprised. On the National League side, I was not,” junior Evan Parton said. “I really felt like the Mariners and their depth at the pitching spot would be able to get them into the World Series.”
Other people on campus thought the World Series matchup was not super surprising and made sense based on the play throughout the season.
“I am not surprised by the matchup this year. I think everyone expected the Dodgers to make it, and Toronto was really good all year,” Faculty member Travis Gaug said.
Conversations spark on campus among the baseball faithful on the momentum in the series after a game reached the 18th inning.
“I think momentum is huge, because when the Dodgers won those two games in a row to end it, I think it’s just everyone playing together. The momentum they had brought the best out of them,” senior Charlie Jackson said.
Home field advantage also comes into play as the games are split between the two teams’ stadiums.
“Just the atmosphere you get from a home-field game can really make a difference for the players. I do not think that momentum is as important for the series, especially in the beginning. Unlike the Wild Card series, where there are only five games, you have time to correct mistakes in a seven-game series,” junior Grady Ferguson said.
During the peak of Major League Baseball season, conversations on the topic of baseball’s popularity arise.
“Personally, I think baseball is still America’s pastime, because I am not a big fan of football. I think that there are a lot of lessons that we can learn from baseball that are applicable in life. And they have a really long season, so it’s open to so many more fans to attend baseball games throughout the season. That is different than football, which has many fewer games and is much more expensive to go and watch the games,” Gaug said.
Most students who are baseball fans agree on baseball’s relevance in sports.
“I think baseball is not as big as it used to be because the postseason is during football season. But MLB playoffs are a huge deal because of the environment of the sport during that time. I think baseball is still America’s pastime,” Jackson said.
Others across campus have a different point of view on baseball as America’s pastime.
“I don’t think that baseball truly represents America’s pastime anymore. It is football’s turn now. Football has more passion,” Parton said.