Why Is Baseball So Popular During The Early 1900s?

As the turn of the century approached in the late 1890s, more Americans were spending leisure time at baseball games. The sudden interest in the classic American sport is reflected in the popular music of the time. Songs, such as “My Old Man is Baseball Mad” by Edward Clark, reveal the shift to more modern leisure time activities. Thus, the songs written about baseball during the early 1900s demonstrates American desires to spend more money and leisure time. American views to baseball during this time highly contrasts to the work-first mentality and time-consuming work during the Progressive Era of America. The lyrics used in these baseball songs generate a sense of patriotism and community. A common American identity can be seen throughout

However, the music about baseball during this time also reveals negative aspects of 19th century American society. The issue of race is shown in the sheet music about baseball in the early 1900s. Overall, the focus on baseball as a commodity and leisure activity reveals that during the turn of the twentieth century, the changes in American society during the later decades of the 1900s were deeply influenced by the baseball culture of the Progressive Era. In the song, “Three Cheers. Baseball is a Grand Old Game” by Clarence Gaskill and Billy Parker, the animated lyrics correlate with American desires to spend more leisure time. The colorful lyrics of this song reveal that the speaker is an enthusiastic baseball fan that is ready to cheer for his hometown baseball team. The lyrics of this song are unique as the main verse of the song reveals two different points of view. One point of view comes from a young male baseball fan, which was brought to the game by “Dan”, who presumably is his father. The other point of view comes from the perspective of “Fanny”, a female who needs to scream with joy after

When compared to the lyrics in “Three Cheers. Baseball is a Grand Old Game,” the lyrics used in this song have a deeper patriotic connotation. Nevertheless, the song indicates that baseball was a pastime that brought many Americans closer together through a common activity. The lyricist’s decision to add words, such as “yankee game”, creates a tight association between America and baseball. Throughout the early 19th century, as America was industrializing and developing into a modern nation state, the game of baseball was also evolving with the country. Thus, the use of words “yankee game” strikes a patriotic sense of identity for several Americans during the 19th century, as an American identity was created through the game of baseball. Originally, the word “yankee” was used as a derogatory term to describe American citizens. However, this song uses the word in a prideful manner by describing the game of baseball as a “yankee game.” This word choice exposes how the game of baseball created an American identity and sense of American nationalism during the early 1900s. Consequently, this song uncovers views that baseball is forever America’s national pastime. Ultimately, the lyrics of this song reveal that the game of baseball brought several Americans together and was a simple leisure activity that several Americans would enjoy. The cover art of this song also reveals this