July is America’s Pastime
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, Hollister, because it’s
that time of year again.
July is America’s Pastime
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, Hollister, because it’s that time of year again.
July is here and I don’t really think about it until it comes, but this month has to be my favorite of all the 12 months in the year. Not because it’s summer – because I hate when it is hot – and not because it’s time to go to the beaches and relax and watch the beautiful scenery, if you know what I mean. July is my favorite time because this month represents everything that is good about baseball.
Summer, especially July, is baseball’s signature. This is the time of the year where baseball owns the sports world. Sure, there are drafts and free-agent signings happening in other professional sports leagues, but all of that stuff has little meaning until the start of those seasons.
This is the time where baseball gets down to the nitty-gritty and teams become either the contenders they were meant to be or the failures they tried not to be.
Independence Day usually brings out some of the best crowds to watch a baseball game. With fireworks displays after the game, a day at the ballpark is a great way to celebrate America’s independence. I spent my Fourth of July watching baseball at home. The Giants played in Cincinnati against the Reds at 10 a.m., the A’s hosted the Toronto Blue Jays at 1 p.m. – both games were televised on Fox Sports Net – and ESPN televised the Tigers and the Indians at 4 p.m. I, myself, could not think of a better way to spend a holiday than to be watching my favorite sport.
July also equals the All-Star game, where all of baseball’s best get together and enjoy a three-day mini-vacation. There is a Home Run Derby, which puts ten of baseball’s best power hitters onto the field in a competition to see who can hit the most home runs, a fan favorite.
The main attraction is the All-Star game itself where the best representatives from each team split into the National and American league teams. The teams play a game, where the winner achieves home field advantage for their league’s representative in the World Series.
As a baseball fan, I will be spending the All-Star game at home with my family eating the traditional hot dogs and peanuts and drinking ice cold root beers. Every year since I can remember my mom has grilled hot dogs for the All-Star game (that just shows how much we love baseball). I tried my hardest to get to the All-Star game this year because AT&T Park, the home of the Giants, is hosting the classic for the first time in its history, but my attempts were futile. The traditional day at home will do just fine for me.
July also brings the trading deadline, where teams buy and sell players in attempt to make them playoff compatible.
When I think of the dog days of summer, I automatically think baseball. Some of the best games are played in the month of July. It is make it or break it time and teams know it. They always bring their best to the table and that is what makes baseball in the month of July so great.
America’s pastime is, without a shadow of a doubt in my mind, the game of baseball. July is where it all happens. Good players turn into great players, mediocre teams become Cinderella stories. What is there not to love?
When I think of July, I think baseball.
I think about a sunny day out at the ballpark with a slight breeze blowing through the crowd.
I think about the chalked lines, the smell of the dirt and grass, the sunflower seeds, the peanuts, and the hot dogs, of course.
I think of long home runs, doubles to the gap, miraculous diving catches, and devastating errors.
I think about players giving it their all for their fans and themselves – making their team the best it can be.
America’s pastime and July are meant to be together. I am thankful that, as a fan, I get to be a part of the joy of the game of baseball.
