A Major Baseball League

Name:

Institution:

1.0 Introduction

In the United States, baseball is generally regarded as a popular national pastime. Around the 1800s, it was played informally but has since evolved to the current state where it is professionally played. Alexander Joy Cartwright, a scientist from New York, contributed significantly to the development of baseball as a sport through the invention of the modern baseball field and rules in 1845 (Bevis, 2008). Over the years it has grown to attract a wide fan-base and in 2011 alone Philadelphia Phillies recorded the highest attendance with 3.7 million people in 162 games. The lowest viewer turn out in the same year was by Oakland Athletics which had a 1.5 million record. In spite of its popularity, little research has been done to establish the benefits it brings as a sport to a community. In light of this, this proposal, seeks to investigate the benefits of establishing a Major Baseball League A-league team in a community.

• The research problem

A community which does not engage its people in a diverse selection of activities towards individual and group development faces many risks. Among some of the risks that they face are: increased crime rates, drug use and abuse, poor physical health and poor social relations. The above mentioned problems call for action to mitigate the negative impacts of the looming crisis.

1.2 Literature review

According to Human Kinetics (2006), sports have become a profound component of the American culture. In fact, sports have evolved from its traditional recreational outlook to become mega industry amounting to billions of dollars (Human Kinetics, 2006). The contagious impacts of sports have not only been felt in America, but the world over. In 2003, Statistics Canada (as cited in Human Kinetics, 2006) for example revealed that 8.3 million Canadians of fifteen years and above took active interest in different sporting activities. In England, the government recognizes sports as an important national cohesion tool and has thus included it among several government strategies (Larkin, 2008).

1.3 Deficiencies in the literature

There has been a significant gap in the available literature with regards to baseball as a sport. The available literature looks at benefits of sports from a general perspective with no special reference to baseball or the impacts introducing an A-league team to a certain locality would impact the community.

1.4 The audience to benefit

Human Kinetics (2006) has discussed the benefits of sports from three different stand-points; the individual benefits, the community benefits and the agency/organization benefits. Through the introduction of an A-league baseball team to a community, the same benefits will be enjoyed. Improved health and physical fitness are some of the individual benefits enjoyed by individuals. Through active participation in sports, excess energy is redirected into meaningful activities which not only reduces psychological tension, but emotional stress as well (Human Kinetics, 2006). Thomas and Cote.............

A Major Baseball League

Name:

Institution:

1.0 Introduction

In the United States, baseball is generally regarded as a popular national pastime. Around the 1800s, it was played informally but has since evolved to the current state where it is professionally played. Alexander Joy Cartwright, a scientist from New York, contributed significantly to the development of baseball as a sport through the invention of the modern baseball field and rules in 1845 (Bevis, 2008). Over the years it has grown to attract a wide fan-base and in 2011 alone Philadelphia Phillies recorded the highest attendance with 3.7 million people in 162 games. The lowest viewer turn out in the same year was by Oakland Athletics which had a 1.5 million record. In spite of its popularity, little research has been done to establish the benefits it brings as a sport to a community. In light of this, this proposal, seeks to investigate the benefits of establishing a Major Baseball League A-league team in a community.

• The research problem

A community which does not engage its people in a diverse selection of activities towards individual and group development faces many risks. Among some of the risks that they face are: increased crime rates, drug use and abuse, poor physical health and poor social relations. The above mentioned problems call for action to mitigate the negative impacts of the looming crisis.

1.2 Literature review

According to Human Kinetics (2006), sports have become a profound component of the American culture. In fact, sports have evolved from its traditional recreational outlook to become mega industry amounting to billions of dollars (Human Kinetics, 2006). The contagious impacts of sports have not only been felt in America, but the world over. In 2003, Statistics Canada (as cited in Human Kinetics, 2006) for example revealed that 8.3 million Canadians of fifteen years and above took active interest in different sporting activities. In England, the government recognizes sports as an important national cohesion tool and has thus included it among several government strategies (Larkin, 2008).

1.3 Deficiencies in the literature

There has been a significant gap in the available literature with regards to baseball as a sport. The available literature looks at benefits of sports from a general perspective with no special reference to baseball or the impacts introducing an A-league team to a certain locality would impact the community.

1.4 The audience to benefit

Human Kinetics (2006) has discussed the benefits of sports from three different stand-points; the individual benefits, the community benefits and the agency/organization benefits. Through the introduction of an A-league baseball team to a community, the same benefits will be enjoyed. Improved health and physical fitness are some of the individual benefits enjoyed by individuals. Through active participation in sports, excess energy is redirected into meaningful activities which not only reduces psychological tension, but emotional stress as well (Human Kinetics, 2006). Thomas and Cote.............