英语介绍棒球的历史PPT
Baseball has been called "America's pastime" and is often considered to be th...
Baseball has been called "America's pastime" and is often considered to be the national sport of the United States. While its exact origin is unknown and subject to folklore and speculation, it has become a global phenomenon that has spread around the world. Here we will trace the history of baseball from its earliest beginnings to its present status as a worldwide sport. The Early DaysThe earliest known precursor to baseball was a game played by British and Irish immigrants in Canada called "bat and ball". The bat was made of wood or stone and the ball was fashioned out of wrapped yarn or tightly tied cloth. This game was played on open fields and included multiple players on both teams.The first reference to baseball being played in the United States was in 1791 in New York. At this time, the game was called "rounders" and was played with a ball thrown between four bases, each base being a different object or location on the field. Players used bats to hit the ball and could score a point for each base they reached. The Formation of the National PastimeIn the mid-19th century, baseball began to evolve into the sport we know today. In 1845, Alexander J. Cartwright created the first official rules for baseball, which included a pitcher's mound, a strike zone, and nine players per team. The New York Knickerbockers, as Cartwright's team was known, became the first baseball club on record and their matches quickly became popular events in New York City.Baseball's popularity spread quickly throughout the United States in the 1860s as Civil War veterans returned home and formed their own teams. By the end of the 19th century, baseball had become a national pastime with professional leagues springing up around the country. The Rise of Professional BaseballIn 1876, the National League (NL) was founded as the first professional baseball league in the United States. It was quickly followed by the American Association (AA) in 1890, which would merge with the NL in 1902 to create the current iteration of Major League Baseball (MLB).The early days of professional baseball were characterized by franchise relocations, mergers, and collapses as teams jockeyed for position in the standings and competed for fans. The first World Series was played between the NL's Boston Red Stockings and the AA's Pittsburgh Pirates in 1903, pitting the two professional leagues against each other for the first time. The Red Stockings won that year and the series has been played every year since then between the two leagues' pennant winners. Baseball in Modern TimesBaseball has remained America's favorite pastime since the early 20th century. The sport has also gained popularity around the world with leagues springing up in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, among others. Major League Baseball has even created a branch called MLB International to promote the sport's growth outside of North America.Baseball has also been a fixture of the Olympics since 1904, when it made its debut at the St. Louis Games. The United States has dominated the medal standings, winning 27 out of a possible 44 medals awarded as of 2021. However, Cuba and Japan have been consistent medal contenders over the years while other nations such as South Korea and Puerto Rico have also made regular appearances on the podium. Baseball Today and TomorrowToday, baseball remains one of the most popular sports in the United States and around the world. The MLB is made up of 30 teams divided evenly between the National League and American League. Each team plays a 162-game regular season schedule that culminates in a playoff system that culminates in a World Series championship match-up between the two league champions.Baseball has also become more diverse in recent years with players from Latin America and Asia making their mark on the sport. The addition of international talent has added new dimensions to the game and opened it up to new audiences around the world.With its rich history and tradition, baseball looks forward to continued popularity and growth both domestically and internationally. The sport will always hold a special place in American culture and its popularity is likely to remain unwavering for years to come.