Althouse: "Some among us (I am one of them) can recall a time when the baseball and the players were the lone attractions, barring a few outfield signboards."

April 30, 2015

"Some among us (I am one of them) can recall a time when the baseball and the players were the lone attractions, barring a few outfield signboards."

"Nothing more, not even an organist. You watched and waited in semi-silence, ate a hot dog, drank a Moxie, watched some more, yelled when something happened, kept score, saw the shadows lengthen, then trooped home elated or disconsolate. It was a public event, modestly presented, and private in recollection."

The recollection of Roger Angell (on the occasion of the Baltimore game that was played without spectators).

31 comments:

tim maguire said...: I've heard that lament before--that once upon a time fans were responsible for their own cheers. Now we are constantly bombarded with ads, contests, told what to say, when to say it, when to stand up. We are constantly being managed and manipulated.; 4/30/15, 1:09 PM
virgil xenophon said...: @tim maguire/

A simpler, more innocent time unfortunately never to return..; 4/30/15, 1:16 PM
Rob said...: At 94, Roger Angell can remember when dinosaurs roamed the planet.; 4/30/15, 1:17 PM
BarrySanders20 said...: Modern sports stadiums cater to those with ADD.

I am here. Entertain me. Lights, sounds, and jiggly things.; 4/30/15, 1:19 PM
SteveR said...: The requirement to make a lot of money by extracting every dollar from as many people as possible, which also requires holding the attention of an unfocused cohort of nonbaseball types makes for lots of sad faces. But its hardly unique to baseball, it comes with growing old(er).; 4/30/15, 1:19 PM
David said...: Oh bull. You looked at the women. You talked to your friends or family members. You had a nice chat with the other fans around you, some of whom were quite funny. You watched the vendors, and listened to their huckstering cries. You bought stuff from the ones who made you laugh. You tried to figure out if you could sneak into better seats, If you were in my family you kept a scorecard. You looked at more women. You watched the clouds. In Pittsburgh, at Forbes Field, there were no damned posters or ads, just a brick wall with beautiful vines. You were glad of that, even as the Pirates were going 52-102.; 4/30/15, 1:26 PM
LarryK said...: My baseball memory only goes back to the mid-70s, but I gotta agree with the old-timer: baseball was better when everyone was there for the game (and the beer), not to participate in a variety of potential activities loosely centered around a game on the field (I've seen Karaoke machines at Miller Park). We've turned our ballyards into amusement parks without rides, and that is especially harmful to baseball, which rewards concentration and close attention.; 4/30/15, 1:28 PM
traditionalguy said...: The Good Old days. The men in straw hats smoked their cigars. T And the other old game was happening out in the bleachers where the Gamblers took bets in real time events.

Pete, we hardly knew you.; 4/30/15, 1:29 PM
LCB said...: I think the same issue is hurting baseball and football. In person the games have become so d@mn boring. When the Big Red machine was pumping strong, the Dodgers would come in to Cincy and Riverfront stadium was sold out or seemed sold out. The games didn't stop for those loooonnnngggg TV time outs we have today.

And football...forget it. I DVR the game and fast forward through the commercials. At the game the crowd will be all fired up, screaming and stomping and making fools of themselves (which is indeed part of the fun), and then this guy with long orange gloves walks out on to the field and puts one glove to his shoulder. TV Timeout. I've always wondered how much he gets paid.

Point is, the energy just dies when he does that. And although it comes back, its never as intense as it was when he stops the game. Watching the players just standing on the field scratching themselves isn't exactly exciting...to me anyway. :-D; 4/30/15, 1:34 PM
readering said...: In the 1950s average attendance at major league games went between 10,000 and 15,000. Today it hovers around 30,000. No wonder the baseball parks seemed quieter back then.; 4/30/15, 1:36 PM
richard mcenroe said...: Yeah? That must have been in a century before newsreel films...; 4/30/15, 1:56 PM
Left Bank of the Charles said...: That game is still played in the MINK League, which is part of the National Baseball Congress. The season culminates with the World Series in Wichita, Kansas.; 4/30/15, 1:59 PM
hawkeyedjb said...: The worst part about sports events in-person is the constant amplified noise. Literally every second the ball/puck is not in play is an assault on the hearing - super loud, screeching, high-pitched noise, without respite. I can only attend a hockey game wearing earplugs. It's nice when the puck is in play and you can hear some of the natural sounds of the game and the crowd.; 4/30/15, 2:01 PM
D. B. Light said...: David's right. I used to go to the games at Forbes Field back then, and his description conforms with my memories. There were moments of excitement and rapt attention too -- usually when Ralph Kiner came to bat.; 4/30/15, 2:06 PM
CWJ said...: David calls it. That was one weird article as only a rambling 90+ codger could write it.

Typical The New Yorker. The hypothetical fanless game takes place in flyover country, the Ozarks no less.; 4/30/15, 2:08 PM
Paddy O said...: ordo missae sine populo; 4/30/15, 2:30 PM
Michael said...: And baseball was enjoyable then. Now, there is no silence allowed between innings. We have to be treated to noise, to contests, to more noise.; 4/30/15, 2:58 PM
Jaq said...: I don't mind the noise at a Red Sox game, but I used to go to NFL games in Miami, and finally just stopped. The rowdy, beer-swilling, beer-spilling losers can have the place.; 4/30/15, 3:06 PM
Wilbur said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 4/30/15, 3:21 PM
Wilbur said...: Tim, 20 years ago my then-second wife wanted to go to a Dolphins game. I got us a couple of tickets in SE upperdeck.

We left in the 2nd quarter. We were surrounded by drunken, shirtless goons, who thought the participants on the field could hear their screaming non-stop F-bombs.

I thought about just whipping them all, but then thought better of it.:) They were feeling no pain.

I understand that the NFL has cracked down on this and it doesn't go on, or at least not enough to notice.; 4/30/15, 3:23 PM
Scott M said...: Wow...if anything could make baseball MORE boring...that's it.; 4/30/15, 3:29 PM
azbadger said...: MLB does resemble minor league baseball these days with all the ads, the promotions, etc.

One thing I miss from going to see the Mets at Shea in the 60s is the absence of signs and banners made by the fans. In fact, every year the Mets would have banner day and, in between double-headers, the fans would go on the field in a parade to show off their homemade signs supporting the team. I guess banners today get in the way of the ad space.; 4/30/15, 3:45 PM
Curious George said...: The only music that a sporting event needs is from an organ.; 4/30/15, 3:49 PM
steve uhr said...: I went to my first football game at Camp Randall since the installation of the mega scoreboard. It seemed to have complete control over everyone in the stadium. It would tell you when and how to cheer. It played loud music between every play. Much less room for spontaneous celebration.; 4/30/15, 4:23 PM
Roughcoat said...: NBA games are the worst, hands down. Each game is [almost literally] a three-ring circus. Whenever there's a break in the action (which is often) all sorts of circus-type acts swarm on to the court. It's awful. I quit going.

Actually, I've quit watching the NBA entirely, even on TV. The game has really deteriorated. The season is too long. Might just as well spot every team 100 points and play for five minutes.; 4/30/15, 5:12 PM
SteveR said...: @roughcoat yep!; 4/30/15, 5:30 PM
sane_voter said...: If you want an organic sports experience, go to a soccer game, especially a national team match. No time outs. Minimal artificial cheerleading. Organic fan groups singing and cheering.; 4/30/15, 6:23 PM
ganderson said...: I blame Sport Management Departments.My question is when will my distaste for the modern stadium/arena experience overwhelm my love of the sport. Hockey is the worst (and I LOVE to watch hockey); 4/30/15, 7:34 PM
themightypuck said...: I'll say this. A bunch of east german swim team ball players annoys me less than a fucking "stretch" every inning.; 4/30/15, 7:55 PM
rcocean said...: Oh yes the Good ol days. My they were boring. They sold a lot, and I mean a lot, of beer back then.

For a reason.; 4/30/15, 8:34 PM
Curious George said...: "sane_voter said...
If you want an organic sports experience, go to a soccer game, especially a national team match. No time outs. Minimal artificial cheerleading. Organic fan groups singing and cheering."

Crap, like soccer, is also organic.; 4/30/15, 8:54 PM