Yes, the statement that baseball is the greatest sport is a BOLD claim. There are several fun sports to play and others to watch. However, baseball encompasses many compelling aspects that make it different from other sports. Those differences (in my opinion) are what makes baseball the greatest sport. This article will examine “Why Baseball Is the GREATEST Sport.”

NO MAN IS AN ISLAND 

Baseball is a team sport more so than any other team sport. How is it “so” different from the other sports? In basketball, one player can dominate; think about how Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or Stephen Curry controlled the court. When the game is on the line, the ball would be in their hands to influence the outcome. In football, a great quarterback can seemingly make plays happen out of nowhere, i.e., Tom Brady. But in baseball, no one player can control the game in the final moments in this manner.

A baseball lineup runs nine players deep, and each man takes their turn in order. There’s no controlling how that lineup will venture into the late innings. For example, it’s the bottom of the ninth, and the bases are loaded, but it’s not the star three-hole hitter coming up but an eight-hole hitter. It can’t be predetermined when that critical moment will arrive and place your best hitter in that spot. The randomness creates its beauty because no man is an island.

DEFENSE CONTROLS THE GAMES

Possession may be nine-tenths of the law, but in nearly every sport, it’s 100% of the scoring. In every other sport, the offense controls the game. However, in baseball, the defense maintains control of the ball. The defense dictates the pace of play and the action on the field. No other sport has this dynamic. This gives baseball a unique experience, a seemingly trivial distinction that has massive ramifications. In other sports, the offense can slow play things to their advantage or speed things up if that’s their style of play. However, in baseball, the defensive unit is the one in control of those aspects. It’s said that defense wins championships, and that’s because they control the game. Because nothing in baseball happens until the pitcher puts the ball in play. Thus in comparison to other sports this subtle change makes all the difference in the world.

NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT 

One of the other distinguishing features is that there is no clock. And yes, I realize that there is now a pitch clock in baseball, which enhances the pace of play but it does not determine the outcome. The other sports can run down the time and try to hold their opponents back. In baseball, you have to throw the ball over the plate and give the other team their chance. During a basketball or football game, if the offensive team has the lead, they will try and run down the clock. Baseball doesn’t afford such a luxury. As stated, the team with the lead must secure 27 outs; they can’t simply try and wait out their opponent.

CLOSE IT OUT LIKE MARIANO RIVERA

Baseball is unlike any other sport in these regards. And that’s not even to mention the difficulty of hitting a round ball with a round bat squarely. Many literary anecdotes stem from sports, but none are as prevalent as the sayings in and around baseball. We’ve all heard the phrase “that came out of left field” to mean something surprising. Making moves on a significant other being coined as “rounding the bases.” Even sayings of triumph like “hit that one out of the park” or “that was a home run.” Baseball is America’s favorite pastime, and no matter how much popularity others may garner. So as the great Babe Ruth once said “Baseball was, is and always will be to me the best game in the world”.