Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the National Baseball Hall of Fame join hands
Cricket is a field sport which was started by the English in the 16th Century, which prospered and evolved with great pace and by the 18th century, it reached to an extent that it became the national sport of England. Quite similarly, Baseball is a team sport quite similar to cricket but takes its heritage from France. The game was further developed in England by the middle of the 18th century who took it to North America through their voyages. The popularity of baseball grew to massive proportions in America and today, it is the national sport of the country.
However, when America gained independence from the British, the rivalry between the two sports increased tremendously. Yet, there it is. Conditions have changed in America and Britain, which is why acceptability between the sports is increasing by the day. In this regard, an exhibition is scheduled to be held at the infamous Lord’s pavilion.
It proves that attitudes between America and England are changing. The prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown New York have been instrumental in organising this exhibition. This year, England has the privilege to host the exhibition but the same event will be hosted by the U.S. National Baseball Hall of Fame in April, 2011.
Taking a glance into the history of these two sports, the differences are easy to spot. The English always took pride to call cricket a “game of honour” as it was played in proper kits and with a set of rules and regulations. The players were supposed to put on white dresses while coming to the ground. Playing in a decent manner and following the rules of the game were thought to be a matter of prestige for the English.
In contrast, baseball was considered a spoiled form of cricket. Due to its casualness, cricket pundits never appreciated it as a sport and called it a game of vulgarization. Baseball players were known for their offensive habits such as chewing tobacco in the field and being impolitely dressed. They used sturdy leather gloves to catch the ball and there were stories of ill-mannered managers who actually kicked dirt at the umpires.
Likewise, baseball lovers had various issues with the game of cricket. They criticised the length of test matches and believed that a five-day match was a tiring job. In their opinion, it was pointless that a match which could engage two nations for many days would still end in a draw. The Americans made fun of the game by saying that watching a cricket match was as exciting as seeing plants grow old.
The Lord’s exhibition is being organised in order to create an understanding between the two games and a tool of showing a goodwill gesture. It explains that both the games have moved to a new era of respect. The exhibition is an effort to strengthen the connection between the two games. Experts believe that cricket and baseball have gained individual respect and popularity on both sides of the Atlantic and each part should respect the other side’s game. That is why this exhibition has been arranged.
The exhibition has a public display of memorabilia from the two games. Some amazing possessions of players such Babe Ruth baseball bat, which he used to hit the final three home runs of his career in 1935, will be displayed in the exhibition. Along with that, various cricket bats will also be shown at this exhibition. The tight waist cricket uniform which was used in 1821 and different baseball outfits of the nineteenth century will also form part of the exhibition. Such events will surely break the barriers between these two amazing sports and bring the two nations together.
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