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For a lot of people not addicted to the game, loving baseball might be something short of insanity. For them there is no fun in seeing grown-up men go after a small ball, flung or whacked by another grown-up man who obviously desired the ball to go way off the grasp of others. But for baseball aficionados, it is the greatest game in the world, even immortalized in little pieces of cardboard called baseball cards. Most treasured are Topps baseball cards, those plain reminders of the great men of baseball, that come with the performance statistics, names, autographs and other information so precious to the hearts of baseball fans.

But how come baseball is so admired? The first reason is because it is a spectator sport. For the reason that it is played in an open area, it can be seen by many persons. Even if viewing is limited to the quantity of people who stand at the periphery of the baseball diamond, the number is still more. Compare baseball to chess and you get the notion. If only a percentage of the number is truly engrossed in the game, the real fans will be more numerous. One irrefutable proof is the gigantic stadiums geneally for playing baseball games.

Second, baseball is an actiongame. There is a lot of action, but usually in spurts, so the viewer is not overpowered. A spectator can actually follow the action of the main players as they sprint around the bases, hurl the ball, or dash home to score. But breath-taking, split-second action occurs quite regularly, enoughsufficient to get people enthusiastic in watching the games. Furthermore, the game is quite easy to keep up with, the players easily seen, winning and losing readily grasped.

Then, it is a game of deeds. The guyplayer who bats the ball to beyond the field and score successive homeruns is a hero. The pitcher who regularly outs his batting opponents is a hero. The outfielder who gets the fly ball with the bright sun shining in his eyes is a hero. Anyone who makes a home run inspite of great odds, is also a hero. They can be infrequent, true, but they are there and you must watch the games to witness them.

Baseball is a multi player game, from two players to 20 or even more. It is adaptable enough that from a pair of players one as batter, the other as pitcher and fielder it can include to as numerous as desired, as long as the area can contain them and all agrees to the arrangement.

Then it is a game for everybody. For all ages, any class, from all walks of life: there is no prejudice or prerequisites. A son, a father or a grandfather and all the people between and all family sides can see it at the same time, in the same stadium, for the same reasons. It makes for a great camaraderie not just for family members but for friends, neighbors and perhaps strangers.

Finally, it is a game of skill, guts, willpower and cleverness, all of which we believe essential for ourselves and thus in others, too.