What Did Walt Whitman Say About Baseball?
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Walt Whitman, an American poet, was also a big fan of baseball. He once said, “I see great things in baseball. It’s our game – the American game.”
Walt Whitman’s love for baseball
In his essay, “The Baseball Field,” Walt Whitman extols the sport of baseball as a representation of America itself: “I see great things in baseball. It is our game--the American game. ” He goes on to list the many reasons why he loves the sport, including its ability to bring people together and its ability to teach important life lessons. Whitman also believes that baseball can help Americans connect with their past and present, as well as with each other.
Whitman’s poems about baseball
Whitman wrote several poems about baseball, most notably “Line-Up for Yesterday,” which appeared in his 1867 poetry collection Leaves of Grass. Whitman was also known to have attended several baseball games, and he even wrote a letter to the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in 1947 expressing his interest in becoming the team’s “mascot.”
Whitman’s influence on baseball
Whitman’s influence on baseball can be seen in several ways. One is his use of baseball metaphors in his poetry. For example, in “I Sing the Body Electric,” Whitman writes, “The baseball bat is a symbol of America.” Another way Whitman’s influence can be seen is in the popularity of his poetry among baseball players. Many players, including Babe Ruth and Mike Piazza, have quoted Whitman’s poems in interviews and on social media. Finally, Whitman’s disdain for violence and his belief in the power of sport to bring people together make him an important figure in the history of baseball.
