John Thorn has been appointed Major League Baseball’s official historian. I was fortunate enough to hear Mr Thorn’s interview this morning on MLBnetwork radio. I found it amusing how giddy host Rob Dibble was, talking to him. Here is a guy, known to the baseball world a “Nasty Boy”, behaving like a young girl meeting Justin Bieber for the first time. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not poking fun at Rob Dibble, I just find it amazing on how Baseball really is about history. The game of Baseball brings out the little boy in all of us.
True Baseball fans are the most unique creatures in this world. We love to read and talk about the past. I bet any of you out there can remember a moment (s) in history that you talk about frequently. Baseball is the only sport I know that tries to compare generations from generations. I used to watch all four of the major sports growing up. I used to watch Hockey and Basketball, but when Bobby Orr and Michael Jordan retired, what was the purpose. To me there will never be another Orr or Jordan in their sports, so I have seen the best that will ever live. That may sound silly to you, but makes perfect sense to me. I still watch football, just not with the same passion I do for baseball. I can understand how football has evolved into America’s game. The seasons are short and the games are fast. The Super Bowl is more of an event than a game. Everyone watches the Super Bowl, it is easy to schedule and that one game will determine the champion. How many times do you hear someone talk about the history of football? I am willing to bet nowhere near as much as people discuss baseball of yesteryear. I watched every Super bowl except the first three. I was too young and not yet interested. Even still, how many “great” moments stand out for you?
With baseball, however, I not only can close my eyes and see the plays, I can also hear the announcer’s calls.With the exception of “Havlicek stole the ball” and “Do you believe in Miracles” and a few others, I don’t recall the words of announcers for the other sports as much. That could just be me, but I doubt it. We baseball fans thrive on history, we relive moments in the past over and over. How long do you think Red Sox fans will be talking about 2004? Forever !!!! We will never tire of discussing it.
The history of baseball is so important in our lives that we needed an Official Historian of the Game. How many of you out there wish that you could have been the chosen one? I know I do.
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