Vice versa

“Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.”  —Jacques Barzun

Through this often quoted excerpt from his book God's Country and Mine: A Declaration of Love Spiced with a Few Harsh Words, Jacques Barzun offers insight on the significance of baseball in American society.

Commonly referred to as an “American pastime”, baseball amounts to much more than nine players, nine innings, a bat, and a ball.

Some baseball enthusiasts might argue that baseball grew up with America, with developments in the sport often mirroring current social, economic, and political events in the United States. In the 1870s, several American businessmen launched the National League; by the 1880s, two-thirds of the league’s athletes were of Irish or German descent. Baseball was used by foreign immigrations to forge their place in American society, thereby solidifying the sport as a facet of the American identity. Perhaps the most prominent example of the intersection of baseball and American society is the integration of the National League. In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African American accepted to play in the league and remains a household name and cultural icon to this day. Fans of the game today note that their favorite players’ names include Ortiz or Martinez, a symbol of the sport’s ability to integrate athletes from diverse backgrounds and a characteristic of paramount importance in the United States. In this sense, Barzun’s assumed relationship between baseball and the “mind of America” is quite accurate.

As for the sport’s connection to the “heart of America”, we must look at the situation in reverse: while baseball may have grown up with America, it is irrefutable that Americans have grown up with baseball. Though their grandparents may have listened to games via live radio broadcasts whereas youth today now enjoy the action on television screens with high enough resolution to see each blade of grass on the field, Americans of all generations can share the sentiment of being a fan of the game. Informal pick-up games once revered by youngsters at the neighborhood sandlot have been transformed into well-organized recreational leagues orchestrated by local governments and youth organizations. Regardless of the conditions under which they played, all players can fondly recall the feeling of a mitt on their hand and dirt stains on their knees. While the sport continues to develop, as does the country that declares it the national pastime, the love of the game is fundamental and impervious.

The sport itself embodies many ideals held by Americans: hard work and perseverance, integration and teamwork, and the so-called “American dream” of social mobility. For this reason, the promotion of baseball in communities world-wide could create similar shared values and encourage international respect and cooperation. This same vision is shared by a local Belgian club, the Gent Knights, who sponsor several teams for both males and females of different age groups. The club’s website declares their goal is to “search for unity within our society through sport,” and they believe baseball can promote “mutual solidarity, sportsmanship on and off the field, and especially kindheartedness to everyone, regardless of color, race, gender and orientation.” 

Though baseball is still relatively unknown in Belgium, the sport has deep roots. The first Belgian Baseball Federation was founded in 1936 and gave way to the current Royal Belgian Baseball and Softball Federation in 1975. The Federation is composed of two leagues: a French-speaking league with 10 teams and a Flemish league with 26 teams, including the Gent SEIKO Optical Knights. Baseball has been played for more than 25 years in Gent, and the growing size of the club indicates the potential for baseball in Belgium. The Knights’ club now has more than 100 members, making it the largest in East Flanders. The entire organization continues to grow year by year, prompting the creation of an annual national competition. In addition, there is also a youth league under the wings of the Flemish Baseball/Softball League with pupils, minims and cadets, which allows young Belgians to discover the sport and find interest in playing baseball.

Every year just before the regular season begins, the club in Gent organizes an international baseball and softball tournament, as well as a youth tournament, in order to prepare the teams and celebrate a new season. This year, the baseball and softball tournament takes place on the weekend of March 26-27, 2011, with the youth tournament to be held the following weekend on April 2, 2011. Games will begin around 9:30 at Drongensesteenweg 385, 9000 Gent, and the public is encouraged to come watch the games for free.

So the question still remains: is there a place for baseball in Belgium? Those associated with the league would argue yes, and myAmerica agrees. Come join us at the tournament in Gent and see for yourself, and be sure to check for more updates on our website concerning baseball in Belgium!

For questions regarding the tournament, please contact: Jacques Mathot.

For more information regarding the national baseball leagues in Belgium, please review the website