Baseball and the National Anthem
In 1918, during the heart of America ’s involvement in World War One, the Americans were assigned the right flank of a large Allied army commanded by the French. The bugle sounded and the Americans along with their French and English allies rose and marched forward towards the German trenches. The Germans opened fire with their machine guns and the Americans were cut to pieces.
American General “Blackjack” Pershing refused to allow his army to be controlled by the French and planned his own attack for the next morning. During the night, groups of Americans soldiers, familiar with the way Native Americans fought, snuck slowly out of their entrenchments and crawled towards the German lines. When they got within 100 yards of the Germans, they would lay quietly while others followed their lead. By morning several hundred Americans were in position in front of the German lines, some getting as close as 20 paces.
In the morning when the bugle sounded the charge, the Germans thought they had time but the Americans were on them in a hurry. Soon, the Germans broke, and then ran for their lives. The Americans were victorious.
In the United States during a baseball game played at Ebbets Field, a message was put on the scoreboard announcing the victory. Some fans then stood and began to sing the National Anthem. Slowly, more and more people stood to join in until by the end of the song, everyone in the stadium had stood up and were singing.
From that day till the present, the National Anthem has been sung at every baseball game played in America .
