http://www.life.com/images/logo.png http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/22989/baseball-childs-play http://www.life.com/image/50387976 Though known as America'snational pastime, in Japan and in Latin America, especially, the sport has become almost synonymous with the culture. ]]> 50387976 Sun, 01 Jan 1939 03:00:00 EST Though known as America'snational pastime, in Japan and in Latin America, especially, the sport has become almost synonymous with the culture. ]]> John Phillips 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3199758 ]]> 3199758 Fri, 01 Jan 1909 03:00:00 EST ]]> Lewis W. Hine 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/51239915 Though officially played with nine players on a side, at its core baseball is a confrontation between pitcher and hitter, allowing as few as two people to "play" the game. ]]> 51239915 Mon, 01 Jan 1945 03:00:00 EWT Though officially played with nine players on a side, at its core baseball is a confrontation between pitcher and hitter, allowing as few as two people to "play" the game. ]]> Getty Images 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/50863965 ]]> 50863965 Mon, 01 Apr 1946 03:00:00 EST ]]> Wallace Kirkland. 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3241717 In 1935, the year he retired as a player, Ruth lived up to his unofficial title as baseball's preeminent goodwill ambassador by spreading word of the game to suburban Paris.]]> 3241717 Tue, 01 Jan 1935 03:00:00 EST In 1935, the year he retired as a player, Ruth lived up to his unofficial title as baseball's preeminent goodwill ambassador by spreading word of the game to suburban Paris.]]> New York Times Co. 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/tlp711876 ]]> tlp711876 Fri, 02 Sep 2005 04:32:59 EDT ]]> HY PESKIN 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/50671205 This budding receiver shows he is well versed in the fundamentals by flinging his catcher's mask off his face and away from the immediate area as he tracks down a popup. ]]> 50671205 Sat, 01 May 1954 03:00:00 EDT This budding receiver shows he is well versed in the fundamentals by flinging his catcher's mask off his face and away from the immediate area as he tracks down a popup. ]]> Yale Joel 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3323007 ]]> 3323007 Sat, 01 Jan 1955 03:00:00 EST ]]> Orlando 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/56715796 ]]> 56715796 Sun, 01 Jan 1950 03:00:00 EST ]]> Lambert 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/2639122 ]]> 2639122 Fri, 01 Jan 1960 03:00:00 EST ]]> Orlando 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/52276113 ]]> 52276113 Tue, 01 Jan 1935 03:00:00 EST ]]> FPG 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/50654446 ]]> 50654446 Thu, 01 Jan 1953 03:00:00 EST ]]> Joseph Scherschel. 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/50671206 ]]> 50671206 Sat, 01 May 1954 03:00:00 EDT ]]> Yale Joel. 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/90002486 ]]> 90002486 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 EST ]]> Buyenlarge 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/50776549 Members of the Monterrey, Mexico, Little League team celebrate after winning the Little League World Series in 1957. Angel Macias (second from right) threw a 4-0 shutout in the final.]]> 50776549 Thu, 01 Aug 1957 03:00:00 EDT Members of the Monterrey, Mexico, Little League team celebrate after winning the Little League World Series in 1957. Angel Macias (second from right) threw a 4-0 shutout in the final.]]> Robert W. Kelley. 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/50776555 ]]> 50776555 Thu, 01 Aug 1957 03:00:00 EDT ]]> Robert W. Kelley. 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/50671209 Members of a Little League team put on their uniforms in a classroom before playing a game on the school's grounds. ]]> 50671209 Sat, 01 May 1954 03:00:00 EDT Members of a Little League team put on their uniforms in a classroom before playing a game on the school's grounds. ]]> Yale Joel. 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3328966 This Massachusetts Little Leaguer had been tossed for arguing an umpire's call, and he showed his displeasure by refusing to watch the rest of the game.]]> 3328966 Sat, 01 Jan 1955 03:00:00 EST This Massachusetts Little Leaguer had been tossed for arguing an umpire's call, and he showed his displeasure by refusing to watch the rest of the game.]]> Orlando 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/1339307 ]]> 1339307 Fri, 16 Aug 2002 03:00:00 EDT ]]> Scott Nelson 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/50325370 ]]> 50325370 Fri, 01 Jun 1956 03:00:00 EDT ]]> Ralph Morse. 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/72463961 Austin Finley, son of San Diego Padres center fielder Steve Finley, gets a child's-eye view of batting practice during the 1998 World Series, which pitted his dad's club against the New York Yankees.]]> 72463961 Mon, 19 Oct 1998 03:00:00 EDT Austin Finley, son of San Diego Padres center fielder Steve Finley, gets a child's-eye view of batting practice during the 1998 World Series, which pitted his dad's club against the New York Yankees.]]> Todd Warshaw 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/1007718 Boston Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez corrals Jorge Posada Jr., the son of the Yankees' catcher, during introductions for the 2002 All-Star Game.]]> 1007718 Tue, 09 Jul 2002 03:00:00 EDT Boston Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez corrals Jorge Posada Jr., the son of the Yankees' catcher, during introductions for the 2002 All-Star Game.]]> Andy Lyons 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/79287189 ]]> 79287189 Tue, 01 Jan 1935 03:00:00 EST ]]> FPG 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/HL3811-001 ]]> HL3811-001 Thu, 01 Sep 2005 04:22:57 EDT ]]> Orlando 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3251674 Uber-popular New York Yankees star Derek Jeter can't go out in public without being swarmed by fans. And apparently his wax likeness can't, either.]]> 3251674 Wed, 07 Apr 2004 03:00:00 EDT Uber-popular New York Yankees star Derek Jeter can't go out in public without being swarmed by fans. And apparently his wax likeness can't, either.]]> Getty Images 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/82093516 ]]> 82093516 Wed, 25 May 1932 04:00:00 EDT ]]> Imagno 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/50537646 ]]> 50537646 Thu, 01 Jan 1953 03:00:00 EST ]]> Joseph Scherschel. 2010 gettyImages.com