Baseball - Slowly making its way in India

A Match Between Assam and MP in the 58th National School Games 2012-13

Let us go back to our childhood and recollect memories of the games we used to play. It would definitely be either cricket, football, badminton, volleyball etc. But did we ever think of playing Baseball? I suppose never. For me as a child, baseball was always a part of the US movies and soaps. New York Yankees was probably the only US Pro Baseball team to be heard of because of the merchandise being sold in India, and more likely due to its duplication. But, at large, Baseball still remains a game, which is very less talked about in India or at times, it even remains unknown to a large fraction of the Indian population.

However, what is interesting to note is that a body for the promotion of the game in India was set up way back in 1983. It was this Amateur Baseball Federation of India, which introduced the game in India. To be precise, on 11th December 1983, few Baseball lovers from Delhi, Manipur, Haryana, Gujarat, M.P. and West Bengal met at Rohtak (Haryana) and agreed to form a baseball federation to promote baseball throughout the country.

Logo of the Baseball Federation of India (BFA)

Though we find a federation for the promotion of the game in India established, we do not see any significant impact being made by the game in India. Just like other sports, Baseball too has failed to alter the impact made by cricket in the Indian society. The first ever baseball tournament in India was organized in 1985 at New Delhi, but it’s sad to note that even after 28 years of the first initiative, nothing significant has been achieved.

A match from a tournament by the BFA.

For any game to be developed and popularized in a country, it should start making an impact from the grass root level. If young kids are exposed and trained with a particular game at a tender age, it adds to the interest of the future society which might make the game popular in the country.

For me, it was very surprising to learn that Baseball is being included in the 58^th National School Games 2012-13, in the under 14 category. A very curious me, since I had no knowledge about the game, and since I was interested, reached one of the venues to check out the kids playing. A government school in Mayapuri, West Delhi was the venue.

It was really a pleasure watching young kids play a game which rarely anyone in India gives importance to. And what’s more significant, was that they played really well. Kids who were barely 14, showed extreme spirit and enthusiasm to the game. They were well aware of the rules of the game, and even seemed well trained. Teams from Assam, Madhya Pradesh and even Goa participated in the event and showcased their best baseball talent, both in boys and girls categories.

It was a joy to watch the kids play, and see baseball taking tiny steps into a cricket crazy nation. By watching them play, I learnt the game, and these enthusiastic small kids were ever ready to help me out where I was lagging behind. With quite a lot similarity with cricket, I believe that with a little effort, this game will be able to make a very significant impact in India.