Baseball became an extremely popular sport during and just after the American Civil War. It was called "America's Pastime" because during the late 19th and early 20th century it was probably the most widely played sport in the country. Baseball was to that time period as video games and television are to today. Before TV Baseball was what kids did after school and on the weekends and during the summer...etc. It was literally how America passed the time.
Answer
The the nearly 100 year period following the Civil War, until the 1960s, watching, listening and playing baseball was probably the one recreational interest (aka "pastime") that most Americans had in common.
Before the time of television, the internet, DVD's and the rise of football, basketball, hockey, NASCAR, extreme sports, and the general splintering of American culture, baseball was probably one of the few things that almost every American knew something about and could discuss/share with their neighbors, coworkers, family members and other's that they might sit down next to on a bus etc... Hence, it was the nation's pastime.
I don't think, in this day and age, we have a "national pastime" anymore. Culture is simply too splintered. Football may the most popular sport, but being the most popular sport does not make something the "national pastime."
First answer by Matthew Vacek. Last edit by Bowneline. Contributor trust: 31 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 236 [recommend question]
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