When the Milwaukee Brewers were a mere minor league team in the early years of the 20th century, pitcher Ralph Cutting’s contributions to the team were not limited to striking out batters. Cutting would bring his pet goat to the ballpark, where the animal would roam the outfield and eat the grass as the players shagged fly balls during practice. Not only did Cutting win 21 games in 1913, he and his goat likely spared the team the cost of a grounds crew.
This has long been the picture of baseball in Americans’ minds: a pastoral sport with no time limits that serves more as a leisure activity than a hard-hitting sport like football. Goats can wander the outfield, fans can put their feet up and enjoy encased meats. A version of baseball, softball, is enjoyed by men and women on fields across America every summer, as participants suck down beers. Further, the stakes are low: If your starting pitcher has a bad game, don’t worry — there are 161 other chances for your team to win.
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