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“Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for our national anthem.”
You’ll hear some version of this announcement at the start of most sporting events, whether they be professional, college or youth-level. The performance of the national anthem is a well-established part of American athletic competitions.
Yet “The Star-Spangled Banner” typically doesn’t make an appearance at many other public gatherings. We don’t do sing or listen to it before concerts, Broadway shows, operas or lectures. So why do we do this for sports?
The answer goes back to America’s pastime: baseball.
For the full story, visit HuffingtonPost.com/History.
