Polo Grounds during World Series Game, 1913 from the Bain Collection by David Shapinsky from Washington, D.C.

There’s still argument over the actual beginning of baseball in the United States, but the World series didn’t actually begin until the early 1900’s. So it’s clear that our Founding Fathers would not have been interested in the World Series, or even known of it.

But if we could consider it, who would the Founding Fathers root for in a game. In today’s world series, George Washington would, of course, root for the New York Mets, having served as President in New York — Washington, DC was still on the drawing board. Although he was a great horseman and didn’t have professional sports in those days, I think he would like the game of baseball.

Now Thomas Jefferson would probably root for the Kansas City Royals. Why? Because he sent the Lewis and Clark expedition through Kansas City. But I do believe he would have a hard time with the word “Royals” because he had actually declared independence from the Royal family in Great Britain!

Ben Franklin would have been rooting for the Phillies to get to the big game, being stationed in Philadelphia most of his career. John Adams would have been partial to the Boston Red Sox, being from Boston, and having defended the Brits in the case of the Boston Massacre.

I think that Patrick Henry would have cheered for the Arizona Diamondbacks, being so interested in liberty, as are Arizonans! Of course I think that because I’m from Arizona.