Justin Verlander, Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays. 

Most of these names that belong to baseball legends are unfamiliar to many Arab Americans— because many Arabs just don’t like baseball.

The reasons why many Arabs have no connection to the game once called “America’s pastime” are often due to their upbringing and influences in their life relative to the game.

The last time the United States saw an Arab professional baseball player was 30 years ago, when  Sam Khalifa played for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Khalifa just played for three seasons. 

Other professional sports have had Arab or Muslim players, including basketball legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon and Shareef Abdur-Rahim; Ahmad Rashad, who played in the NFL in the early 1970s; and boxer Muhammad Ali, who is regarded by some as the greatest athlete of all time.

In addition, countless soccer players of Arab or Muslim backgrounds have influenced many young athletes around the world.

In America, children often developed a love for baseball when playing catch with their parents or older siblings. Later, whether playing a neighborhood game for fun or as part of an organized league, they’d learn how to bat, throw a curveball, properly field a grounder, etc. 

Likewise, those growing up loving football, basketball or hockey would often have similar experiences with those sports.

The Middle East, most of us know, lives and breathes soccer. People in the region have been socially divided between the Real Madrid and Barcelona soccer clubs; and many youths can name the starting lineup of their favorite teams and imitate many players’ signature moves. 

They also often wear Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi  jerseys as if they were the finest pieces of clothing in their closets.

My father explained to me that when he was growing up in Jordan almost every single boy in the neighborhood would go outside and gather together for a soccer match in the middle of the street. They’d use two large rocks as goal posts and pebbles to mark the sidelines. As many of those men who grew up playing soccer in their countries of birth came to America, they passed their love for the game on to their children, often signing them up to play it at an early age.

Along similar lines— especially in decades past when baseball was at the peak of its popularity— young American children would play that game in the middle of the street and later encourage their own children to partake in the sport as well.

Most Arabs I spoke to about baseball said their lack of interest was often due to the game’s lack of speed and complexity.

“It’s such a silly game,” one person said. “Its so complicated for such a silly objective and its too slow. Absolutely nothing about it is interesting; its just a waste of time.” 

Many non Arabs also share that point of view.

Of course, the rules of soccer are far more simple:  using your feet to move the ball and kick in to a goal, with only a couple of points needing detailed explanations, such as offsides or a complicated substitution. 

When it comes to baseball, people seeking to understand the game need explanations for the ball count, methods of getting a player out, scoring and base running, to name a few rules. 

However, initial confusion abut the rules and terms of baseball should not be justification for not watching at least a handful of games. My uncle did and found baseball beginning to grow on him.

He came to the U.S. years ago, and was baffled by and ridiculed both American football and baseball for their rules and complexity. But soon after sitting through a few games with patience and slowly understanding the rules, he began to appreciate the culture of both sports and their unique style of play. 

As I grew up with a father who had no love for any sport aside from boxing, it was my uncle who took me to countless baseball games. With much enthusiasm, I sang “Take me out to the ballgame”, ate peanuts as if they were the last food on the planet and screamed as loudly as I could when my favorite player hit a home run.

The split between baseball and soccer is not exclusive to one race or region, of course. There are many non Arabs born in America who love soccer and despise baseball.

While growing up, a handful of Arabs I knew loved and appreciated baseball, while the vast majority of them saw nothing special about the sport, or had the slightest interest.

For myself, I cherish the memories and opportunities to grow up with the game, pick up a ball and glove and host games of my own with friends and kids from all around the neighborhood in the local park.

The love of the game I developed not only helped me appreciate a fun new activity and make new lasting friendships; I also learned to adopt a very significant part of the American culture and embrace the United States as the country I grew up in. 

It also helped me appreciate the opportunities this country has given me, as it had done for every other citizen. Disliking baseball by no means makes one “un-American”; but it should just at least be given a legitimate chance by anyone who lives here.