Baseball is known as America's national pastime, but its popularity did not happen overnight. The modern game evolved in the late 1800s in the Midwest, and by the turn of the century, Americans were telling stories about heroic exploits on the baseball diamond. Players from Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth to Andrew McCutchen and Albert Pujols have thrilled fans with dramatic late-inning plays and thrilling World Series winning hits. The constant simplicity of baseball over more than a century is a large part of its appeal. More than 70 million people go to the ballpark every season to watch the game unfold during a leisurely summer afternoon or under the stars on a crisp September evening. Although the game has taken root in places like Japan and Latin America, baseball is still a uniquely American experience.