Final answer:
Baseball emerged as the first great team sport in the United States and became the national pastime, thriving despite challenges and controversies. With landmarks like Babe Ruth's fame and professional baseball's growth, the sport has been a unifying force in American culture. College sports like football and basketball also played key roles in shaping American sports.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first great team sport which became the national pastime in the United States was baseball. This sport grew in popularity from club teams in the late 19th century and transformed into professional teams like the Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1869. Baseball provided an affordable form of entertainment and helped foster a unified civic identity among Americans and immigrants. By the 1920s, figures like Babe Ruth, who emerged as the first global icon of team sports, propelled baseball's status to that of America's national pastime. The sport mirrored the diversity of the nation and brought communities together. Despite controversies, including the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, baseball's popularity endured and continues to be celebrated as a vital part of American culture.
Meanwhile, college football and basketball also contributed significantly to the American sports landscape. The development and regulation of college football, pioneering the iconic Rose Bowl game, marked a substantial evolution from its more informal and hazardous beginnings. The invention of basketball by James Naismith in 1891 introduced a safer sport that could be played indoors and also became a popular collegiate sport. In conclusion, baseball stands out as America's first great team sport and pastime, defining the social and cultural fabric of the nation throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.