Given its classical alchemy of character, chance and poise, and its fabulously emotive dramatic potential, it's surprising sport isn't used more often as a vehicle for theatrical innovation.
It was with this in mind, perhaps, that Corkonian brothers John and Martin Ryan set out to script Say It Ain't So, Joe, a new work based on the legendary swizz that was the rigging of the 1919 Baseball World Series. And if that wasn't original enough to be getting on with, they decided they might as well make it a musical.
It opens at the Everyman Palace in Cork on Tuesday, and according to the advance word, is a riotous fusion of gambling intrigue, furious choreography and apparently spontaneous outbursts of song.
This is how it came about: John was based in London, a professional musician who worked for IMRO and U2's Son Records label; Martin was by the sea in Youghal, teaching maths by day, writing novels by night. John became increasingly frustrated by the confines of rock music and the narrow consensus that determines its creative parameters.
"I wanted to try a form of writing which places less emphasis on a limiting rhythmic structure, which rock certainly does."
He settled on the idea of musical theatre and came up with two notions: a work based on the Kennedy dynasty in the US and one focusing on the 1919 Whitesox scandal. The Kennedy epic, November 22nd was staged in Waterford last year to local acclaim and now Say It Ain't So, Joe is ready to roll.
The brothers work separately, Martin carving out the basic plot and dialogue, John layering in the music and lyrics. They make no grandiose claims for the work, insisting their prime motivation is to provide entertainment: "There's not much point in having a wonderful message to get across to an audience, if you bore them to death in the process."
The musicals have sparked interest abroad and reportedly agents from London and the US are travelling to Cork this week to see Say It Ain't So, Joe.
Meanwhile, in a bumper week for musicals, Brian O'Reilly's Buskin opens, also on Tuesday, at the Tivoli. Already seen by some 18,000 people during runs in Cork and London, it tells of a young strumster leaving home and sweetheart behind to seek fame and riches under the bright lights of a big city. Originally staged in 1985, Buskin stars Gary Mountaine and Gavin McCormack, is directed by Noel McDonagh, and choreographed by Belinda Murphy.