Baseball and the Baseball and the American DreamAmerican Dream

American Baseball HistoryAmerican Baseball History

Arvada West Senior HighArvada West Senior High

ThomsonThomson

Shapers of the American Shapers of the American DreamDream

Shapers of the American Shapers of the American DreamDream

Marvin MillerMarvin Miller– Modern reserve clause todayModern reserve clause today– Major League Baseball Players Major League Baseball Players

Association = Most important & Association = Most important & powerful union in historypowerful union in history

Shapers of the American Shapers of the American DreamDream

Jackie Robinson:Jackie Robinson:– Baseball stood in the way of the American Baseball stood in the way of the American

Dream = RaceDream = Race– Baseball drew a color lineBaseball drew a color line– U.S. erased the color lineU.S. erased the color line– 1948 – U.S. Army integrated1948 – U.S. Army integrated– 1954 - Brown vs. BOE1954 - Brown vs. BOE– Most important figure in the Civil Rights Most important figure in the Civil Rights

Movement = Jackie RobinsonMovement = Jackie Robinson– Up until the 1960’s baseball was the National Up until the 1960’s baseball was the National

PastimePastime

Shapers of the American Shapers of the American DreamDream

Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis:Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis:– Clean up baseball and save itClean up baseball and save it– People could not wrap their minds People could not wrap their minds

around the fact baseball was corrupt around the fact baseball was corrupt →→ gambling (1800’s & 1900’s) gambling (1800’s & 1900’s) → 1919 Black → 1919 Black Sox Scandal Sox Scandal

– Pete Rose & the HOF = Ethics DebatePete Rose & the HOF = Ethics Debate

Shapers of the American Shapers of the American DreamDream

AAGPBL:AAGPBL:– Women were involved with baseballWomen were involved with baseball– Mid-size mid-western citiesMid-size mid-western cities– Close enough to travel by busesClose enough to travel by buses– Women clean up the game???Women clean up the game???

Shapers of the American Shapers of the American DreamDream

Will a woman be in the MLB?:Will a woman be in the MLB?:– Women in the dugout?Women in the dugout?– A female manager?A female manager?

Women thrive with womenWomen thrive with women Men are predatoryMen are predatory

Embracing the American Embracing the American DreamDream

Embracing the American Embracing the American DreamDream

Ted Williams = Defending the Ted Williams = Defending the American DreamAmerican Dream

Television Television → Shaped the American Dream → Shaped the American Dream → ESPN → Reshaped America→ ESPN → Reshaped America

Geographically → No change in baseball Geographically → No change in baseball (1903-1953)(1903-1953)– After 1953 → Baseball expanded → Some After 1953 → Baseball expanded → Some

embraced, some balkedembraced, some balked– Expansion/Shifting franchises → After 1953Expansion/Shifting franchises → After 1953

Dreaming the American Dreaming the American DreamDream

Dreaming the American Dreaming the American DreamDream

Magical, spiritual realm to baseball Magical, spiritual realm to baseball → → Foul lines go on foreverFoul lines go on forever

No time limit = Baseball can go on foreverNo time limit = Baseball can go on forever Mystic value/mysticismMystic value/mysticism Green = Rural, country “feel”Green = Rural, country “feel” The Natural → book strikes out → dealing The Natural → book strikes out → dealing

with life & failures → not always successfulwith life & failures → not always successful Sell baseball for what it isSell baseball for what it is

History and the American (?) History and the American (?) DreamDream

History and the American (?) History and the American (?) DreamDream

Internationalizing of baseball = Internationalizing of baseball = Saved baseballSaved baseball

Global DreamersGlobal Dreamers

Global DreamersGlobal Dreamers

A.G. Spalding:A.G. Spalding:– All-Star Travel team All-Star Travel team → Exhibition games → → Exhibition games →

Market baseball Market baseball – What Americans are all aboutWhat Americans are all about– Americans perceiving greatness → Projecting Americans perceiving greatness → Projecting

ourselves before we were a powerhouseourselves before we were a powerhouse– Not yet global leadersNot yet global leaders

Global DreamersGlobal Dreamers

Globalization of the game:Globalization of the game:– 1934 1934 → NYY & Babe Ruth → Visit Japan→ NYY & Babe Ruth → Visit Japan– After 1934 → Japanese Professional Baseball After 1934 → Japanese Professional Baseball

Global DreamersGlobal Dreamers

Global DreamersGlobal Dreamers

Japan and Baseball:Japan and Baseball:– One sportOne sport– Year round playYear round play– Better fundamentalsBetter fundamentals– Mirrors lifestyle & cultureMirrors lifestyle & culture– PopularPopular

Baseball and the American Baseball and the American Dream?Dream?

Future of BaseballFuture of Baseball

Very brightVery bright Foreigners have bought into the Foreigners have bought into the

American DreamAmerican Dream MLB camps in third world countriesMLB camps in third world countries