Play Ball! The Rise of Baseball as America’s Pastime

Play Ball! The Rise of Baseball as America’s Pastime

Series from 2019

Series from 2019

Broadcast info
Genres: Documentary

Every time you watch baseball, you’re participating in the latest chapter of a compelling story that goes back hundreds of years.

In 24 lectures that paint a portrait of the sport’s remarkable past and take you from the decades before the Civil War to the pivotal year of 1920, Play Ball!

The Rise of Baseball as America’s Pastime strikes a perfect balance between sports lore and cultural history.

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Ground Rules: Baseball before Babe Ruth

Early Bat and Ball Games

The Era of Amateur Baseball Clubs

The Dawn of Professional Baseball

Baseball's Many Leagues and Associations

How Baseball Created the World Series

Baseball Grows by Hitting the Road

Sacred Ground: Baseball's Early Ballparks

The Development of Baseball's Rules

The Evolution of Protective Equipment

The Role of Women in Baseball's Early Days

Black Baseball before the Negro Leagues

Prejudice and Diversity in Early Baseball

Baseball Grows through the Press

Baseball Becomes a Game of Numbers

Baseball: A Game for the Fans

Baseball and Our Common Culture

The Business behind the National Pastime

Players, Owners, and the Reserve Clause

American Politics and Early Baseball

Baseball's Rituals and Traditions

The Impact of War on Baseball

Scandals and Deception on the Diamond

How Changing Baseballs Changed the Game