Touching home : baseball and the liberal-republican tradition in America.

This dissertation explores how baseball has shaped the way Americans understand the liberal and republican foundations of this country. To do so, it examines baseball's relationship to the class, race, and gender issues of the 20th century. It argues that baseball's combination of liberal individualism and republican civic virtue prompted it to occupy a special place in American society as people came to think of it as both a relic of simpler times and as the driving force of economic and social progress. Focusing on baseball's connection to issues of class, race, and gender is essential for understanding the purpose of much of the mythologizing of baseball that has existed since its post-Civil War professionalization. In particular, this dissertation examines the mythologizing of baseball's pastoralism, its desegregation, and its inculcation of manliness as a civic virtue. These myths have become ingrained in baseball in several key ways: the Supreme Court's granting of an antitrust exemption to Major League Baseball, the promotion of Jackie Robinson's career as proof of MLB's compliance in desegregation, and the short-lived AAGPBL and further relegation of women to softball. Through the exploration of the topics above, this dissertation highlights baseball's development from accessible hobby into multi-billion dollar corporation, during which we can see the creation of myth used for the purpose of gaining economic and political power both in local communities and nationally. Thus, this dissertation aims to begin the process of demythologizing baseball so that fans and the general American public can start understanding the ways in which their attempts at creating community via baseball instead further the liberal individualism sewn into the fabric of America during the founding era.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Grantor

Baylor University.

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Craig, Mary, 1992-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Kleinerman, Benjamin A.

• Political science.
• Baseball.
• Liberalism.
• Republicanism.
• Civic virtue.
• Individualism.

Statement dc:rights

• Baylor University works are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2104/13100

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:baylor-ir.tdl.org:2104/13100