This course will explore baseball through the lenses of race, gender, and culture. For good and for ill, baseball has been at the forefront of how the United States has dealt with these issues. Does baseball leading the way with desegregation negate that the sport was at the forefront of segregation with its Gentlemen’s Agreements? What is the historical legacy of baseball providing opportunities for women during wartime, in a way that other North American professional sports leagues did not? These are some of the ideas that this course will explore as it shows baseball’s virtues and flaws.
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Course 2 of 4 in the American History Through Baseball Specialization.
What You Will Learn
- Understand how baseball illuminates the history of race relations.
- Analyze the challenges faced by women in sports and America.
- Illuminate how baseball reflects on American culture.
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Baseball Comes of Age
Welcome to the course! In this module we will cover topics surrounding post civil war reconstruction, the rise of journalism in baseball, the color line, and women's baseball.
WEEK 2
Baseball Culture
In this module we will cover topics surrounding the Progressive Era, post war anxiety, the negro leagues, and continue the discussion on women's baseball.
WEEK 3
Only the Ball was White
In this module we will cover topics surrounding the road to integration, Jackie Robinson, the Civil Rights movement, and obstacles to equality.
WEEK 4
Post War
In this final module we will cover topics surrounding gender and baseball, the Cold War, and a changing America.
