Negro League Baseball Research Paper
Negro League Baseball
When the topic of baseball comes up in a conversation, what do you think of? The field, a bat, the ball, or amazing plays, crucial games, and game winning performances. What about American history? Does World War II come to mind; most likely not. According to an article called “Food for Thought: Baseball and American History,” John P. Rossi quotes Jacques Barzun saying, “Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.” Negro League Baseball can be used to shed light on the historical experience of African American’s in the United States.
The first record of baseball in the United States began in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1791. Its popularity spread quickly through the town and the men were banned the playing the sport within 80 yards of the town meeting house. Another early mentioning of baseball was in New York. Referred to as “base ball”, it was regularly played on Saturday’s on the outskirts of New York in 1823; which is now known as Greenwich Village. At the same time, cricket was also a popular sport. Baseball and cricket jockeyed back and forth for popularity with baseball eventually winning over the crowd. A team called the New York Knickerbockers was founded in 1845. This was first baseball team to play under modern rules. These rules were likewise adopted and accepted by other teams. As baseball changed over time so did the rules. They eventually evolved into the rules that we now abide by in modern day baseball. The first know record of African Americans playing baseball was 1846. At this same time, the Mexican-American war had just started. African Americans and whites picked the game up from other soldiers while fighting in the war. Often times during their leisure, the men would spend countless hours making a baseball diamond and striking up games with other soldiers. After the war was over baseball gained even more popularity and teams began to spring up all over the place. Also at this
When the topic of baseball comes up in a conversation, what do you think of? The field, a bat, the ball, or amazing plays, crucial games, and game winning performances. What about American history? Does World War II come to mind; most likely not. According to an article called “Food for Thought: Baseball and American History,” John P. Rossi quotes Jacques Barzun saying, “Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.” Negro League Baseball can be used to shed light on the historical experience of African American’s in the United States.
The first record of baseball in the United States began in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1791. Its popularity spread quickly through the town and the men were banned the playing the sport within 80 yards of the town meeting house. Another early mentioning of baseball was in New York. Referred to as “base ball”, it was regularly played on Saturday’s on the outskirts of New York in 1823; which is now known as Greenwich Village. At the same time, cricket was also a popular sport. Baseball and cricket jockeyed back and forth for popularity with baseball eventually winning over the crowd. A team called the New York Knickerbockers was founded in 1845. This was first baseball team to play under modern rules. These rules were likewise adopted and accepted by other teams. As baseball changed over time so did the rules. They eventually evolved into the rules that we now abide by in modern day baseball. The first know record of African Americans playing baseball was 1846. At this same time, the Mexican-American war had just started. African Americans and whites picked the game up from other soldiers while fighting in the war. Often times during their leisure, the men would spend countless hours making a baseball diamond and striking up games with other soldiers. After the war was over baseball gained even more popularity and teams began to spring up all over the place. Also at this
Cited: Carrol, Brian. "The Black Press, the Black Community, and the Integration of Professional Baseball." When to Stop the Cheering. Routledge, New York: 2007. Print. ISport. "Baseball History | ISport.com." Baseball | ISport.com. Web. 22 Nov. 2010. . Lanctot, Neil. Negro League Baseball: The Rise and Ruin of a Black Institution. 4. Philidelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004. Print. Mays, Peter. "American History Timeline: 1780-2005." Animated Atlas of American History. 2002. Web. 22 Nov. 2010. . Peterson, Robert. Only the Ball Was White. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentic-Hall, Inc., 1970. Print. Spalding, Albert. "America." Baseball: A Literary Anthology. Des Moines, IA: Library of America, 2002. Print.