Baseball and American Culture

What is a stage yankee?

Farmer in New England with no education, but wins because of American moralities

What year does baseball start in the US?

1903

How far back is baseball dated?

atleast 1744

Which war popularized baseball?

The Civil War

What did Henry Chadwick famously say about bball?

baseball is a derivative of rounders

Who opened the investigation to find the origin of baseball?

Albert Spalding (1905)

Who was given the title of baseballs creator?

Abner Doubleday

Where was baseball said to be originated?

Coopersday, NY

What was the first league in baseball?

NABBP

Which war popularized baseball?

The civil war

William Ambrose Hulbert

• financed the Chicago White Stockings

• emphasized clubs over players and creation of strong central gov’t

Who created the rule that a teams city needed a population of atleast 75,000.

William Ambrose Hulbert

What is the reserve clause?

Teams owned players for a year after contract ended and in perpetuity

and the only way to switch teams was to be sold to another team

Whats the Gentlemen’s agreement?

Agreed to keep non-white players out of the league

Who was the first black baseball player?

Moses Fleetwood Walker 1884

What year did the women’s league begin?

1866

What year the was NL founded, how many teams did it have?

1876 with 8 original teams

The American Association is know for what?

allowing alcohol sale to fans

-AKA beer and whiskey league

The late 19th century was known for

• unstable leagues coming and going

What does Spalding do once he leaves the NL?

sells sporting goods

What year did the major league begin? What two leagues did they consist of?

1903, AL and NL

T/F Baseball as a major league was relatively stable during the first half of the 1900s

True

T/F Baseball as a major league was relatively stable during the second half of the 1900s

False

What did Baseball do in response to WW1?

basically nothing players exempt from draft, public was mad

How did the industrial revolution change baseball?

stadiums united people

1920 gambling scandal

• White Sox vs Cincinnati Reds

• White Sox lost on purpose

• 8 players banned for life

Who became commissioner after 1920 gambling scandal?

Kennesaw Mountain Landis

• owners hired him (very biased)

How did Babe Ruth revitalize baseball?

• rags to riches

• shifted game to offense

• established many records

• Hit many HRs

• emphasized power hitting

How did the great depression affect baseball?

• attendance plummeted

• all star game arose

What is Branch Rickey’s contribution to baseball?

• broke color barrier

• develops baseball stats

• “the cardinal way”

• invested in farm system

What is “the shot heard around the world?”

Bobby Thomson’s hit in 1951

• Giants win the game vs Dodgers

• one of the 1st watched televised games

How did baseball react to WW2?

players very active in war, enlisted

Where was the capital of black baseball in the 1860’s?

philly

When did the gentlemen’s agreement begin?

1887

What was the biggest negro league?

American Negro League (ANL) 1937-1962

How did integration affect the negro leagues?

• negro league attendance plummets

• lost best players and money

What player was the face of the negro league?

Satchel Paige

Who is Roberto Clemente?

1st black Latino player

Why does baseball strive under strong leaders?

• William Ambrose Hulbert emphasized strong central gov’t

• Strong leaders create strong players

Who created the first union in baseball?

Marvin Miller

What is free agency? Is free agency good or bad for sports?

players can negotiate with any team after contract ends; its good because it gives power to players

What are sabermetrics?

statistical analysis of baseball that takes out emotion and looks for objective knowledge.

What are the 2 big revelations that came from sabermetrics?

1. on base % was better indicator of a players value and an offenses ability to score runs than batting average

2. right handed batters hit better against left handed pitches (vice versa)

In Fences: What is Troy’s current job?

Garbage man

In Fences: Troy and his son Cory fight over what opportunity?

Cory’s potential college football scholarship

T/F In Fences: Troy believes in the American Dream.

false

In Fences: What transgression is revealed about Troy?

He fathered a child out of wedlock with Alberta

What is a “right wall”?

A barrier that stymies future improvement

Who was the last player to hit .400 in baseball?

Ted Williams

What is the “Genesis Myth?”

The good old days versus modern mollycoddling

What is the rough batting average across baseball’s history?

.260

T/F In baseball, variation decreases steadily over time.

True

In Southern League: What was Hoss Bowlin’s given first name?

Lois

In Southern League: How many players did the book focus on?

4

What team was Alabama’s first integrated sports team?

The Barons

In Southern League: Who is Albert Belcher?

Owner of the Birmingham Barons

In Southern League: Who is Charlie Finley?

Owner of the Kansas City A’s

In Southern League: Who is Haywood Sullivan?

The Baron’s manager

T/F In Southern League: Despite getting off to a hot start, attendance was low for Barons home games.

True

What is the checkers Ordinance law in Birmingham?

states that blacks and whites could not be involved in any recreational activities together

T/F During the 19th century, baseball teams and leagues were relatively stable.

False

T/F Baseball as a major league was relatively stable during the first half of the 20th century.

True

T/F Baseball as a major league was relatively stable during the second half of the 20th century.

False

Who created sabermetrics?

Bill James

When comparing two players, what stats are most important?

• batting average

• higher exit velocity

• WHIP

Potential question: Should steroids be legalized? How do we decide what drugs are legal?

IMO- No, its encourages players to use these drugs and they are harmful in the long run. Also, it doesn’t allow sober players to show their skills.

How did steroids affect baseball in the 90s?

1. commissioner started drugs are not allowed

• no punishments though

• many players hitting 40+ HRs

• Record 4 players hit 50 HRs

• slugging % hit a record high

What significant change occurred in the 90s?

last time teams expanded and steroids?

How did the 1919 Black Sox Scandal ruin baseball’s credibility?

• commissioner role created with absolute power

• Commissioner Comiskey bans 8 players