The Myth of Baseball

No readings assigned for the week.
Discussions centered around the topic of baseball, with particular interest in its cultural narratives including songs, poetry, and art.
Document workshops scheduled for the following weeks, where students will read four short documents.
An essay is due the week after the document workshops.

The course begins with an exploration of baseball, specifically focusing on the myths surrounding its origins.
Myths will be examined alongside truths to reveal insights into American history and cultural identity.

Visual Analysis: Discussion initiated with a piece of art from 1984 depicting baseball.
- Students observed that baseball is intrinsically tied to American identity (e.g., presence of the American flag).
- The uniform symbolizes membership and identity within the sport.
- The pastoral background suggests a rural, accessible, and democratic aspect of baseball.
Questions raised include:
- What assumptions can be made about baseball if one knows nothing about it?
- Can baseball be characterized as a “working man’s sport”?

The instructor introduces the widely accepted myth that Abner Doubleday invented baseball in Cooperstown, New York, in 1839.
This narrative has been popularized through history books and children's literature but is presented as a historical untruth.

Abner Doubleday: Born in 1819, was actually a military figure at West Point, not a boy in Cooperstown in 1839 as claimed in the myth.
Real Origins of the Game: 1839 Context
- Baseball evolved from earlier bat-and-ball games like "three old cats".
- The chaos and unsatisfactory nature of these games led to the desire for a more structured game.
- Doubleday is credited with creating the rules under a tree but the evidence for this is widely disputed.

Key points against the Doubleday myth:
- Doubleday did not invent baseball; he never claimed to have done so in his writings.
- His autobiography contains no mention of baseball.
- Historic claims by Doubleday's contemporaries are often exaggerated or fabricated.

In 1908, the Mills Commission, led by Albert Spalding, sought to establish a narrative of baseball’s exclusively American origins amidst debates over its historical roots.
- This commission was criticized for poor historiographical methods, relying on anecdotal evidence rather than rigorous historical research.
- Testimony from individuals like Abner Graves, who claimed to have witnessed the invention of baseball, is viewed with skepticism due to inconsistencies in his accounts.

A myth is defined as a cherished yet untrue story encapsulating a group’s common emotions and desires.
Examples: George Washington’s story about the cherry tree serves as a similar myth reflecting values of honesty and integrity.
Doubleday's story acts as a cultural dream, fostering a national pride in baseball as an American pastime.
- Connection made between the romanticized origins of baseball and societal values.

National Identity: Lends a purely American identity to baseball, detaching it from its British roots as a game like rounders.
Rural Roots: Gives baseball a wholesome, rural origin, contrasting with growing urbanization in early 20th-century America, appealing to nostalgia.
Heroic Narrative: Doubleday is portrayed as a war hero whose backstory enhances the myth’s credibility and aligns with American values of bravery and patriotism.
Convenient Simplicity: Myths provide clear and digestible narratives that resonate with cultural narratives without delving into complex historical realities.

Abner Doubleday's military record includes crucial moments during the Civil War, enhancing his narrative's credibility.
Myths about baseball’s introduction to Mexico involving Doubleday are also presented as unsubstantiated fabrications, further illustrating the tendency to create stories around historical figures without solid evidence.

Throughout the semester, students will examine the intersection of myths and historical narratives in American society, using baseball as a case study.
Acknowledgment that while myths can teach about cultural desires, they can also obscure the messy realities of history.