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Tom Zeiler

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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What's inside

Syllabus

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.
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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.
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.
Post War
In this final module we will cover topics surrounding gender and baseball, the Cold War, and a changing America.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Provides a unique perspective on baseball by exploring its relationships to race, gender, and culture
Taught by Tom Zeiler, an experienced instructor in the field of baseball history
Examines the role of baseball in addressing societal issues
Explores the intersection of baseball and the Civil Rights movement
Highlights the contributions of women to baseball
Requires an understanding of American history and culture

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Race, Gender, and Culture with these activities:
Explore the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Provides a hands-on opportunity to immerse oneself in baseball history and learn about the sport's legends.
Show steps
  • Visit the museum's website to familiarize yourself with the exhibits and plan your visit.
  • Take a guided tour of the museum to learn about the history of baseball and its impact on American culture.
  • Explore the museum's exhibits on your own, focusing on areas that interest you.
Review 'Baseball: A History'
Provides a comprehensive overview of the history of baseball, from its origins to the modern era.
View Baseball on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book's preface and introduction to get an overview of the book's structure and scope.
  • Read each chapter and take notes on the key points and arguments presented.
  • Write a short summary of each chapter, highlighting the main ideas and how they fit into the overall narrative of the book.
  • Create a timeline of the events covered in the book to visualize the historical progression of baseball.
Attend a guest lecture by a baseball historian
Provides an opportunity to hear from an expert in the field and gain insights into baseball's history and cultural significance.
Show steps
  • Attend the guest lecture and take notes on the key points presented.
  • Ask questions during the Q&A session to clarify any points or seek further information.
  • Reflect on the lecture and how it has expanded your understanding of baseball history.
Two other activities
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Complete a series of discussion board posts
Encourages critical thinking, communication, and engagement with course material and classmates.
Show steps
  • Read the assigned readings and prepare thoughtful questions and comments.
  • Participate in online discussions by posting responses to prompts and engaging with other students' posts.
  • Provide constructive feedback on classmates' posts, offering insights and perspectives.
Create a timeline of racial integration in baseball
Develops research, presentation, and historical analysis skills while deepening understanding of baseball's significant role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Show steps
  • Research the key events and figures involved in the racial integration of baseball.
  • Create a timeline that includes the dates, locations, and descriptions of these events.
  • Present your timeline to the class, explaining the significance of each event and how they contributed to the integration of baseball.

Career center

Learners who complete Race, Gender, and Culture will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Professor
Professors teach and conduct research at colleges and universities.
Historian
Historians are responsible for researching, analyzing, interpreting, and writing about the past. They examine historical documents and other sources to uncover facts and draw conclusions about past events, cultures, and ideas. This course can help you develop the skills necessary to research and analyze historical events, as well as to communicate your findings in a clear and engaging way.
Museum curator
Museum curators are responsible for planning and managing exhibitions, as well as for acquiring, preserving, and interpreting museum collections.
Archivist
Archivists are responsible for acquiring, preserving, and making accessible historical records and other materials.
Anthropologist
Anthropologists study the behavior, origin, and development of humans.
Lawyer
Lawyers advise and represent clients in legal matters, including civil and criminal cases. They also draft legal documents, such as contracts and wills.
Journalist
Journalists research, write, and report on news and current events.
Librarian
Librarians help people find and access information, and they also provide guidance on research and other library-related topics.
Sociologist
Sociologists study the behavior and interactions of people in groups, organizations, and societies.
Psychologist
Psychologists study the mind and behavior.
Social Worker
Social workers help people cope with personal and social problems.
Teacher
Teachers plan and deliver instruction to students in a variety of settings, including public schools, private schools, and colleges and universities.
Counselor
Counselors help people with mental health issues and provide guidance on personal and career matters.
Political Scientist
Political scientists study the theory and practice of politics and government.
Economist
Economists study the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Race, Gender, and Culture.
This documentary provides a detailed history of baseball, covering events included in this course as well as many more. It good choice of supplemental material or optional enrichment.
Collection of essays and speeches by W.E.B. Du Bois on race relations in the United States. It provides background information for some of the topics covered in this course.
Documents how the US government has been involved in the segregation of cities and towns across the country. It provides background information for some of the topics covered in this course.
Overviews American baseball history. It good choice for anyone curious about getting an overview before taking a deep dive into the more specific topics covered in this course.
This collection of essays by James Baldwin exploring race relations and American culture in the 1960s. It provides background information for some of the topics covered in this course.
Provides a broad history of the experiences of women in baseball, from the earliest days to the present. It provides background for some of the issues discussed in this course.
Tells the story of the Great Migration, when six million African Americans left the rural South for the urban North and West. It provides background information for some of the topics covered in this course.
Provides a history of racial segregation in housing, education, and employment in the United States. It provides background information for some of the topics covered in this course.
This novel provides a fictionalized account of an African American man's experiences with racism in the 1950s. It provides background information for some of the topics covered in this course.
Argues that white rage driving force behind racial inequality in the United States. It provides background information for some of the topics covered in this course.

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