- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
How rural America shapes America's favorite pastime.
Winner of the SABR Baseball Research Award of the Society for American Baseball Research
Anyone who has watched the film Field of Dreams can't help but be captivated by the lead character's vision. He gives his struggling farming community a magical place where the smell of roasted peanuts gently wafts over the crowded grandstand on a warm summer evening just as the star pitcher takes the mound.
Baseball, America's game, has a dedicated following and a rich history. Fans obsess over comparative statistics and celebrate men who played for legendary teams during the "golden age" of the game. In The Farmers' Game, David Vaught examines the history and character of baseball through a series of essay-vignettes. He presents the sport as essentially rural, reflecting the nature of farm and small-town life.
Vaught does not deny or devalue the lively stickball games played in the streets of Brooklyn, but he sees the history of the game and the rural United States as related and mutually revealing. His subjects include nineteenth-century Cooperstown, the playing fields of Texas and Minnesota, the rural communities of California, the great farmer-pitcher Bob Feller, and the notorious Gaylord Perry.
Althoughâcontrary to legendâAbner Doubleday did not invent baseball in a cow pasture in upstate New York, many fans enjoy the game for its nostalgic qualities. Vaught's deeply researched exploration of baseball's rural roots helps explain its enduring popularity.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover Page
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction: Abner Doubleday and Baseballâs Idol of Origins
- Chapter 1: Playing Ball in Cooperstown in the Formative Years of the American Republic
- Chapter 2: Baseball and the transformation of Rural California
- Chapter 3: Multicultural Ball in the Heyday of Texas Cotton Agriculture
- Chapter 4: The Making of Bob Feller and the Modern American Farmer
- Chapter 5: The Milroy Yankees and the Decline of Southwest Minnesota
- Chapter 6: Gaylord Perry, the Spitter, and Farm Life in Eastern North Carolina
- Epilogue: Vintage Ball
- Notes
- Essay on Sources
- Index