Double Play! The History of the U.S. Told Through the Lens of Its National Pastime, Baseball

Walt Whitman once called baseball "America's game." Since Whitman uttered those words, baseball has occupied a prominent place in American life in some ways equivalent to business, politics, religion and race. It also became an international game. Our focus will not be on the game between the lines, the great players and teams. Instead, we will take up several topics that illuminate broader historical trends: professionalization and its impact on amateur baseball; the role of ethnic identity; race, segregation and the “color line;” the emergence of the "major" leagues at the expense of the "minor" leagues; gender and women's baseball; labor relations and the empowerment of the players; the impact of mass media; imperialism and internationalism; and the ballpark as an urban place.

Chris Kimball, PhD, served as California Lutheran University’s seventh president (2008-2020) after two years as provost and vice president for academic affairs.

A native of Boston and a historian by training, Kimball completed his undergraduate degree at McGill University in Montreal before earning master’s and doctoral degrees from The University of Chicago. Prior to moving west, Kimball spent 15 years on the faculty at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, the last six as provost and dean.

Fifty and Better was designed to offer university-level courses (no tests, no homework) taught by experts in the field, and to host social engagement activities for individuals age 50 and older.

Cost is $50 for this six-week course.

Register

Register by Friday, Sept. 3, at 3 p.m.