Stanton Green

Play Ball: The Anthropology of Baseball

Anthropologist, Dr. Stan Green poses the questions about the role of baseball in America’s history: What does it mean that Baseball is America’s pastime? Why did Walt Whitman, America’s poet, in fact, call it “America’s game?” The answers to these questions lie in the deep cultural and historical roots baseball shares with the evolution of American society since Europeans settled in North America in the 17th century. The game was played by African American slaves, by Plymouth Colony settlers, Civil war soldiers, 20th century European immigrants and many US Presidents. It’s origin myth has been used to define American identity, while its practice helped reinforce American racial segregation only to subsequently break the color barrier. It has been played by women and by men and boys and girls, and is expressed throughout the American Art scene especially music and film. And all of this derives from a children’s stick and ball game.

About Stanton Green

Stanton Green is Professor of Anthropology and Dean of the McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Monmouth University. His interests from Irish Prehistory to Baseball to Educational reform use the concept of culture to understand how communities adapt, change, function and dysfunction. He is the author of over 30 major publications, co- editor of 2 books and many presentations in the US, Europe including the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Little League Hall of Fame.