Stars, Stripes and Diamonds

American Culture and the Baseball Film

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by Marshall G. Most and Robert Rudd

Type

Studies

Subject

Countries > United States

Keywords

United States, sports, sociology, baseball

Publishing date

2006

Publisher

McFarland & Co

Language

English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Paperback • 200 pages
6 x 9 inches (15 x 23 cm)

ISBN-10
ISBN-13

0-7864-2518-0
978-0-7864-2518-1

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Book Presentation:
Since the Progressive Era, baseball has been promoted as an institution encapsulating the best of American values and capable of bridging the chasms of twentieth century American culture—urban versus rural, industry versus agriculture, individual versus community, immigrant versus native, white versus color. Among the more enthusiastic of the game’s proponents have been American filmmakers, and baseball films present perhaps the purest depiction of baseball’s vision of an idealized America.

This critical study treats baseball cinema as a film genre and explores the functions of baseball ideology as it is represented in that genre. It focuses on how Hollywood’s presentation of baseball has served not only to promote dominant values, but also to bridge cultural conflicts. Commentary on 85 films deals with issues of race, community, gambling, players, women, and owners.

Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

About the authors:
Marshall G. Most works in the department of communication at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho.
Robert Rudd, now retired, worked in the Department of Communication at Boise State University. He lives in Eugene, Oregon.

Press Reviews:
"another little gem from McFarland…recommended"—Choice; "Most and Rudd make a valuable contribution to the literature of baseball cinema"—Nine.

See the publisher website: McFarland & Co