Abstract The paper describes various superstitions associated with baseball via a discussion of W.P. Kinsella's book, "The Iowa Baseball Confederacy". The paper first summarizes Kinsella's book and then goes on to discuss the many superstitions that abound in the game of baseball and explains how the main theme of the "The Iowa Baseball Confederacy" is about these superstitions.
Outline:
Introduction
Baseball and Superstition
From the Paper "The book The Iowa Baseball Confederacy continues the time honored tradition of superstition and myth by telling a fantastical tale of an Iowa exhibition baseball game played from July 4 to August 12, 1908 between the team called the Iowa Baseball Confederacy and the Chicago Cubs----a game that lasts for an incredible 2,614 innings. The author, W.P. Kinsella, tells the tale through Gideon Clarke, the protagonist who learns about the legendary game from his unusual father, Matthew. Matthew explains to Gideon that no record of the marathon-like game exists because of a great flood of biblical proportions that wiped out all evidence of the game. The flood took with it the Iowa Baseball Confederacy, all of which were lost in a crack in time. All knowledge of the game becomes actualized in Gideon's brain after his father commits suicide at County Stadium in Milwaukee by purposely putting his head in the path of a mean foul line drive. This leads Gideon to discover the crack in time, sending him back to July 4, 1908, where each team is preparing to play the big inning. The Chicago Cub players in the book use retired numbers from actual team members, and President Theodore Roosevelt appears as one of the cameo players, as he strikes out waving a big stick. Another well-known player, Leonardo da Vinci, also appears in the game proclaiming that he, not Abner Doubleday, invented the game of baseball. He states, "Unfortunately....I lived in a nation of bocce players. It took 300 years for baseball to become popular. By that time, my name was no longer associated with it" . Another player, Black Angel of Death, a cemetery statue, plays right field and is able to catch fly balls with her sculpted wings and no glove. Some of the stars on the Iowa Confederacy team include, Shoo Fly, Husk, Frank Pierce, Henry Pulvermacher, and Arsenic O'Reilly, while on the Cubs team players include Chance, Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers, and the pitcher Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown Other key characters include an ancient Indian warrior named Drifting Away, whose wife was murdered by White men."
Abstract This paper looks at the global spread of baseball, an American pastime that is now gaining popularity all over the world. The paper describes international baseball federations, which are now in 106 different countries on five continents. The paper also discusses that teams other than American ones are winning at the Olympics. The paper concludes with predictions for the future of baseball.
From the Paper "Many aspects of American entertainment, from sports to movies, popular TV shows to music, have become global in popularity in recent years. Many countries now have their own national culture and one which embraces movies television, programs, music and..."
Abstract The salaries of the baseball players when compared to their performance comes out to be justified according to the equity theory. This paper presents statistics and research studies that compare values and present that the players in Major League Baseball are neither underpaid nor overpaid, rather they get paid their just deserves.
Abstract The baseball is a game that has become a science to many. From the phenomena of a curve ball to the excitement of a home run physical science plays a factor. This paper explains that in baseball there is more to the game than what the ordinary fan sees, however, many scientists have spent time studying this extraordinary game. This paper looks at the physics behind hitting and pitching.
From the Paper "In order to be successful in the game of baseball, a baseball player has to apply the laws of physics. There is more to the game than what people see. "Baseball is like church, many attend but few understand" said Wes Westrum, who coached the San Francisco Giants in 1962. A position player has to position himself according to the wind, the speed of the pitch being thrown, the type of pitch being thrown, the placement of the pitch, and the speed of the batter's swing. While a pitcher takes into account the humidity and the way the wind is blowing to determine the best way to put the batter out. All players rely on their quick reflexes and hand eye coordination to play our nation's pastime. In this brief essay I will discuss how the laws of physics apply to the game of baseball."
Abstract This paper addresses several elements of MLB, including the governance of the game and the baseball Commissioner. Other topics addressed by the paper are: relations between players and club owners, suspensions and appeals, baseball scandals, and the composition of club organizations and leagues.
Tags: steriod, league, commissioner, baseball, club owners, appeals, suspensions
Abstract This papers looks at judgemental errors that occur during negotiations, using the Major League Baseball strike of 1994. The paper examines the factors involved in the cause of the strike and how the conflict was finally resolved.
From the Paper "Ignoring the cognitions of the other parties when assessing the negotiation situation as stated by Bazerman can lead to what is called the "winners curse" This usually happens when others fail to consider the perspective of the other parties. Winning becomes the main motive - this is especially true considering that both parties were concerned with saving face. As early as the late 1960's the players adopted an adversarial stance to which the owners responded with distrust, disrespect, name-calling, and lack of accommodation for the players. (Staudahar) All parties were self absorbed in their own issues and did not take into consideration the cognition of the other parties involved. This also affected the behavioral atmosphere at the bargaining table."
Abstract This paper considers immediate causes and remote causes of a brawl at a baseball game between the two teams. It also looks at the Impact of the emotionally charged competitive atmosphere of the game.
From the Paper "In the picture of the baseball brawl more than a team's worth of players are shown in various stages of beating each other up. It is possible that some of the players are trying to break up the .."
Tags:baseball, brawl, cause and effect, personal essay
Abstract This paper discusses the use of analytical procedures for auditing the Burlington Bees baseball team's ticket sales. The author has written the paper in the format of a memorandum.
From the Paper "Memorandun To Ms. Bouin, Partner in Charge of the Engagement. From Ms. Kramme. Date: May ... . Subject: Burlington Bees Ticket Revenues Derived from Analytical Procedures. An analysis of attendance statistics indicates that expected ticket revenues for the Burlington Bees ..."
Abstract In this article the writer examines the use and abuse of steroids in the baseball game. The writer describes the current problem regarding such drugs in the sport field. Testing procedures and the subject of cheating are examined in this paper. The writer also discusses the reasons that athletes take these dangerous drugs.
From the Paper "According to a medical expert quoted in an article in Sporting News written by Dave Kindred, most users and suppliers are so sophisticated that only the stupid, careless and foolish professional baseball players get caught using banned substances. Kindred reminds readers that steroids cause acute acne liver dysfunction, renal failure, testicular atrophy and brain cancer. Other known side effects of steroid abuse range include violent behavior, kidney cancer, infertility, baldness and even transmission of HIV, if the syringes used to inject the drug are shared ... "
Tags: abuse of performacne enhancing drups steriod abuse, baseball, banned substances, health consequences
Abstract This paper analyzes baseball in the United States. The paper reviews Warren Goldstein's "Playing for Keeps: A History of Early Baseball," David Voigt's "America Through Baseball," and John Helyar's "Lords of the Realm". The paper provides an overview of these books about baseball to assess the effectiveness of the authors in their presentations. This is followed by an analysis of Ken Burn's 1994 documentary, "Ken Burns' Baseball," to determine baseball's implications as a product of the broader U.S. society and culture in which it developed, an analysis of the changing social reality of both baseball players and their fans, and an examination of baseball as a social, aesthetic, and religious metaphor.
From the Paper "On the one hand, the sport of baseball is a fairly simple bat-and-ball game, with just a few primary rules to help run the game. Baseball is played between two teams comprised of nine players each on a field that is marked out in the form of a diamond, with a base at each corner. Players try to hit the thrown baseball with a bat, and the players try to score by completing a circuit of bases. A "home run" is simply a complete circuit of the bases on just one hit. On the other hand, baseball has evolved into something that is much more than just a sport, having assumed the preeminent status of "America's sport," the "president's sport," and "America's favorite pastime." Indeed, many baseball fans have elevated the major stars of the sport to near-godlike status, and despite some rocky times during the last part of the 20th century, the sport appears to be gaining in popularity today."
Abstract Baseball is America's official past-time, and as such it is far more than a sport. It is an integral part of they country's culture, and in many ways represents the heart and soul of America itself. Baseball is about healthy competition, sportsmanship, teamwork and family entertainment. The paper shows that unfortunately, in recent years, the heroic legacy of Major League Baseball (MLB), and the sacred idol-status of MLB players has been compromised. Unlike the great eras of baseball history, the recent era is not named after joyous baseball events, but rather after an illegal drug. The 'Roid Era, named after steroid drug use, saw its height between 1998-2003 when home run numbers skyrocketed. The paper argues that steroid use in Major League Baseball is unacceptable, and all records which have been set by players using steroids should be stricken from the record books.
From the Paper "There remains a minority of Americans that believe records of the 'Roid Era should remain intact in baseball history. One defense made in favor of allowing these records to remain is that there have always been "flaws" in baseball, and throughout history the public has turned a blind eye. An example of this includes that Ty Cobb (a legendary baseball player who is in the Hall of Fame) was a racist and murderer; if a murderer can remain in the Hall of Fame, why not steroid users? However, this is a ridiculous defense, because murdering a Black man did not give Cobb an unfair advantage in the game, nor was his racism the reason that he was able to achieve such incredible physical feats."
Abstract The writer of this paper describes Kinsella's "Shoeless Joe" as an imaginative baseball story that naturally weaves together fact and fantasy. The plot of the novel revolves around Ray Kinsella, a baseball loving farmer from Iowa whose also a radical and creative thinker. One day Ray hears a strange voice saying, "If you build it, he will come". Ray thinks the "he" refers to baseball legend Shoeless Joe Jackson. This paper examines the author's use of baseball as a metaphor and how he uses the game to tell us more about who we are and what we require. This paper also gives a detailed history of baseball and the American fascination with this sport.
From the Paper "With statistics like that many have wondered how he has been charged of throwing games. After the ban of Shoeless Joe from baseball, out of fable and legend, with each passing year, his figure as a player grew mostly. Time feeds nostalgia according to Seymour; as each generation of players move away into the past, it slowly becomes surrounded in a fabric of fiction. Shoeless Joe became a legendary hero in baseball history due to his glittering past. The following all had a say to his legend: his nickname, his bat named "Black Betsy", and the way people spoke of their memories of him. This mythical stature is so strong that after sixty years, the society presented him a fair trial and a renaissance through literature and film. (Kurt, 2001)"
Abstract This paper examines the struggles that Latino players in major league baseball have faced over the years. The writer discusses the beginnings of Latino players in professional baseball, beginning in 1954 and continuing through the surge that began in the 1980s. The paper also discusses how the influx of Latino players has increased baseball's popularity in Spanish-speaking countries worldwide which in turn has impacted upon the numbers of Latino youth seeking to play professional baseball in the United States. Another area that the paper touches upon is how the increasing numbers of Latino players has opened up the doors to a small, but growing number of Latino managers in the major leagues. The writer also examines the struggles that these players faced in the early days, when Latino players were fewer in number.
From the Paper "As more Latino players move into the majors, Latino managers are making their mark, too. Felipe Alou was recently hired by the San Francisco Giants to take over the manager job vacated by Dusty Baker after the World Series. "Alou was also the fourth Latin American manager born in the Caribbean Islands, the other are Mike Gonz"lez, Preston G"mez and Cookie Rojas all from Cuba. Later Tany P"rez (Cuba)and Tony Pe"a (Dominican Republic) became the fifth and sixth respectively" (Pi-Gonz?lez). Alou was also the first Latino to manage an All-Star game in 1995."
Abstract The paper begins with some introductory remarks about the science of physics and by attempting to clear up some misconceptions regarding the way that pitchers throw balls. It then turns to discuss the storage of baseballs in a giant humidor and the effect of humidity on the motion of baseballs. It explores the materials used to make baseball bats and looks at their velocity. The paper concludes with an explanation of the new computer system introduced for the 2002 baseball season and a look at the involvement of physicists and engineers in evaluating this system.
From the Paper "According to some scientists, pitchers would defy the law of physics if the balls were actually thrown the way they were described. These scientist say a curve ball doesn?t actually curve, just appears to do so. They also say a rising fast ball is mislabeled "since a ball thrown overhand can"t rise (NPR, 1993).? They say players and announcers are incorrect when they say a ball hops, slides or hisses, since it is scientifically impossible, though they will admit a ball can sink a little. Scientists are quick to point out that a waist-high fast ball doesn"t actually rise when it hits your chin, but the hit occurs because the ball doesn"t fall as much as you predict it will. Announcers and players will disagree with these physicists, however, because they accept these concepts on faith and not science (NPR, 1993)."
Abstract This paper is on the topic of baseball and war. World War I and II affected baseball, but baseball played an important role in the lives of Americans during the war.
