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 baseballhistory, 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 This paper gives the history of the AAGPBL (league represented in the movie "A League of Their Own")and its importance to American history. Paper comes complete with footnotes, graphics and an introduction fitting to today. It deals with the issues of patriotism and equality which drove the women of the team.
From the Paper "As a result of the tragic occurrences on September 11, 2001 the United States of America has seen a major influx of patriotism and civilian assistance/support. The country has not seen a mobilization of this nature since World War I and II. One group who did their part both then and now are the women of the United States. The following is the story of the All-American Girls Professional (Softball) Baseball League from 1943-1954 - a group of women who fought through the early notions that (feminine) women could not play the masculine sport of baseball - while at the same time benefiting the country in both the social and entertainment spheres.
Abstract The writer of this paper presents a thorough overview of the baseball phenomenon of the Negro League. It examines the early beginnings of this group in the late 1800's and how this helped integration into the sports arena. It then looks at the highlights of this league and some of the famous players. Finally the writer examines how this league closed and merged with major league baseball.
From the Paper "The history of the Negro League in baseball has recently received new interest after a half a century of benign neglect. Baseball fans realize that Blacks played baseball before 1974, of course, because they know that Jackie Robinson moved out of the Negro Leagues to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers, thus integrating what most people thought of as ?major league baseball.? The history of the teams that created Robinson and thousands of other talented athletes deserves more attention."
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 examines the phenomenon of American sporting culture beginning as far back as the early immigrants who settled in the New World. The author discusses how sports in the United States has progressively taken over a large part of the American psyche, showing insight into U.S. society and culture. The paper includes a discussion of collegiate sports, and women's sporting events.
From the Paper:
"Overall, sport in America has risen to an almost unrivaled status in American society. To look at American history or culture forces one to take notice that sport has developed hand in had with our society and shaped us into what we are today."
Abstract In this article, the writer offers a comparison of how South African, American, and Czech sources portray national history, art history, world history and personal history. The writer examines a selection of texts to identify to what extent each amplifies linkages between world history, natural history, art history and personal history.
From the Paper "History as a record of events and dates can be a dull affair because it does not necessarily capture the dynamics of personal or even state actions as they were experienced by the people involved. Yet people are what make history and what made up the culture or cultures in which events and actions unfolded. Professional historians, if they are skilled enough, can make an account of an era or a significant set of events lively, but the life's blood of a culture a people a person or ... "
Tags: Personal, history, national, history, world, history, art, history
This paper analyzes the philosophy of renowned historian G.W. Hegel, who is believed to have created the philosophy of history, based on his life experiences and beliefs.
Abstract The writer of this paper presents an intensive examination of G.W. Hegel's philosophy of history. This paper compares and contrasts Hegel's beliefs and theories to those of Karl Marx. This paper discusses the speculation that renowned historian and philosopher Hegel created the philosophy of history based on his own life experiences and personal beliefs. The writer explores the argument that says history and philosophy are two entirely different entities, of which Hegel was deeply involved in both. This paper also touches on the experts who believe that Hegel was a believer in the theory of predestination. According to this school of thought, Hegel believed history to be an already fixed and unchangeable fact, that mankind only watches as a spectator. The writer contends and explains why Hegel's life and work is founded on the belief that history is nothing more than a dialectical progression. This paper also details Hegel's basic philosophy which is steeped in the belief that spirit and reason are fundamentally crucial to the development of history. Hegel believed that history is nothing more than spirit striving to find its own freedom.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Who He Was
His Philosophy
His Life
His Impact
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "GW Hegel took on a most difficult task when he decided to spend his life philosophizing about history and mankind. As a philosopher of history Hegel had to walk a line between rewriting history to fit his philosophical beliefs and changing those beliefs to fit what was actually happening in history. It was a line he walked well though critics have pointed out what they believed to be discrepancies. His life work was based on trying to find the basic truths about history and mankind while at the same time examining the sub-topics that went along with those things by natural progression."
