The Essay Prompt

Here's what you're writing about ...

We Are the Ship: The End

In the name of awesomeness. No matter what sport you prefer (or don't prefer), THIS IS AMAZING!

Just down the road from Greenlee field.

To honor Gibson's life, a little league field was built in the same neighborhood as Greenlee Field was in. (Extra but non-baseball info: August Wilson was born just down the street from here!)

Gibson's grave. See the tiny sign to the left of the tree.

Yours truly and the sign. 

Up-close of Gibson's grave. Not very fancy.

For comparison purposes, here is Babe Ruth's grave. Small difference ... (photo not mine)

Photo of Jackie Robinson in the KC Royals Hall of Fame/Museum.

Satchel Page pitching for the Monarchs. KC Hall of Fame/Museum.



Photos from Roberto Clemente Museum. What do you see in this photo? Clemente made his MLB debut in 1955 and played out his career for the Pirates. He was the first Latin American inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973 (and some say the last Pirate), a year after he died.


More of Roberto Clemente


Clemente's San Juan jersey from his team in Puerto Rico.

Another one of Clemente's jerseys.

Clemente and his family at Family Day.

Clemente's Golden Glove; he won 12! He was only in the MLB for 18 seasons. Not bad. 

Clemente's Silver Bat from 1961. He won this four times in his career.

A video
Sean Gibson & Kadir Nelson

Discussion ideas

1. What impact did the negro leagues on the idea of baseball? The role of baseball in American culture? The construction of American masculinity (if any)?
2. How would you describe the tone of this book? Ground your answer specifically to the text.

3. Did a certain negro league player stand out to you? Why?
4. Anything else?

Film
Only the Ball Was White (30 mins)

Some bonus reading about baseball issues in Puerto Rico today.

Weekly Post #3: The scorer and $150!

This is one of my favorite pieces from the last year as I learned more from this than expected. An article on the official scorer of the game, this piece looks into some of the subjectivity present in baseball. Sure there are the umps who seem to be the arbiters of the game, but the scorers are like the gatekeepers of stats.

Two questions:
1. With instant replay (which will be in effect this year) and so many eyes on the field these days, do you think an official scorer is still necessary? Of course there would be someone collecting balls and strikes and hits, but why put the work on one person?
2. What new piece of baseball information did you learn from this article?

Nicely done on week one. Keep up the responses.

We Are the Ship: The Beginning

A breakdown of what a ball is made of.

Evolution of gloves in MLB.

Now a housing development, the old field is only marked by this sign.

Good museum but the majority of the items are reproductions. You're also not allowed to take any photos inside. Not nice!

What team is this building associated with?

A video

Let's get our brains working

1. How did the illustrations enhance the story? Which one was your favorite and why?

2. Inning 4 ends with a quote from Satchel Paige: "We were worked. Worked like the mule that plows the field during the week and pulls the carriage to church on Sunday." What are your thoughts on this line? If the players were the mules, who were the farmers? If the players were tearing up the land(scape) of baseball, do you think they were doing it for future generations?

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Discussion
3. What's the effect of repeating the phrase: "We played in a rough league"?
4. What is the most striking example of the player's struggle presented thus far?
5. What is the significance of the title?

Some KB effect: Inning 5, Chpts. 3, 5, 6

When the Grass Was Real

Cool Papa Bell's Grave

1. Finding the tension: As we transition from the early days of baseball into pre-integration days, there's a tension that exists in the game. There's the national pastime. There's the glory, the heroes, the sentimentality for the era. At the same time, there is the harsh reality of segregation. The struggle for non-white players to make a living and find success. Looking closely at Cool Papa Bell's oral narrative, where can you find this tension? How does he respond to it? Deal with it? What are we to think of this tension?

2. What do you think is the most fantastic detail of Cool Papa's playing career? And why do you think so? Detail could be on or off the field.

Week #2: Chipper Jones

Inspired by Paul Terris' reference and the awesome responses about a fallen hero and the American Dream, here's an article to balance the life of A-Rod. Chipper Jones. What a guy. Very different departure from baseball than what A-Rod is likely to experience.

Some questions ... How does this article play into the sentimentality surrounding the game of baseball and the idea of heroes? Is Chipper the anomaly or the norm? Let's play arm chair psychologist for a moment: why was Chipper able to resist the pull of steroids when A-Rod could not. Give me your best psycho-analysis.

Loved the insights and honesty of last week. Keep up the good work. Remember -- be insightful but be concise. I love your thoughts.

Baseball Poems

Breaking up into smaller groups, discuss the structure, diction and tone of your assigned poem.

Guiding Questions:
1. What aspect(s) of the game is the poet trying to capture?
2. In what way does your poet employ nostalgia or sentimentality?
3. What assumptions are made about the reader?

We've got to watch some film! Inning 1 where we left off.

Ritter & Spaulding & some pics

Wahoo Sam's plaque in the Cincinnati Reds' Hall of Fame.

Where is Wahoo? About 1 hour west of Omaha.

Entrance to current Detroit ballpark: Comerica Park. This new park replaced Tiger Stadium in 2000. Tiger Stadium was then demolished, but a crew of fans and local residents maintain the field to this day. How cool! And remember this when we read Thrill of the Grass.

Dave, an usher at Comerica. One of my favorite shots from the game.

The outfield. Not where Crawford and Cobb played, but it's still a good looking field.

Honus Wagner's grave just outside of Pittsburgh, PA. (Commercial)

Discussion questions:

1. In what ways do these two pieces capture the patriotism and nostalgia often associated with baseball?
2. How does Spaulding perpetuate the gender roles of the traditional American male and what effect does this stereotype have on the game and our society today?
3. What major American themes does Spaulding find present in Base Ball?
4. What else did you learn? New facts, figures, insights?

Watch
Inning 1: Chpts 2-11

Weekly Post #1: A-Rod

A Cruel Bargain for A-Rod and Boys With Baseball Dreams

I'll start the semester off with a great read about A-Rod. And now I'm not posting this because I grew up rooting for the Yankees; rather, I think this article and the steroid issues address one of the major themes we'll cover this semester: the fallen hero. Forget what you think of the over-paid geezer, A-Rod has an impressive baseball resumé and relationship with the game. But then things changed.

What are your thoughts on the idea of A-Rod as a fallen hero? Was his trajectory unavoidable? Is the pressure to be better, faster, stronger partly to blame for his fall?

Welcome to Awesome!

1. Let's start with some laughter. Why? Because.
2. Some baseball news we must talk about .... HoF Voting 2013 and now in 2014 and the veterans committee selection
3. Course intro ... fun stuff
4. What do you expect from this class? Why did you take it (be honest)?
5. Where do we find baseball in our lives every day? Think about phrases and idioms we get from the game.
6. Take Me Out to the Ballgame: When is this song played during a ball game? Why? (Hint: Taft)
7. Casey at the Bat written in June 3, 1888 and published in the SF Examiner (words & recording)
8. Inning 1, Chpt 1 (25 mins)