There are few experiences that compare to that of attending a baseball game. Whether you’re eight or 80, watching a major league or little league game, there is something somewhat magical about being in the stands on a warm, sunny day, the smell of hotdogs and popcorn in the air, cheering on your favorite team.
Ken Burns’ “Baseball” is the tale of America’s sport, told by America’s storyteller. The series, which is made up of nine “innings,” explores the 200 year history of baseball and the coinciding history of the United States. Through international wars, the labor movement, the civil rights movement, failures and victories, Americans have played baseball.
“Baseball” begins much like the game – with the First Inning. In this introduction to the series, the origin of baseball is discussed, as well as how the game evolved in the 19th century. The following installments examine topics such as the formation of the American League, the establishment of the World Series, the Black Sox Scandal and baseball’s subsequent recovery, the Negro leagues, the Great Depression, World War II and much more.
Featuring interviews with individuals such as Hank Aaron, A.B. “Happy” Chandler, Bob Costas, Mickey Mantle, Rachel Robinson, Mamie Ruth, as well as a multitude of writers, historians and broadcasters, Ken Burns’ “Baseball” is an exhaustively detailed account of America’s favorite pastime and all the ways it has united the American people.
Ken Burns’ “Baseball” will premiere Thursday, March 18 at 8 p.m. on Panhandle PBS.
