When Baseball Isn't White, Straight and Male: The Media and Difference in the National Pastime

by Lisa Doris Alexander

Overview

This book analyzes how sportswriters have discussed issues of race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual identity, age and class within professional baseball from 1998 to the present. Each chapter looks at the media representations of a specific controversy--the 1998 home-run chase, Alex Rodriguez's historic contract signing, Barry Bonds' home runs, Mike Piazza's "I am not gay" press conference, Effa Manley's Hall of Fame induction, the celebration of Jackie Robinson's legacy, as well as the various incidents involving performance-enhancing drugs. The author puts it together and reveals what messages are being conveyed by the issues.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786471133
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	12/04/2012
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Lisa Doris Alexander is an assistant professor of Africana studies at Wayne State University in Detroit. Her research focuses on issues of race, class and sexual identity in sports, film and television. She lives in Warren, Michigan.

Table of Contents

Preface 1

Introduction 5

1 Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and the Politics of Race and Nationality 11

2 "Out" on the Field: Homosexuality and Our National Pastime 31

3 The $25 Million Man: Alex Rodriguez, Objectification and Money 50

4 Effa Manley and the Politics of Passing 70

5 Barry Bonds and the Pursuit of Dap 84

6 It's the End of the World as "We Know It: Race and Forgiveness in the Era of Performance-Enhancing Drugs 117

7 Who Are We Celebrating, Anyway? Major League Baseball and the Honoring of Jackie Robinson 139

Conclusions 154

Chapter Notes 159

Suggested Reading 176

Bibliography 178

Index 193

What People are Saying About This

Roberta Newman

"Alexander makes an important argument, applying contemporary theory dealing with race, ethnicity, and gender to the world of major league baseball, and her occasionally controversial stance provides a great deal of food for thought." (Roberta Newman, New York University)

Editorial Reviews

A valuable addition...highly recommended”—Choice; “Alexander makes an important argument, applying contemporary theory dealing with race, ethnicity, and gender to the world of major league baseball, and her occasionally controversial stance provides a great deal of food for thought.”—Roberta Newman, New York University

From the Publisher

"Alexander makes an important argument, applying contemporary theory dealing with race, ethnicity, and gender to the world of major league baseball, and her occasionally controversial stance provides a great deal of food for thought."

New York University - Roberta Newman

A valuable addition...highly recommended

Choice