Lisi, Clemente A. A History of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2017. Pp. ix + 171. Photos, appendices, bibliography and index. $35.00 hardcover, $33.00 e-book. Reviewed by Zachary R. Bigalke Soccer has always had a contentious history on American soil. Prone to cyclical boom and bust periods, the sport seems…
Editor’s Note: Much has been written about the Johnson-Jeffries fight. The following post is an excerpt from Stephen Ayres’ undergraduate history thesis from the University College London (2014). It serves as a reminder of “the Battle of the Century” and demonstrates the potential of undergraduate sport history students to use their research to engage the public.…
By Jonathan Mercantini The 1968 baseball season was scheduled to start on April 8. Not every team was slated to play on Opening Day half a century ago; but 1968 was one of the most dramatic years in the history of America and of baseball. It was a year of assassinations, political protests, and social upheaval.…
By Andrew McGregor It wasn’t a strike, but the crowd didn’t mind. The 17,688 in attendance on that gray, cloudy Tuesday afternoon could not contain their enthusiasm. As the ball sailed towards home plate, they stood and roared. Senator Stuart Symington had delivered on his promise, and now, with his first pitch, baseball had officially…
Redihan, Erin Elizabeth. The Olympics and the Cold War, 1948-1968: Sport as Battleground in the U.S.-Soviet Rivalry. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2017. Pp. vii + 264. 16 unnumbered pages of plates and index. $35.00 hardcover, $3.99 e-book. Reviewed by Tony Calandrillo In The Olympics and the Cold War, 1948-1968: Sport as Battleground in the…
By Seth S. Tannenbaum A new Major League Baseball season is about to get underway and, as it has for years, the game continues to struggle to pull in younger fans. Since 2006, the average age of baseball fans has gone up from 52 to 57. To counter this and hopefully attract new fans, this season…
Editor’s Note: “Sport in American History” is excited to cross-post Richard C. Crepeau’s “Sport and Society” column. This post was originally published on February 27, 2018. A full archive of his Crepeau’s columns can be found by clicking here. By Richard C. Crepeau Looking back over the Winter Olympics several events stand out and various aspects of the NBC…
By Josh Howard This past week, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) announced their next inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame – Hillbilly Jim, a 1980s and early 1990s television mainstay that most fans, judging from Reddit and Twitter reactions, thought had been inducted years ago. Needless to say, Jim is deserving of the honor. He seems…
Editor’s Note: “Sport in American History” is excited to cross-post Richard C. Crepeau’s “Sport and Society” column. This post was originally published on February 23, 2018. A full archive of his Crepeau’s columns can be found by clicking here. By Richard C. Crepeau The final two premier figure skating events of the Winter Olympics were held this week. They…
Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on Kevin Gannon’s personal blog on Friday, February 23, 2018. By Kevin Gannon The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has been in the news a lot lately, and not for the reasons they’d wish. An FBI investigation into illegal payments to recruits and other sordid transgressions has roiled NCAA…
Editor’s Note: “Sport in American History” is excited to cross-post Richard C. Crepeau’s “Sport and Society” column. This post was originally published on February 20, 2018. A full archive of his Crepeau’s columns can be found by clicking here. By Richard C. Crepeau At any Olympic Games there are constants and surprises and the ongoing Winter Olympics is no…
Editor’s Note: “Sport in American History” is excited to cross-post Richard C. Crepeau’s “Sport and Society” column. This post was originally published on February 18, 2018. A full archive of his Crepeau’s columns can be found by clicking here. By Richard C. Crepeau Other than the World Series, this is my favorite two weeks in sport, and among all…
