Saying It Ain't So: American Values As Revealed in Children's Baseball Stories 1880-1950 (American University Studies)

Saying It Ain't So explores the themes which emerge from popularly-read children's stories about baseball. This book examines the first piece of baseball fiction, which appeared in 1882, and was written for children. Why does baseball - more than other sports - teach values of supportiveness, responsibility, and fairness? How do children's stories bring out these values? This work reveals the unique qualities of baseball which set it apart from other sports and truly make it our national pastime.