Baseball, literature, culture

On Friday, April 5, MTSU will once again host the annual Conference on Baseball in Literature and Culture. This national conference will feature a diverse array of essays that discuss baseball’s unique role in literature, as well as American sporting and popular culture. Of particular interest, Former Baseball pitcher and author Jim Bouton will deliver the conference luncheon address from 12:45-1:15 in the JUB Tennessee Room. While Bouton’s injury-plagued career lasted a decade, he is best known for penning the seminal baseball “insider” book Ball Four, which documents his experiences with the expansion Seattle Pilots during the 1969 season. Indeed, a New York Public Library exhibit in 1995 selected Ball Four as the only sports book in a “Books of the Century” exhibit, while a 2002 Sports Illustrated poll identified the book as the “third most important sports book of all time.” In addition to authoring four additional baseball-themed books, in 1977 Bouton invented the still-popular Big League Chew shredded gum.

Following his presentation, Bouton will answer audience questions and will briefly remain available to sign autographs.

The Bouton lecture and the rest of the Conference on Baseball in Literature and Culture sessions are free and open to the MTSU community.

Faculty and students may also consider attending the morning keynote address given by Dr. Andrew Hazucha from Ottawa University (KS) entitled “A Jim Bouton Retrospective:  Zen and the Politics of the Knuckleball.” This event will take place from 8:30-9:15, also in the JUB Tennessee Room

Faculty interested in receiving an electronic copy of the Conference schedule, or a more detailed description of Dr. Hazucha’s presentation, should contact one of the co-coordinators listed below.

The Jim Bouton lecture is graciously sponsored by the Distinguished Lecturer’s Fund, the Virginia Peck Trust Fund, and the College of Liberal Arts.

Please feel free to contact either of the Conference on Baseball in Literature and Culture co-coordinators if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Ron Kates

Professor of English

Conference on Baseball in Literature and Culture Co-Coordinator

rkates@mtsu.edu

898-2595

Warren Tormey

Associate Professor of English

Conference on Baseball in Literature and Culture Co-Coordinator

tormey@mtsu.edu