{"product_id":"baseball-and-rhetorics-of-purity-the-national-pastime-and-american-identity-during-the-war-on-terror-9780817362751","title":"Baseball and Rhetorics of Purity: The National Pastime and American Identity During the War on Terror","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn investigation into the culture and mythology of baseball, a study of its limits and failures, and an invitation to remake the game in a more democratic way.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBaseball has long been considered \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBaseball and Rhetorics of Purity\u003c\/i\u003e is an investigation into the culture and mythology of baseball, a study of its limits and failures, and an invitation to remake the game in a more democratic way. It pays special attention to baseball's role in the reconstruction of American identity after September 11, 2001. This study is framed by a discussion that links the development of baseball to the discourses of innocence and purity in 19th-century America. From there, it examines ritual performances at baseball games; a traveling museum exhibit sponsored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum; the recent debate about the use of performance-enhancing drugs; the return of Major League Baseball to Washington, D.C., in 2005; and the advent of the World Baseball Classic in 2006. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eButterworth argues that by promoting myths of citizenship and purity, post-9\/11 discourse concerning baseball ironically threatens the health of the democratic system and that baseball cannot be viewed as an innocent diversion or escape. Instead, Butterworth highlights how the game on the field reflects a more complex and diverse worldview, and makes a plea for the game's recovery, both as a national pastime and as a site for celebrating the best of who we are and who we can be. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University Alabama Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/25\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780817362751\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 248","brand":"Michael L. Butterworth","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52571172536501,"sku":"9780817362751","price":25.46,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_de501216-b968-43d8-b40e-ba191d6cd784.jpg?v=1779860326","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/baseball-and-rhetorics-of-purity-the-national-pastime-and-american-identity-during-the-war-on-terror-9780817362751","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}