Name: Baseball
Genre: Documentary
Rating: 7.5
Cast: John Chancellor, Daniel Okrent, Buck O'Neil, Studs Terkel, Roger Angell

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John Chancellor

Daniel Okrent

Buck O'Neil

Studs Terkel

Roger Angell

George Plimpton

Gerald Early

George Will

Ossie Davis

Paul Roebling

The history of the sport of baseball in America, told through archival photos, film footage, and the words of those who contributed to the game in each era. Writers, historians, players, baseball personnel, and fans review key events and the significance of the game in America's history.

Baseball

Spenser Hoover

John Scognamiglio

Baseball, a film by Ken Burns | Trailer | DocPlay

In New York City, in the 1840s, people need a diversion from the "railroad pace" at which they work and live. They find it in a game of questionable origins. On June 19th, 1846, at the Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey, a team of well-dressed gentlemen, the Knickerbockers, play the first game of baseball. By 1856, the game is already being called "the national pastime," or simply, "Our Game." But the nation is about to be torn apart. And, in the midst of the Civil War, there is one thing that Americans North and South have in common: baseball.

Inning One: Our Game

It is a decade of revolution. In China, in Central America. At Kitty Hawk. In Henry Ford's factory. And on America's baseball fields. In 1894, a sportswriter named Byron Bancroft "Ban" Johnson takes over a struggling minor league - the Western League - and turns it into a financial success. In 1900, he changes its name to the American League and begins talking about challenging the big city monopoly held by the National League. The revolution takes only three years. In 1903, the first World Series is played between the American League Boston Pilgrims and the National League Pittsburgh Pirates.

Inning Two: Something Like a War

Examine the century's second decade, which was dominated by the Black Sox scandal. George Herman “Babe” Ruth makes his first major league appearance (as a member of the Boston Red Sox) and a wave of immigration helps fill the stands with new fans, eager to “become American” by learning America's game.

Inning Three: The Faith of Fifty Million People

This episode concentrates on Babe Ruth, whose phenomenal performance thrilled the nation throughout the 1920s and rescued the game from the scandal of the previous decade.

Inning Four: A National Heirloom

The story of the Negro Leagues in the 1930s. “Shadow Ball” refers to a common pre-game feature in which the players staged a mock game with an imaginary ball. Though unintended, the pantomime was an apt metaphor for the exclusion of blacks from major league play at that time.

Inning Five: Shadow Ball

This episode covers the 1940s and includes Joe DiMaggio's celebrated hitting streak, the awe-inspiring performance of Ted Williams and what Burns calls “baseball's finest moment” — the debut of Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

Inning Six: The National Pastime

Viewers are taken through the 1950s when New York City had three successful baseball teams and dominated the World Series. By the end of the decade, the Giants and Dodgers had left New York, a signal that the old game was changed forever.

Inning Seven: The Capitol of Baseball

The field is moved to the 1960s. This episode traces the emergence of television, the expansion to new cities and the building of anonymous multipurpose stadiums that robbed the game of its intimacy and some of its urban following.

Inning Eight: A Whole New Ball Game

The final episode looks at baseball from the 1970s to the present, including the establishment of the free agent system, the rise in player salaries, the continued expansion, the dilution of talent, the ongoing battles between labor and management and the scandals.

Inning Nine: Home

Charlie Rose interviews Ken Burns on the creation of his series "Baseball".

Interview with Ken Burns

Part 1 of the continuation of the original documentary, covering from the 1990's and onward.

The Tenth Inning: Top of the Tenth

Part 2 of the continuation of the original documentary, covering from the 1990's and onward.

The Tenth Inning: Bottom of the Tenth

Charlie Rose interviews Rachel Robinson - wife of Jackie Robinson - on the life and career of Jackie Robinson.

Rachel Robinson

Charlie Rose interviews Bob Costas on the 1998 baseball season. Topics include the Yankees sweep of the World Series and Mark McGuire's record setting season.

Bob Costas on 1998 Season

Charlie Rose interview Yogi Berra on his career and recent book.

Yogi Berra

The Making of Baseball

Bob Costas presents an inside look at the making of "Baseball," including interviews with Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, and insight into the impact "Baseball" had on America.

Ken Burns: Baseball

Part 1 of 2. Ken Burns' follow-up to "Baseball" picks up where the 1994 series left off. Included: the crippling 1994 strike; the influx of international players; Cal Ripken's consecutive-games streak; the thrilling 1998 home-run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.

Top of The Tenth

Ken Burns' follow-up to "Baseball" concludes with a look at dominating pitchers like Pedro Martinez, Japan's first MLB star, Ichiro Suzuki; the comfort provided by the game after the 9/11 attacks; revelations about performance-enhancing drugs; the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry; and Boston's World Series victory.

Bottom of the Tenth

An interview with Ken Burns and Lynn Novick

Back to the Ballpark

Full of Knowledge

Dodgertown

A Tour of Fenway

A Night at Fenway

Central Park

Additional Scenes

Hitting & Hitters

Pitching & Pitchers

Fielding

Red Sox & Yankees

Cubs

Giants

Affirmative Action Home Runs

Late 90s Power Surge

Home Run Chase of 1998

Asterisks & the Hall of Fame

The Flip

9/11

Coming to America

Globalization

Ichiro on the WBC

Rotisserie

Why We Love the Game

Baseball

Starring

Attributes

Genre

Release Date

User Reviews

Stats

Cast & Crew

Available On (US)