Baseball is war!...And more? Masculinity, nationalism, and the old pastime in Japan and America, 1870--1980

A comparative world historical analysis of baseball in Japan and the United States is presented in this thesis, which argues that the rise in popularity of the sport in each respective country is attributed to two concepts: (1) the game's masculine characteristics, and (2) its ability to spur national dignity. These themes are applied to two topics that comprise international contests and individual achievements. The first of these looks at matches between the United States and England, and Japan and the United States, and reveals how America and Japan achieved a sense of national pride through victories over their perceived rivals. The topic of individual achievement, on the other hand, compares two important superstars: Sadaharu Oh, and Joe DiMaggio. A comparative analysis of these two ballplayers exposes the similar manner in which both brought about a sense of national pride to their countrymen, namely through their masculine performance on and off the field. Primary sources such as images, newspaper and magazine articles, and first hand reports are utilized to support this historical work.