Bringing the ‘national pastime’ to the Olympic arena: Leslie Mann and the driving forces to baseball internationalization in the 1930’s

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to trace historical efforts to include baseball in the 1936 Olympics, paralleled with the internationalization of that sport. This study is presented in the format of a historical narrative. The research material was mainly drawn from primary sources located in the United States of America and Canada. Results show that Leslie Mann, a former American player, was one who significantly contributed to make the 1936 baseball Olympic exhibition distinctly better organized than previous experiences. The 1936 Olympic baseball demonstration was one of the most important accomplishments to the internationalization of baseball and an important benchmark to Baseball in the Olympic scenario.

Homeland Run: Israeli Baseball and American Transmigrants

“…However, this game has spread to other countries. Indeed, the internationalization of baseball has been viewed as an example of Americanization (Santos 2020 ). The two factors that contributed to the internationalization of baseball, according to Doiara Santos, are the formation of an international baseball federation and the inclusion of baseball in the 1936 Olympic Games.…”

“…The two factors that contributed to the internationalization of baseball, according to Doiara Santos, are the formation of an international baseball federation and the inclusion of baseball in the 1936 Olympic Games. Although baseball was first included in the Olympics at the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis, the sport was internationalized by its inclusion in the 1936 Games in Berlin (Santos 2020 ). As the game gained popularity in other countries, such as Japan, Cuba and other Caribbean nations, and Taiwan, international baseball competitions, as well as local leagues, became symbols of national pride (Morris 2011 ).…”

“…There have been several attempts to explain the internationalization of this American game as a result of individual efforts (Santos 2020 ) or as a process motivated by capital and an interest in opening up new markets for professional baseball (Ishihara 2010 ). Another possible explanation is that the U.S. government promoted the internationalization of American sports, including baseball, as a way to advance Americanization (Elias 2010 ).…”