Baseball (1994–1994)

TV ShowEndedPBSDocumentary1 season, 9 episodes
Baseball poster

Plot

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.

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Highest-rated episodes all ranked

  1. 01Baseball S01E01Inning One: Our GameS01E01 · 7.4In 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.
  2. 02Baseball S01E06Inning Six: The National PastimeS01E06 · 7.4This 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.
  3. 03Baseball S01E07Inning Seven: The Capitol of BaseballS01E07 · 7.4Viewers 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.

Episodes by season

Season01Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode9Episodes1994Aired 7.2Season avg
  1. S01E01Baseball S01E01Season's bestInning One: Our GameSeptember 18, 1994 7.4In 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 ques
  2. S01E02Baseball S01E02Inning Two: Something Like a WarSeptember 19, 1994 7.0It 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 189
  3. S01E03Baseball S01E03Inning Three: The Faith of Fifty Million PeopleSeptember 20, 1994 7.2Examine the century's second decade, which was dominated by the Black Sox scandal. George Herman “Babe” Ruth makes his first major league ap
  4. S01E04Baseball S01E04Inning Four: A National HeirloomSeptember 21, 1994 7.0This episode concentrates on Babe Ruth, whose phenomenal performance thrilled the nation throughout the 1920s and rescued the game from the
  5. S01E05Baseball S01E05Inning Five: Shadow BallSeptember 22, 1994 7.2The 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
  6. S01E06Baseball S01E06Inning Six: The National PastimeSeptember 25, 1994 7.4This episode covers the 1940s and includes Joe DiMaggio's celebrated hitting streak, the awe-inspiring performance of Ted Williams and what
  7. S01E07Baseball S01E07Inning Seven: The Capitol of BaseballSeptember 26, 1994 7.4Viewers are taken through the 1950s when New York City had three successful baseball teams and dominated the World Series. By the end of the
  8. S01E08Baseball S01E08Inning Eight: A Whole New Ball GameSeptember 27, 1994 7.2The field is moved to the 1960s. This episode traces the emergence of television, the expansion to new cities and the building of anonymous
  9. S01E09Baseball S01E09Inning Nine: HomeSeptember 28, 1994 7.2The final episode looks at baseball from the 1970s to the present, including the establishment of the free agent system, the rise in player

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

Cast

John ChancellorJohn ChancellorNarrator (voice)Daniel OkrentDaniel OkrentSelf
Buck O'Neil
Buck O'NeilSelfStuds TerkelStuds TerkelSelf (voice)

Photos

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1 / 10

Baseball

Poster · 1 of 10

Trailers & Videos

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TrailerBaseball, a film by Ken Burns | Trailer | DocPlay

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