The Unlikely Connection Between Baseball and History: A Conversation with Doris Kearns Goodwin

As a child growing up on Long Island, I was fascinated by the game of baseball. My father, an avid fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers, taught me the ins and outs of the game, from keeping score to understanding the nuances of strategy. Little did I know that my love of baseball would one day lead me to become a renowned historian.

Doris Kearns Goodwin, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and biographer, shares a similar story. In her latest book, 'Leaders,' she explores the lives of four U.S. presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson. But what might surprise readers is that baseball played a significant role in shaping Goodwin's perspective as a historian.

'I think my love of the Brooklyn Dodgers made me a better historian,' Goodwin says in an interview with Only A Game. 'Baseball was presented to me as something much larger than just a game. It was about community, tradition, and storytelling.'

Goodwin's father, a die-hard Dodgers fan, took her to Ebbets Field Stadium when she was just 6 years old. She remembers the excitement of watching the team play, and the way the game brought people together. From that moment on, Goodwin was hooked.

As she grew older, Goodwin began to appreciate the historical significance of baseball. She learned about the players, the teams, and the era in which they played. Her father taught her how to keep score, a skill that would serve her well in her later years as a historian.

Goodwin's love of baseball also influenced her approach to storytelling. 'Baseball is all about narrative,' she says. 'You have to tell the story of each game, each season, and each player. It's not just about the numbers; it's about the people behind them.'

In her work as a historian, Goodwin has applied this same approach to telling the stories of American presidents. She believes that understanding the personal narratives of these leaders can provide valuable insights into their decision-making processes.

Goodwin's latest book, 'Leaders,' explores the lives of four U.S. presidents, each with their own unique story. From Lincoln's struggles with slavery to Roosevelt's leadership during World War II, Goodwin shows how baseball played a role in shaping their perspectives and decisions.

In conclusion, the connection between baseball and history is more profound than one might initially think. For Doris Kearns Goodwin, her love of baseball not only influenced her approach to storytelling but also shaped her perspective as a historian. As she so eloquently puts it, 'Baseball is all about narrative, and that's what I try to do in my writing – tell the story of each game, each season, and each player.'

For fans of both baseball and history, Goodwin's work offers a unique blend of storytelling and analysis. And for those who love the game of baseball, her stories offer a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the players who shaped the sport we know today.

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