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We estimate the superstar effects in Major League Baseball, focusing on a particularly unique international athlete, Shohei Ohtani, using a fixed effects panel regression with multiway clustering. Ohtani's scarce talent as both a pitcher and a hitter provides the potential to have outsized influence on demand at home (superstar effect) and away (superstar externality) games, providing new marketing opportunities for the league. We compare Ohtani's impact on attendance with other top pitchers, particularly after large attendance drops attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that his superstardom played a key role in bringing fans back to baseball games. Results revealed a large attendance externality, especially after the pandemic, that increased away attendance by up to 40% in 2021 specifically (and up to 20% overall). We propose that Ohtani provides an opportunity for Major League Baseball to leverage a recognizable face of baseball and leverage superstar value that was previously shown to be in decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, we conducted two studies to validate a multidimensional scale of fan engagement behavior. In Study 1, we generated survey items through a systematic review of the relevant literature, collected data from fans of professional baseball (n = 319) and soccer (n = 301), and provided evidence for the construct and concurrent validity of the scale composed of six dimensions. In Study 2, we reassessed construct validity in professional baseball (n = 582) and found that fan engagement behavior was represented by the proposed six dimensions with a final list of 21 items. Further, our predictive analysis throughout a season showed that fan engagement behavior fully mediated the relationship between predictor (team identification and awareness of fan engagement initiatives) and outcome variables (media viewing frequency, attendance frequency, and flourishing). The developed scale advances our understanding of fans' voluntary actions that are culturally embedded in spectator sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the medical condition and treatment of Babe Ruth, a renowned baseball player. Ruth experienced diverticulitis, a condition likely caused by his overeating. He underwent surgery to drain an abscess and recuperate from the illness. The procedure was performed by Dr. George D. Stewart, a respected surgeon who was also a poet. Ruth's recovery was successful, and he did not require additional treatment or surgery. The article also touches on Ruth's baseball career and his subsequent achievements following his recovery. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the forgotten lawyer-manager, John C. "Jack" Hendricks, who was one of only eight managers in the history of Major League Baseball to have a background in law. Despite not having a published biography and achieving his greatest success in the minor leagues, this article aims to give Hendricks the recognition he deserves. It provides a detailed account of Hendricks' early life, his career as a lawyer, his brief stint as a player in the major leagues, and his managerial career in both the major and minor leagues. The article concludes by highlighting Hendricks' diverse range of occupations and his unique position as a lawyer-manager in baseball history. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the history of baseball integration in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. While Jackie Robinson's debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers is often seen as the most significant moment in breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball, there were other instances of racial integration in baseball at various professional levels and in different regions. Suffolk County had its own history of baseball integration, with teams like the Brookhaven Town Highway Nine breaking racial norms by including African American players. Ralph "Sammy" Bunn, a star Black pitcher, became the first known African American to play on a white Suffolk County baseball team. His story is seen as a significant moment in the community's baseball history. [Extracted from the article]

This article provides a profile of Pat Jordan, a former baseball player turned writer. It explores his baseball career, which fell short of expectations, and his subsequent success as a writer. The article also mentions his memoirs, particularly one that focuses on his relationship with renowned pitcher Tom Seaver. The author of the article meets with Pat Jordan to seek guidance on writing a biography and describes their meeting and Pat's home. The text details the author's experiences spending time with Pat and his wife Susie, including conversations about writing, Pat's novels, and the author's own writing project on Gene Locklear, a baseball player and artist. Pat offers feedback on the author's writing and encourages him to enhance his descriptions. The author reflects on his time with Pat and writes an article about him in Pat Jordan's distinctive style. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the impact of Ken Burns' documentary series "Baseball" on American culture and the author's personal connection to the game. The author reflects on the series' ability to explore various themes such as race, immigration, and labor through the lens of baseball. They also discuss how the series captures the timeless nature of the game and contrasts it with the modern trends in professional baseball, such as attempts to speed up the game and create a more entertainment-focused experience. The author concludes by emphasizing the importance of storytelling and personal memories in keeping the spirit of baseball alive. [Extracted from the article]

We develop mathematical programming models to calculate enhanced "magic numbers" for determining playoff elimination and clinches in the Korean Baseball Organization. These magic numbers are disseminated on a website for fans seeking accurate updates on their team's postseason prospects. The website has received attention from Korean sports writers and fans alike. Sports media outlets often report on whether professional teams have clinched a playoff berth or, conversely, have been eliminated from one. Although the U.S. media have reported such results for years, particularly for Major League Baseball, no such equivalent outlets backed by rigorous mathematical models exist in South Korea. Motivated by the hiatus in most international professional sports (with a notable exception being Korean baseball) during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, we derive inspiration for the generation of so-called magic numbers by modifying an existing set of integer-programming optimization models that had been developed for U.S. Major League Baseball; the modifications tailor these models to the Korean Baseball Organization League by considering unique rules such as the fact that a game can end in a draw. Our results, which are new to Korean media, have generated interest among Korean baseball fans curious about up-to-date, precise information regarding whether their team still has a chance of qualifying for postseason play or whether it has been eliminated. Funding: This work was made possible, in part, by a generous donation from Columbia University and supported by award number 2227548 from the National Science Foundation, Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As video game production is becoming increasingly data-driven, player surveillance shapes the everyday realities of users and developers. Remote online tracking and the resulting optimization and governance of in-game activity subscribe to the Big Data methodology as a way of accounting for entire player populations. By design, player surveillance serves the interests of developers and publishers, who have exclusive access to this proprietary data. Yet, discursively, these parties attempt to present surveillance as a mutually beneficial endeavor aimed at improving video games. A part of this strategy is the video game industry's selective information disclosure, which I explore empirically on the example of telemetry infographics. Based on a thematic analysis of 200 infographics from 127 games, I show how publicly disseminated infographics contribute to the normalization of player surveillance by presenting it as a source of harmless trivia to be collected and shared by fans and the specialized press. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dwayne Brenna's novel, "Long Way Home," tells the story of the Appalachian All Stars, a barnstorming baseball team led by Preacher Allan Bentham during the Great Depression. The narrative is presented through the perspective of Tom "Spitball" McKague, who shares his thoughts on the team's journey and the characters they encounter. The book explores themes of redemption and atonement, set against the backdrop of the 1930s Depression Era. The story delves into the challenges faced by the characters, including poverty, discrimination, and personal regrets. Baseball fans will appreciate the detailed descriptions of the game, while all readers will find universal themes of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. [Extracted from the article]

Joe Posnanski's book, "Why We Love Baseball: A History in 50 Moments," offers readers a collection of events that reflect on their favorite memories of the game. The book includes personal reflections from players, fans, and celebrities, highlighting the diverse reasons why people love baseball. While the book does not provide an authoritative list of moments from Major League Baseball history, it offers a reminder that the moments and the people who made them are what make baseball special. Overall, the book serves as a celebration of the game and its enduring appeal. [Extracted from the article]

"The Wingmen: The Unlike, Unusual, Unbreakable Friendship Between John Glenn and Ted Williams" by Adam Lazarus is a book that explores the friendship between two Marine jet fighter pilots, John Glenn and Ted Williams, during the Korean conflict. The book highlights their shared commitment to their country and their willingness to put aside personal interests for the dangerous jobs in the service. Lazarus humanizes the narrative by including personal accounts, diary entries, and interviews, showcasing the true character and vulnerabilities of these heroes. The book serves as a reminder that loyal friends and trustworthy wingmen do exist in a complicated world. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the experience of the co-editors of the journal NINE during their visit to Cooperstown, New York for a baseball symposium. They highlight the extensive work that goes into producing each issue of the journal and the overwhelming nature of the process. The editors also reflect on their time in Cooperstown, visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and engaging in conversations with fellow researchers, writers, and fans. The article previews the content of the current issue of NINE, which includes poetry, contrasting viewpoints on the Ken Burns documentary series Baseball, personal narratives, and historical articles. The editors express their hope that readers will enjoy the issue. [Extracted from the article]

Background. In 2023, the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in Taiwan signified the resumption of international baseball competitions post-pandemic, drawing an eclectic mix of spectators, from Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) enthusiasts to first-time attendees. Objectives. This study delves into the diverse motivations behind fan attendance, exploring factors such as team identification, the attractiveness of the event, the stadium environment, social media purpose demand, and social media emotional social relationships. Methods. We collected 321 valid questionnaires and conducted a t-test analysis. Through a comparative analysis of fans with varying levels of CPBL viewership, the research uncovers nuanced differences in motivations, offering valuable insights for marketers and event organizers in the sports industry. Results. The empirical results showed that compared to casual fans who don't frequently attend CPBL games, hardcore fans who regularly attend CPBL games had stronger motivations related to team identification and event attractiveness when attending WBC. Discussion. Hardcore fans watching games have a strong sense of identification with Taiwanese professional baseball teams. This sense of identification makes them more deeply engaged in the games during the WBC. Moreover, fans with a wealth of viewing experience typically have a deeper knowledge and understanding of baseball, enabling them to better interpret various situations in the game, while also holding higher expectations for the team's performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As social media advertising spending continues to rise, marketers' understanding of how to enhance the effectiveness of these ads must also continue to expand. Utilizing an online experiment and a field study, we test the effect of different formats of Facebook ads (image vs. video) on sports advertising effectiveness (e.g. clicks to purchase tickets). Specifically, this research compares the effect of image ads, video ads, and carousel ads for a Major League Baseball team on page engagement and clicks to purchase game tickets. Vividness and fit theory are both examined as explanations. Results showed that the image ads performed the best in terms of clicks for purchase because of perceived vividness. Interestingly, the video ads only worked best for generating engagement for the social media page itself. Implications for marketing practice and research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study delves into the psychological processes underlying sport fans' post-purchase innovativeness behaviour. This exploratory research aims to establish a theoretical framework that elucidates the formation of sport fans' word-of-mouth (WOM) behaviours, particularly emphasising the structural relationship between motivated consumer innovativeness and satisfaction in using AR live-streaming services. Design/methodology/approach: Utilising an online survey and convenience sampling, the study garnered a total of 243 usable responses from three online baseball fan communities in South Korea. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to assess the psychometric properties of the constructs. Subsequently, a structural equation model was used to probe the influence of motivated consumer innovativeness on WOM, with a particular focus on the mediating role of satisfaction. Findings: Three dimensions of motivated sport fans innovativeness – functional, hedonic and cognitive – showed a positive association with WOM, partly mediated by satisfaction. In contrast, socially motivated sport fans innovativeness did not directly lead to WOM but influenced it solely through satisfaction. The full mediating role of satisfaction in the relationship between socially motivated fans innovativeness and WOM was found. Originality/value: This research stands out as one of the scant studies exploring motivated sport fans innovativeness in the context of AR live sport streaming. The findings not only corroborate but also augment the extant literature by empirically confirming that three dimensions of motivated fans innovativeness, coupled with satisfaction, are pivotal antecedents to WOM intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the impact of W. P. Kinsella's novel "Shoeless Joe" and its film adaptation, "Field of Dreams," on baseball fans and the perception of the sport. The author reflects on their personal experience of reading the book and watching the movie, which led them to develop a nostalgic view of baseball's past. They argue that this nostalgia, popularized by Kinsella's work, created a community of purist fans who idealized the game's history and resisted its evolution. The article also criticizes the rise of analytics in baseball and suggests that Kinsella's influence contributed to the sport becoming less like a live event and more like the execution of a blueprint. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines the relationship between Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson, two influential African American activists. It challenges the belief that Robinson condemned Robeson for his communist beliefs, providing historical context and dispelling misconceptions. The article emphasizes the accomplishments and challenges faced by both men, with Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball and participating in the civil rights movement, while Robeson gained international fame and became radicalized through experiences with racism and anti-imperialist movements. It also explores the impact of the Red Scare on Robeson's reputation and the backlash he faced for his political views. The article concludes with Robinson's testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee, where he carefully balanced the pressure to denounce Robeson while expressing loyalty to Black Americans. The article also discusses the contrasting responses of Robinson and Robeson to the HUAC hearings in 1949, with Robinson criticizing racial discrimination and defending Robeson's right to hold personal views, while Robeson held a press conference to respond to the backlash and criticized HUAC for insulting both him and Robinson. The article highlights the different treatment and legacies of the two men, with Robinson being celebrated as an American hero and Robeson facing severe consequences for his political beliefs. [Extracted from the article]

This article provides a historical account of Mexican American women's baseball teams in the Midwest during the 1930s and 1940s. It emphasizes the challenges faced by these teams due to racial barriers and discrimination against Mexican immigrants at the time. The article also highlights the positive impact of baseball on the community, as well as the support from parents who saw it as an opportunity for their daughters to develop skills and advocate for social causes. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of researching and acknowledging the cultural significance of local baseball teams. [Extracted from the article]

In the late nineteenth century, baseball became enshrined as America's national sport. Across American culture, the game became imbued with a series of values and characteristics that seemed redolent of life in the Gilded Age and beyond. This article explores the ways in which this process played out in the pages of popular magazines directed at the children of the nation's elite. These neglected resources provide us with an extraordinary lens through which to chart both the changing place of the national game within the lives of American children and the changing meaning of baseball within the life of the nation. In poems, stories, illustrations, editorials and even reader's letters, children were newly acculturated into the sporting life in ways that had profound implications for wider questions of childhood, gender, race, class and national identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stakeholder frameworks document the nature of sport franchise owners' interactions with local residents, but there has been little attention on understanding why interactions develop a contentious or collaborative tenor. There has also been little emphasis on understanding whether and how interactions affect revenue-side outcomes. This paper uses the team identification literature to buttress the idea that owners are meaningful points of attachment for fans. It also uses consumer political ideology scholarship to explain that owners' ideologies—never more visible than today—are important predictors of consumption. The paper proposes and tests a series of hypotheses about the effect of owners' and residents' ideological divergence on attendance and spending. Similar ideologies between residents and long-tenured owners were associated with about $8–$10 more spending per fan per game, as well as 2,400–3,950 more fans per game. Implications for academics and practitioners are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no shortage of arguments either for or against Keith Hernandez's enshrinement in the Hall of Fame. I have no horse in this race. I am not a rabid [...]