The Great Depression: Catalyst for Change in America's Game

Authors

Lauren M. Vorel, Illinois Wesleyan UniversityFollow

Abstract

The Great Depression devastated countries around the world socially, culturally, and economically. In the United States, nearly all aspects of culture were affected, including leisure and recreation. America's pastime, baseball, was hit hard by the decrease in attendance that resulted from widespread unemployment and financial difficulties. In response to the downturn, professional baseball made several innovations to the game in an attempt to bring in more revenue. In this essay, I will attempt to prove that the Great Depression, though economically devastating, resulted in the modernization of the game of baseball.

Recommended Citation

Vorel, Lauren M. (2010) "The Great Depression: Catalyst for Change in America's Game," Constructing the Past: Vol. 11: Iss. 1, Article 6.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/constructing/vol11/iss1/6