Book Read Free

Baseball as a Road to God: Seeing Beyond the Game

Page 24

by John Sexton


  and nostalgic elements of baseball, 197

  and Opening Day, 29

  and Yankees’ tradition, 39, 47, 129

  Dobrusin, Robert, 138

  Doby, Larry, 106, 107

  Dodger Stadium, 170–71

  Doerr, Bobby, 197

  dogma, 71–73, 219

  Dolorosa, Maria, 99

  Doubleday, Abner, 178

  doubt, 53–76

  and ambiguity, 59–63

  and chance and statistics, 64–67

  and faith, 54–58, 60–61, 67, 69, 71–74, 76, 216

  and trivia, 67–76

  Doubt: A Parable (Shanley), 58–59

  Douglas, Bobby “Dougie,” xi, 1–2, 7, 11–12, 14, 109–10, 143

  drama of baseball, 213

  Dreyfus, Hubert, 33, 177

  Dreyfuss, Barney, 25

  drug use in baseball, 162–63

  Drysdale, Don, 78

  duality, 66, 149

  Durocher, Leo, 106, 108

  Dykstra, Lenny, 149

  Dynamics of Faith (Tillich), 94

  Ebbets Field, 1n, 78, 84, 85, 87

  Ecclesiastes, 209

  Eckersley, Dennis, 31–32, 40–42, 44

  ecumenism, 48

  Einstein, Albert, 34–35, 66

  Eisenhower, Dwight D., 90

  Eliade, Mircea

  and axis mundi, 21, 202

  and hierophany, 8–9, 11–12, 16, 27–28, 211–12

  and ineffable events, 89

  and the Myth of the Eternal Return, 30–31, 103–5, 204

  and nostalgia, 200–201

  and sacred places, 27–28

  and spiritual epiphanies, 94

  Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 51, 101

  Emil Verblen Society, 141

  empiricism, 4, 72–73

  Erikson, Scott, 114

  errors, 141–42

  Eucharist, 201

  Evans, Christopher, 179

  Evers, Johnny, 117

  evolution, 146

  Exposition Park, 25

  Faber, Urban “Red,” 194

  Factoryville, Pennsylvania, 154

  faith, 36–52

  Aquinas on, 37–38

  and baseball trivia, 42–44

  and Boone, 38–39

  and doubt, 54–58, 60–61, 67, 69, 71–74, 76, 216

  and fanhood, 45–49

  and Gibson, 39–42

  and McGraw, 36–37

  and the Mets, 36–37, 45

  and miracles, xiv, 45–46, 124

  and prophecies, 49

  spiritual significance of, 49–52

  and surrender, 86

  Tillich on, 51, 83, 86, 219

  and the unknowable, 216

  The Faith of 50 Million (Evans), 179

  Falk, Ruma, 99–100

  Federal League, 22

  Feller, Bob, 182

  Felton, Happy, 1n

  Fenway Park

  2004 playoffs, 12–13

  and the Boston Braves, 117

  and conversion experiences, 85

  and the Curse of the Bambino, 134

  and nostalgic elements of baseball, 196–97

  as sacred space, 21

  Feynman, Richard, 217–18

  Field of Dreams (1989), 145, 153, 158–59, 186–87

  First Corinthians, 153

  first pitches, 29, 167

  Fisher, Pop (fictional), 161

  Fisk, Carlton, 135, 197, 208, 209

  Fitzgerald, F. Scott, 176

  fixing games, 162–63. See also Black Sox scandal

  Fleming, Katy, 68–69

  “the Flip,” 119

  Flood, Curt, 192–93

  Florida Marlins, 23–24, 140, 170

  Flynn, Brendan, 58

  folklore, 104–5

  football, 50

  Forbes Field, 18, 24–27

  Ford, Betty, 164–65

  Ford, Gerald, 164–65

  Ford, Henry, 180–81

  Ford, Susan, 164–65

  Foxx, Jimmie, 43

  Francis of Assisi, 6

  Francona, Terry, 13

  Franklin, Benjamin, 157

  Franklin, C. L., 210

  Frazee, Harry, 95–96, 133

  free agency, 79, 191, 192–95

  Freese, David, 207, 208

  Furillo, Carl, 87

  Furman, Jay, 70

  Furman, Jesse, 70, 71

  Gaetti, Gary, 114

  Gaffney, James, 116

  Galarraga, Armando, 62

  Galileo, 73

  gambling on baseball, 160, 162–63, 176. See also Black Sox scandal

  Gandhi, Mahatma, 57

  Gehrig, Lou

  consecutive games record, 32–33

  farewell speech, 33, 177–78

  and nostalgic elements of baseball, 198, 205, 206

  and Updike’s writings, 21

  and veneration of heroes, 145

  and Yankees’ tradition, 39

  General Motors, 177

  Genesis, 73

  Giamatti, A. Bartlett, 138, 163, 213–15

  Giambi, Jason, 192

  Giambi, Jeremy, 119, 120

  Gibson, Bob, 50, 89, 184

  Gibson, Kirk, 39–42, 44, 208–9

  Girardi, Joe, 141

  Giuliani, Rudolph, 12

  Glavine, Tom, 63

  Globe and Mail (Toronto), 173

  “God Bless America,” 170–71

  “God of the gaps” theory, 124–25

  The Godfather (1972), 101

  Going Solo (Klinenberg), 79–81

  Gonzalez, Adrian, 137

  Gonzalez, Luis, 122

  Good Samaritan parable, 61

  Goodwin, Doris Kearns, 82–85, 96–97

  gospel music, 210

  Gospel of John, 123

  Gospel of Matthew, 57, 195

  Gould, Stephen Jay, 4–5, 65

  Grace, Mark, 122

  Graham, Archibald “Moonlight,” 145, 187

  grand slams, 67, 70, 76

  Grant, M. Donald, 37

  Grant, Ulysses S., 157

  A Great and Glorious Game (Giamatti), 213–15

  The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald), 176

  The Great God of Baseball (Hye), 156–57

  Great Hall (Yankee Stadium), 20

  “Green Light Letter” (Roosevelt), 182

  Green Monster, 197

  Greenberg, Eric Rolfe, 18–19, 154–55, 180–81

  Grimes, Burleigh, 194

  Grissom, Marv, 108

  Guest, Edgar A., 181

  Guidry, Ron, 197

  Gullett, Don, 79

  haftarah, 147

  Hagar (biblical), 112

  Hagy, “Wild” Bill, 169–70

  Hall of Fame for Great Americans, 157

  Hart, David Bentley, 212–13

  Havana Heat (Brock), 156–57

  Hebrew Scriptures, 123–24, 146–47

  Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 99–100

  Henrich, Tommy, 207

  heroes. See saints and sinners

  Hershberger, Willard, 198–99

  Heschel, Abraham Joshua, 3, 7, 44, 57, 92, 146, 218

  hierophany

  and conversion experiences, 89–90

  described, 8–9

  and doubt, 61

  Eliade’s use of, 8–9, 11–12, 16, 27–28, 211–12

  and miracles, 99, 125

  and sacred places, 27–28

  and saints, 146

  Hinduism, 56–57, 147–48

  Hoak, Don, 15

  Hobbs, Roy (fictional), 147, 159, 160, 163

  Hodges, Gil

  1952 World Series, 131–32

  1955 World Series, 2, 110

  1956 World Series, 111–12

  1969 World Series, 74–75

  and conversion experiences, 85, 87

  and Hall of Fame voting, 148

  as Met manager, 47

  slumps, xii, 131–32

  Hodges, Russ, 101–2

  Hornsby, Rogers, 28�
��29

  Houston Astros, 54, 169

  Howard, Elston, 2, 190

  Hoyt, Waite, 134

  Hrbek, Kent, 116

  Hubbell, Carl, 193

  hubris, 12

  Hunter, Catfish, 79

  Hye, Allen E., 156–57

  “I’ll Be with You in Apple Blossom Time,” 168

  immigrant communities, 25–26, 189

  Impossible Dream, 54, 89

  Index of Forbidden Books, 73

  ineffable events

  1955 World Series, 3

  and the 2004 Red Sox, 13–14

  and conversion experiences, 89–90, 92

  and definition of God, 10–11

  described, 211

  and doubt, 76

  and faith, 51

  Heschel on, 7, 44

  and hierophany, 8–9

  and miracles, 123, 125

  and nostalgic elements of baseball, 208

  and religious meaning, 212

  and sacred time, 34–35

  and science/religion dichotomy, 4–5, 218

  and spiritual power of baseball, 16, 219–20

  and transcendence, 215

  inside-the-park grand slams, 67, 70

  instant replay, 62

  interleague play, 79, 197

  Inti Raymi, 33–34

  The Iowa Baseball Confederacy (Kinsella), 19–20, 201–5

  Irvin, Monte, 108

  Islam, 28, 124, 147, 165

  Jackson, Reggie, 79, 191

  Jackson, “Shoeless” Joe, 147, 153, 158–60, 163, 186–87

  James, “Seattle” Bill, 117

  James, William, 9–10, 51, 212

  Japan, 182–83

  Jefferson, Thomas, 123

  Jesus, 57, 123, 195

  Jeter, Derek

  2001 World Series, 119–21, 211

  2003 playoffs, 38–39

  and faith, 52

  and nostalgic elements of baseball, 209

  and Yankee Stadium records, 97

  and Yankees’ tradition, 47, 192

  Jethroe, Sam, 136

  Jewish Americans, 180–81, 216

  The Jewish Daily Forward (Cahan), 179–80

  Jewish High Holy Days, 28, 100, 180

  John Paul II, 50, 146

  John XXIII, 48

  Johnson, Davey, 55

  Johnson, Lou, 128–29

  Johnson, Randy, 122, 183

  Johnson, Walter, 25–26, 154–55, 157, 193

  Jones, Chipper, 126–27

  Jones, Cleon, 55, 74–75

  Jones, Nippy, 74

  Jones, “Sad Sam,” 194

  Jordan, Michael, 128

  The Joy of Sports (Novak), 178

  Joyce, James, 212

  Joyce, Jim, 62

  Judaism, 28, 48, 138, 165, 180–81, 216

  judgment, 61–62

  Kansas City Royals, 63

  Kansas School for the Deaf, 157

  Kazantzakis, Nikos, 125

  Keeler, “Wee Willie,” 193

  Kekich, Mike, 46

  Kelly, Sean Dorrance, 33, 116, 177

  Kelly, Tom, 113, 115

  Kim, Byung-Hyun, 120–21

  Kinsella, W. P., 19, 158–59, 186, 201–5

  Kissinger, Henry, 68–70, 72

  Klesko, Ryan, 127

  Klinenberg, Eric, 79–81

  Knoblauch, Chuck, 121

  Knothole Gang, 1n

  Kol Nidre, 138

  Koosman, Jerry, 36, 75

  Koran, 124

  Koufax, Sandy, 78, 149, 181, 212

  Kriegel, Leonard, 174

  Krishna, 57, 112

  La Russa, Tony, 206

  Lady of Fatima, 50

  Lakeview Baseball Club, 22

  Landis, Kennesaw Mountain, 155, 158–60, 163, 182

  Larkin, Gene, 116

  Larsen, Don, 110–12, 125

  Lasorda, Tommy, 40, 42, 44–45

  Latin America, 183

  Lazarus, 61, 99

  Lazzeri, Tony, 206

  Lee, Spike, 12

  Leibrandt, Charlie, 115

  Lemon, Bob, 37, 108

  Lemon, Iris (fictional), 161

  Lent, 28

  Leonardo da Vinci, 203

  Levin, Bob, 173

  Lewis, C. S., 82, 91–92, 94, 102–3

  Liddle, Don, 106

  “Life Is a Ball Game,” 210

  Lincoln Tavern, 139

  Lindermann, Leo, 175

  Lindy’s, 175–76

  Little, Grady, 38, 135

  liturgical time, 14, 28

  Lloyd, Caleb, 173

  Lolich, Mickey, 50

  Lombardi, “Bocci” Ernie, 180, 199

  Long, Terrence, 119

  Lopes, Davey, 79

  The Lord of the Rings (Tolkien), 92

  Los Angeles Coliseum, 88

  Los Angeles Dodgers

  1977 World Series, 79

  1988 World Series, 39–40

  1991 playoffs, 113

  and conversion experiences, 77–84, 86–90

  and faith, 45–46

  and fan attendance, 184

  and Gibson, 39

  and nostalgic elements of baseball, 197

  and the seventh-inning stretch, 170

  Lowe, Mark, 208

  Lucchino, Larry, 189

  Lynn, Fred, 135

  MacArthur, Douglas, 182

  Mack, Connie. See McGillicuddy, Cornelius (Connie Mack)

  Maddux, Greg, 63

  Maglie, Sal, 106, 111, 149

  Mahabharata, 56

  Major League Baseball, 38, 60, 103

  Malamud, Bernard, 147, 159

  Manhattan College, 167

  Mann, Terrence (fictional), 186–87

  Mannino, Anthony “Tippy,” 67, 70–72, 128–29, 141, 227, 228

  Mantle, Mickey

  1955 World Series, 1n

  1956 World Series, 111–12

  home-run records, 190

  and nostalgic elements of baseball, 197

  and Updike’s writings, 17

  and the Yankees’ success, 46

  and Yankees’ tradition, 39, 43

  Maraniss, David, 183

  Maranville, Walter James Vincent “Rabbit,” 117

  Maris, Roger, 43, 46, 190

  Marquand, Rube, 193

  Martin, Billy, 109

  Martinez, Pedro, 38

  Martinez, Tino, 120, 121, 192

  Mathewson, Christy

  as baseball saint, 145, 153–57, 159, 162, 216

  and Blackmun’s list of baseball legends, 193

  and communal elements of baseball, 182

  and Hall of Fame induction, 157

  and miracles, 117

  and nostalgic elements of baseball, 204

  Mathewson Stadium, 155

  Matlack, Jon, 36

  Mays, Carl, 133

  Mays, Willie

  1954 World Series, 106–8, 119, 123, 125, 216

  and Hall of Fame voting, 148

  and the Mets, 36

  and the Miracle of Coogan’s Bluff, 101

  Mazeroski, Bill, 26–27, 32, 208–9, 216

  McDougald, Gil, 15, 109, 164

  McGillicuddy, Cornelius (Connie Mack), 87, 118, 141–42, 154

  McGraw, Tug, 36–37, 45, 51, 129

  McGriff, Fred, 148

  McGwire, Mark, 163

  McNally, Dave, 74–75

  “Meet Me In St. Louis,” 169

  Memorial Stadium, 169–70

  metaphorical elements of baseball, 160, 201–5, 210–11

  metaphysics, 66

  Metrodome, 116

  Meyer, Billy, 199

  Michael, Gene, 46

  Michigan State University, 39

  Millar, Kevin, 12–13

  Miller, Damian, 122

  Miller, David Neal, 131

  Milwaukee Braves, 74, 116

  Milwaukee Brewers, 142, 169

  Mind and Cosmos (Nagel), 3–4

  Minnesota Twins

  1934 World Series,
181

  1965 World Series, 88

  1991 World Series, 73, 113–16, 207

  and Opening Day, 29

  and Pierzynski, 149

  and Rivera’s save record, 127–28

  Miracle of Coogan’s Bluff, 101

  miracles, 98–125

  1914 Boston Braves, 116–18

  1951 New York Giants, 100–103

  1954 New York Giants, 106–9

  1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, 100–101, 106, 109–10

  1956 New York Yankees, 110–12

  1991 Minnesota Twins, 113–16

  2001 World Series, 119–23

  and the 2011 tsunami, 118–19

  and conversion, 216

  and doubt, 55–56

  and faith, 45–46, 124

  and folklore, 103–5

  and probability, 98–100

  religious role of, 123–25

  Mitchell, Dale, 112

  Molloy, Thomas Edmund, 98

  Monica, Saint, 91

  Monument Park, 68, 149

  Moon, Wally, 88

  Morgan, Joe, 43

  Morris, Jack, 73, 114–16

  Morse, Samuel, 157

  Moses, 99, 112, 146

  Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, 42–44

  Moyers, Bill, 7

  Muhammad, 99, 124, 147

  Murcer, Bobby, 172

  Murphy, Dale, 43

  Murray, Mike, 102, 103, 121, 172

  Murti, Sweeny, 128

 

‹ Prev