Baseball As America is a celebration of America’s national treasure and pastime. This is the first major exhibition that highlights the relationship between baseball and American culture. Through the exploration of a broad range of themes – including immigration, nationalism, integration, technology and popular culture – the exhibit reveals how the game has reflected and sometimes shaped American society. With more than 500 artifacts on display, the exhibition is organized in seven thematic sections that allow visitors to experience and understand the role of baseball in American culture and history. Visitors can also step up to the plate with a pitching cage, live demonstrations and additional interactive exhibits developed especially for families. Click here for a list of artifacts. Thematic Sections: Baseball As America is presented in seven thematic sections: Our National Spirit: Visitors get a glimpse of the sport’s beginnings and how it has evolved into our national pastime. This section also explores the connection between patriotic symbolism and baseball. Ideals & Injustices: America’s promise of equal opportunity and the denial of opportunity to many over the years are explored in this area. Rooting for the Team: Delve into the traditions of the game, including hot dogs, the seventh-inning stretch, team colors, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, scorecards, fan clubs, and many other aspects of the relationship between fans and the game. Enterprise & Opportunity: In this section, the visitor is introduced to the various ways baseball has become big business since its 19th century inception. Topics include player product endorsement, advertising, ballpark business, labor unions, and the teams as businesses. Sharing a Common Culture: This section explores baseball’s influence in all aspects of popular culture – music, literature, film, and consumer products. Invention & Ingenuity: The spirit of American innovation as well as technological advances brought to the game are divulged here. These include evolution of equipment, communications technology, and the physics of baseball. Weaving Myths: The larger-than-life stories of sports legends that fuel our fascination with this game are detailed in this section. Some baseball players and ballparks have become so iconic that they transcend sport itself and become part of America’s cultural consciousness. Baseball As America at the Great Lakes Science Center is supported by: Promotional support is provided by WKYC Channel 3, WTAM, WGAR, WMVX and WMJI This exhibition was organized by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Cooperstown, New York. The national tour of Baseball As America is sponsored by Ernst & Young, LLP.