Tom Zeiler, University of Colorado Boulder professor of history and international relations, plans to take the town of Trinidad “out to the ballgame” with a discussion about the history of baseball at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 18 in the Massari Theater at Trinidad State Junior College (TSJC).
Zeiler will discuss baseball as a historical reflection of society and the American dream in the program “American Dreams: Baseball and American Society.” The event is open to the public.
“What do the greatest baseball players of all time have in common? A shared history of baseball and the belief that with opportunity, hard work and a bit of luck anyone can achieve success,” he said.
“This talk will explore French scholar Jacques Barzun’s notion that to understand America, you must understand baseball and vice versa.”
Zeiler is an expert in U.S. diplomacy, globalization and baseball history. He is the director of the Global Studies Residential Academic at CU-Boulder and is the executive editor of the journal “Diplomatic History.” Zeiler created the popular CU-Boulder course “American History Through Baseball” in 2001, and he published the book “Ambassadors in Pinstripes: The Spalding World Tour and the Birth of the American Empire” in 2006. His book, “Jackie Robinson and Race in America” will be released in the summer 2013.
Tickets for the program are $4 for adults and $3 for seniors and children. Tickets can be purchased at the door the evening of event or in advance Monday-Friday from noon-4 p.m. at the Trinidad Community Foundation, 134 West Main Street, Suite 24. TSJC students and faculty may attend for free with a school identification card. All proceeds will benefit the A.R. Mitchell Museum.
The program is part of “CU in the Community,” a series of events led by CU-Boulder faculty. These programs are jointly sponsored by Trinidad State Junior College, Trinidad Community Foundation, Trinidad & Las Animas County Chamber of Commerce, Trinidad Times Independent, and the CU-Boulder Office for University Outreach.
For more information about the series, email outreach@colorado.edu.