Throughout the 20th century, Jews developed a love affair with the American national pastime. This course will examine how baseball shaped national identity and patriotism for generations of American Jews. Specifically, we will seek to answer a few key questions about this relationship: How did baseball serve as a vehicle for assimilation for immigrant Jewish communities? In what ways did Jewish ballplayers connect to their faith and community while becoming national icons? Were baseball and Judaism ever in conflict? The seminar will explore the lives and careers of Jewish baseball heroes, including Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax, as well as leading executives who achieved prominence from the front office.