American Sports

American Sports, now in its ninth edition, is a comprehensive, analytical introduction to the history of American sports from the precolonial era to the present.

Concise, thought-provoking chapters outline the complex relationships between sports and class, gender, race, religion, sexuality, and region in the United States, offering a definitive examination of how athletics have both shaped and reflected American culture across generations. Building on the expanded attention paid to women, African Americans, Native Americans, and Latinos in the previous volume, this new edition brings the narrative to the present, covering subjects such as the rising interest in soccer, the legalization of sports gambling, and the transformation of college sports through the advent of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).

Students will develop critical thinking skills by connecting sporting events with broader historical contexts. Engaging sidebars on topics that include the Black Sox scandal, the worldwide influence of Jack Johnson, the significance of softball in lesbian communities, and the reasons for recent changes in baseball rules will spark meaningful classroom discussions. Ten new primary source activities invite deeper student participation.

This insightful introduction continues to be a vital tool for the study of both sports history and American history.