I first heard of Big Leagues: Professional Baseball, Football & Basketball in National Memory by Stephen Fox when I was reading this New York Times story about the development of the jump shot in basketball. Figuring that this was right in my wheelhouse — historic, useless sports trivia — I decided to get it from the library.
Which did not have a copy. Odd, but not unheard of.
So I bit the bullet and bought a copy online.
While a bit long (and dense), it was a great read for anyone interested in the history of sports in America. Chapters cover fandom, racism and money, and the popularity of “national teams.” Each of the nine chapters can be read standing its own, which gives the book something of a disjointed feeling.
As a whole, the book provides some great insights about why these three sports evolved as they did, and how they reached the heights they enjoy in our society today.