Play Ball, Mr. President: A Century of Baseballs Signed by U.S. Presidents

by Dan Cohen

The game of baseball and the American presidency have a long and storied history, starting even before there was a president. George Washington, years before he became the nation's first leader, played a bat and ball game called Rounders, a precursor to baseball, in Revolutionary War camps. By 1860, political cartoonist were using baseball as a backdrop to depict Abraham Lincoln's election victory and Lincoln was known to play the game on the White House lawn. In the 20th century and beyond, baseball has indeed become a veritable presidential pastime, and it is inconceivable that the office could now be held by someone who is without first-hand knowledge of the game.

48 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2008

About the author

Dan Cohen is curator of Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. His love for baseball was sparked at his first Tee Ball game, and has grown into a lifelong passion. Dan has worked on a number of exhibitions at Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, including Peanuts at Bat featuring the baseball work of Charles Schulz and Beyond Baseball: The Life of Roberto Clemente, which explores the life of Clemente through art and artifacts. The museum also features a permanent collection that includes one of Babe Ruth's bats from the historic 1927 season, and a nineteenth-century bat made for Pete Browning, who was Louisville's first baseball superstar. Cohen lives in Louisville with his wife and daughter.