This Day in History: Baseball Brought America's Past to PBS in 1994

Ken Burns' 1994 PBS documentary series, "Baseball," offers an extensive exploration of America's national pastime, employing a distinctive format that mirrors the game itself. This ambitious project, Burns' ninth documentary, garnered critical acclaim and won the 1995 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Series. Funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the series is known for its immersive storytelling, blending archival

materials with insightful interviews and evocative musical scores to bring the history of baseball to life for a U.S. audience.

The Unique Structure of "The Nine Innings"

The documentary is ingeniously divided into nine parts, each designated as an "inning," directly reflecting the structure of a baseball game. Each of these "innings" is dedicated to a specific era, weaving together significant moments in both baseball and broader American history. The narrative of each inning commences with a brief prologue, designed to offer a glimpse into the state of the game during that particular period. This prologue traditionally concludes with a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," performed by a brass band, mimicking the start of a real baseball game. However, there are notable exceptions, such as a piano rendition for the 1920s and Jimi Hendrix's iconic Woodstock performance for the 1960s. Some "inning" episodes also feature a period version of the beloved baseball anthem, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."

Roughly halfway through each "inning," a title card appears, signaling the "Bottom of" the inning, effectively dividing the episode into two segments, further reinforcing the baseball game analogy. A unique moment occurs in the seventh "inning," where the "Bottom" is immediately preceded by the "seventh-inning stretch." During this segment, several of the documentary's contributors come together to sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," adding a personal and communal touch to the historical narrative. Within these halves, smaller segments, highlighted by simple title cards, delve into various crucial aspects of baseball's history, including player highlights, significant games, and the origins of well-known baseball brands like Louisville Slugger.

Archival Storytelling and Critical Reception

Consistent with Burns' established style in previous documentaries like "The Civil War," "Baseball" masterfully utilizes archived pictures and film footage, seamlessly integrated with interviews, to create a rich visual tapestry. Actors lend their voices to recite written works such as letters and speeches, layered over the historical images and videos. The series' musical backdrop is equally diverse, featuring music from earlier Burns series, original compositions, and recordings spanning from Louis Armstrong to Elvis Presley. John Chancellor, who anchored the NBC Nightly News from 1970 to 1982, served as the narrator, guiding viewers through the intricate history.

Upon its release, "Baseball" was met with widespread praise from both critics and audiences, though some noted its considerable length and detailed approach. With a runtime of 18.5 hours, it stands as one of Burns' longest documentaries. The initial episode achieved significant viewership, more than doubling PBS's average primetime ratings with a Nielsen rating of 5.1 and an audience share of 7%. While impressive, these figures did not quite reach the heights of "The Civil War," which had garnered a 9 rating and a 13% share. Despite its extensive duration, the series' comprehensive and engaging portrayal of baseball's history solidified its place as a landmark documentary.

The "Tenth Inning" and Future Prospects

Years after the original series, Ken Burns hinted at the possibility of updating the history of baseball. This led to the official confirmation of a "Tenth Inning" episode, which aired in Fall 2010. Narrated by Keith David, this expansion covered the period from 1992 through the 2009 season and was presented as two two-hour programs: the "top of the 10th" and the "bottom of the 10th." The "Tenth Inning" delved into major stories of the era, including the Steroid era and its impact on many players, baseball's recovery from the 1994 strike, the resurgence of the Yankees, the growing influence of international players from countries like the Dominican Republic and Japan, and the dramatic American League Championship Series of 2003 and 2004. These events helped baseball maintain its popularity even during America's significant economic challenges. Burns also expressed a desire for future "11th Inning" and "12th Inning" installments, with an aim to air the "11th Inning" in 2020, potentially opening with Armando Galarraga's story. He noted that "Baseball" is the only one of his documentaries for which he has been interested in creating a "sequel" of sorts, underscoring the enduring appeal and evolving narrative of the sport.