Harold J. Seymour (1910–92) was an American historian and author, regarded as the founding figure of scholarly baseball history. His work legitimized sports history, blending deep research with cultural insight.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Seymour was a lifelong baseball enthusiast and once a Brooklyn Dodgers batboy. He studied at Oberlin College and earned a PhD in history from Cornell University (1950s.) His dissertation became the foundation for his future books. He taught at several colleges, including the University of Notre Dame and Gettysburg College, though his legacy rests primarily in his published research.
His major works include Baseball: The Early Years (1960,) examining baseball’s 19th-century origins; Baseball: The Golden Age (1971) on its professional and commercial rise; and Baseball: The People’s Game (1990,) exploring its social impact.
Although only Seymour’s name appeared on the covers, his wife, Dorothy Jane Mills, significantly contributed to the trilogy’s research and writing. Scholars later acknowledged her role. Together, their work created a definitive history of America’s pastime, influencing the field.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Harold J. Seymour
When the leadership is right and the time is right, the people can always be counted upon to follow—to the end at all costs.
—Harold J. Seymour
Topics: Leaders, Leadership
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