Baseball historian Gary Livacari is a long-time member of the Society for Baseball Research (SABR). He enjoys writing and lecturing about baseball history and is a recognized authority in identifying ballplayers in old photos. He has written five baseball-themed books, plus numerous published articles and book reviews.
A retired dentist and Navy officer, Gary is the developer and editor of the acclaimed "Baseball History Comes Alive" web site where he has been writing and publishing weekly baseball history essays for over 15 years.
Gary and his wife Nancy reside in Park Ridge, Illinois.
1 topic · no fee, no honorarium, no mileage
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During the first half of the twentieth century, America experienced profound cultural changes. Many of those changes were the direct result of the life of one man: George Herman "Babe" Ruth (1895-1948). Author Gary Livacari is available to present a one-hour PowerPoint presentation covering the life and times of this original American sports icon. The discussion begins with Babe's early life as a neglected "incorrigible" orphan cruelly dispatched at age seven to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys by a family that didn't seem to want him. It continues through his early adulthood, highlighting his marriage to Claire Hodgson Merritt who finally gave him the stable family life that he so desperately desired. Included are many highlights from his record-setting, historic career.
No one better personified the extravagance and excesses of "Roaring Twenties" than the great Bambino. At the height of his fame, he was said to be the most recognized and celebrated person in the world. The presentation details some of the most memorable Babe Ruth stories and fables, all illustrated with rarely seen photos. It concludes with a fun "Babe Ruth trivia quiz," followed by a question and answer session.
The discussion will have appeal to baseball fans of all ages, but will also appeal to those who are intrigued by one of the most beloved and enduring personalities in American history. From our perspective in the twenty-first century, it's hard for us to appreciate the impact this one man had on American sports and culture. His legacy continues even now, 77 years after his death. All this and many more topics will be examined in detail.
The presentation can also be given remotely via Zoom.
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