Statistics and Baseball Fandom: Sabermetric Infrastructure of Expertise

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-19-2018

Publication Title

Games and Culture

First page number:

1

Last page number:

18

Abstract

Baseball is a rich mélange of tradition, spectatorship, evaluation, and fandom. Statistical fandom is presented as a cultural infrastructure, which influences how all fans perceive the game including what is valued in the game, how the game itself is played, and Major League Baseball as an industry. In building off of Halverson’s conception of a fantasy plane of baseball fandom, this research theorizes an additional statistical plane. Sabermetrics serve as a microcosm for a larger statistical turn in sports and reporting. The labor of saberfans builds a cultural algorithm through statistical analysis that shapes all fan engagement. Sabermetric inputs become an infrastructure of expertise through which the larger sporting public understands and evaluates baseball and culture.

Keywords

Sabermetrics; Sports media; Statistical fandom; Infrastructure; Major League Baseball; Fantasy baseball

Disciplines

Journalism Studies | Sports Studies

Language

English

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