EPISODE · Jun 16, 2025 · 20 MIN
How Japan Flipped the Script on America’s National Pastime: The Global Rise of Baseball
from Sportly · host Immigrantly Media
Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and Visit Zocdoc.com/Sportly to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. In this episode of Sportly, we dive into the unlikely journey of baseball from a symbol of American soft power to a global phenomenon dominated by Japan. Host Kavitha Davidson traces the game’s roots in Meiji-era Japan, unpacks how post-WWII baseball diplomacy shaped U.S.–Japan relations, and revisits iconic moments—from Babe Ruth’s tour to Shohei Ohtani’s World Baseball Classic showdown with Mike Trout. With history, culture, and politics all in play, we ask: does baseball still belong to America, or has Japan truly made it its own? It is a must-listen for fans of sports history, geopolitics, and epic underdog wins. Host: Kavitha A. Davison | Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writers: Nicholas Black & Kavitha Davidson I Fact Checking and Research: Shahmeer Nawaz I Sound Designer & Editor: Paroma Chakravarty I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover Art Graphic Designer: Sarah DiMichele Join us as we create new intellectual engagement for our audience. You can get more information at http://immigrantlypod.com. Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! Remember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can reach the host, Kavitha, at [email protected] Follow us on TikTok @immigrantly IG @immigrantlypods Sportly is an Immigrantly Media Production For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and Visit Zocdoc.com/Sportly to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. In this episode of Sportly, we dive into the unlikely journey of baseball from a symbol of American soft power to a global phenomenon dominated by Japan. Host Kavitha Davidson traces the game’s roots in Meiji-era Japan, unpacks how post-WWII baseball diplomacy shaped U.S.–Japan relations, and revisits iconic moments—from Babe Ruth’s tour to Shohei Ohtani’s World Baseball Classic showdown with Mike Trout. With history, culture, and politics all in play, we ask: does baseball still belong to America, or has Japan truly made it its own? It is a must-listen for fans of sports history, geopolitics, and epic underdog wins. Host: Kavitha A. Davison | Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writers: Nicholas Black & Kavitha Davidson I Fact Checking and Research: Shahmeer Nawaz I Sound Designer & Editor: Paroma Chakravarty I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover Art Graphic Designer: Sarah DiMichele Join us as we create new intellectual engagement for our audience. You can get more information at http://immigrantlypod.com. Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! Remember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can reach the host, Kavitha, at [email protected] Follow us on TikTok @immigrantly IG @immigrantlypods Sportly is an Immigrantly Media Production For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Japan Flipped the Script on America’s National Pastime: The Global Rise of Baseball
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