KINGSTON, R.I.-- June 12, 2002 --Local folk artist and professor of communication studies at the University of Rhode Island, Dr. Stephen C. Wood of South Kingstown, was a hit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He performed original baseball songs at its annual "Symposium for Baseball and American Culture" on June 5.

Songs performed by "Doc," as Wood is known by his friends, included Talking Baseball written by URI Professor of English Don Kunz and Baseball is America’s Game written by friend J. David Pincus. Right Field, a baseball song made popular by Peter, Paul and Mary rounded out the set of music.

Talking Baseball puts tongue firmly in cheek as lyricist Kunz pokes fun at the language of baseball:

Baseball is played in a park without trees,
In fields never plowed,
On a diamond with no sparkle.

Baseball players face pitchers with no handles,
Swing bats that don’t fly,
Steal bases they have no intention of returning.

Baseball fans know that the batter’s box has no lid,
That a hit and run is no crime,
And the stands are for sitting.

Baseball is America’s Game traces baseball from the sandlot, "a kid’s game played on hot, lazy summer nights played with a brash innocence for the sheer delight," to the corporate world, "baseball’s a business too, team owners are quick to whine… a victim of run away salaries and pinched bottom lines."

Baseball is America’s Game is also included on Doc Wood’s newest CD, Muley Point Mud, from Neoga Music (www.neogamusic.com). J. David Pincus, the author of the lyrics, is also Wood’s co-author on a forthcoming book entitled Reel Baseball. The book is due for release in the spring of 2003 by McFarland Publishers, and includes interviews with Kevin Costner, Penny Marshall, James Earl Jones, James Belushi, Vin Scully, Jeffrey Lyons and others associated with the intersection of baseball and film.

Wood has presented research at the "Symposium for Baseball and American Culture" since 1990, but this was the first time he was invited to perform. Doc Wood described the experience as a thrill. "To perform at the mecca of baseball, was both an honor and privilege--not to mention a lot of fun!" he said.

For Information: Jan Wenzel 874-2116, Nicole Duguay 874-2116