Baseball Stadiums and Class in America

Host Pedro Rodriguez speaks with Northwest Philadelphia native and author Seth Tannenbaum about his provocative new book, Bleacher Seats and Luxury Suites.

In the book, Tannenbaum examines one of America’s most beloved institutions—Major League Baseball stadiums—and reveals the striking class divisions built into the fan experience. While baseball has long marketed itself as the democratic pastime, open to all, the modern ballpark tells a different story: luxury boxes for the affluent, exclusive clubs for corporate elites, and increasingly distant, expensive bleacher seats for ordinary fans.

Born and raised in Northwest Philadelphia, where he played Little League baseball as a child, Tannenbaum brings both personal affection and sharp social analysis to this discussion. His work asks a timely question: when even our leisure spaces are segregated by wealth, what does that say about American democracy itself?

Listen to this fascinating conversation about baseball, architecture, inequality, memory, and the hidden class politics of America’s stadiums.