The popularity of baseball has varied throughout history, but it has always provided some good conversation on the long, hot days of summer.

Whether it is Roger Maris’ home run record or Cal Ripken’s streak of games played, baseball always provides fans something to talk about. And talking about baseball is precisely what SIUC’s two baseball roundtables this week are all about.

Moderator Richard Peterson, an SIUC English professor, said it can be debated whether or not baseball is the most popular sport in America, but the point is baseball is always something people discuss and will continue to discuss in the future.

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There is a lot of talk these days about the waning popularity of baseball, Peterson said. But baseball is usually described as the national pastime. That’s not quite the same thing as saying baseball is the most popular sport in America. A national pastime is a sport people talk about, a sport they like to read about and they like to write about.

And I think baseball still holds that position in America society and culture. We can talk about baseball’s past, its traditions. When baseball is in trouble, we talk about the troubles. But we talk and continue to talk.

The first baseball roundtable will be at 7 tonight at the Lesar Law School Auditorium, and the second one will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Museum Auditorium in Faner Hall.

The first table panelists will be Gene Callahan, former director of government relations for Major League Baseball, Josh Johnson, a former Negro League player, John Haddock, co-producer of Black Diamonds, Blues City:Stories of the Memphis Red Sox, and Jerry Mileur, former owner of the minor league Harrisburg Senators.

A showing of Black Diamonds, Blues City:Stories of the Memphis Red Sox at will follow the panel at 8:30 tonight.

Dan Callahan, SIUC baseball coach; Brad Benson, Saluki designated hitter; and Kevin Waldrop, a former Saluki baseball player will participate in the second table. Women’s Sports Information Director Gene Green will moderate the Wednesday panel.

Peterson said it is only natural to have baseball roundtables at SIUC because there are many people affiliated with the University who have made been involved in baseball at the professional level.

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It is just an opportunity for people with strong SIU connections to talk about baseball, Peterson said. These people also have had some significant experiences in baseball have made some contributions to baseball.

Since 1923, the baseball program at SIUC has been involved in four different College World Series’ and has a record of 13-9 at that level. The Salukis also have a record of 46-37 in NCAA play at the regional level and beyond.

Recent graduates Jerry Hairston and Aaron Jones are both moving up the professional ranks in minor league baseball. Former Salukis Sean Bergman, Steve Finley and Al Levine are already in the Major Leagues.

Because of the success of the baseball program at SIUC and the 30th anniversary of SIUC’s first appearance in a College World Series in the 1968-69 season, the roundtable is more of a celebration than anything else.

But the discussion will go beyond the scope of SIUC baseball. Callahan sees that baseball has contributed to society as a whole with such events as Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in 1947.

When you tie in the fact of what Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey did back in the ’40s, it has huge historical elements, not only in baseball history, but history period, Callahan said. I think there have been some landmark events in baseball that might effect race and race relations. Baseball has done a lot not only in professional sports in general but also in society.

The first baseball roundtable will be 7 tonight at the Lesar Law School Auditorium, and the second will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Museum Auditorium in Faner Hall.