It looks like Drew Faust's interest in Americana stretches beyond her area of expertise in the Civil War.

Harvard's president recently wrote an article for the Philadelphia Inquirer about her passion for baseball, relating America's pastime to her work as a historian. Both, she writes, offer a different perspective on American life.

Tracing the course of her fandom—from the Washington Senators to the Philadelphia Phillies to the Boston Red Sox—she discussed how her own personal life and challenges as an academic drew her back to the game.

Like any good historian, she demonstrates a sound knowledge of the names of the game, from the great Harmon Killebrew to the not-so-great Lenny Dykstra.

Faust already made a splash onto the professional baseball scene last season. She threw out the first pitch at Fenway on Sept. 22, when the team honored Harvard's athletic national champions and the Kuumba singers performed the national anthem.

But both Harvard baseball and the Sox could use a little bit of help this year. The Crimson has started its year at 3-23 this year, and the Red Sox haven't fared much better, posting a 1-7 record so far.

Although with some of the teams that Faust has followed, she's probably used to it.