David Lesch with Syrian President as Asaad
By
Carla Sierra
January 27, 2026
Summary
Trinity University historian David Lesch discusses his new biography and decades of Middle East scholarship with the San Antonio Express-News. The interview explores his career and the insights behind his latest book.

The San Antonio Express-News interviewed David Lesch, Ph.D., Trinity University’s Ewing Halsell Distinguished Professor of History, about his biography, Dodgers to Damascus, written by San Antonio-based, award-winning author Catherine Cooke, which highlights his journey from being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers as a young pitcher to becoming a leading Middle East scholar and diplomat. Lesch’s baseball career ended early due to injury, a turning point that led him into academics in Middle Eastern history. The article notes that, whether discussing developments in Syria or offering commentary on regional politics, Lesch has become a go-to expert whose insights reflect both academic depth and lived experience.  Read the full story here.

Note: The San Antonio-Express News is a paywalled publication.

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