An account of the mysterious proving ground of America's national pastime, pulling back the veil on the minor leagues of baseball. Focuses on the Triple-A level, introducing readers to nine men: three pitchers, three position players, two managers, and an umpire.

"With new research and revelations that will surprise even the most ardent baseball history buffs, this engaging account tells the story of the mostly forgotten world of the mercenaries, scalawags, and outcasts who made up the independent professional ball clubs. Combining meticulous research with modern analytics, the book provides a deeper understanding of how vast and eclectic the world of professional baseball was during the first half of the...

"From the New York Times bestselling author of K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches, a highly-entertaining history of the World Series, based on years of archival research and interviews with hundreds of players and managers, filled with never-before-heard details of the most exciting and fascinating tales from 117 years of the Fall Classic. The World Series is baseball's greatest stage. From Babe Ruth's famous called shot, to Jackie Robinson stealing...

A look at the history of baseball shows the evolution of the sport from the sandlot to multi-million dollar stadiums, and examines such aspects of baseball as pitching, uniforms, gloves, umpires, and ballpark food.

Presents autobiographical accounts of the early days of baseball from the first half of the twentieth century, narrated by some of its most accomplished players, including such athletes as Harry Hooper, Al Bridewell, Babe Ruth, and Goose Goslin.