"A fascinating account of the mysterious proving ground of America's national pastime, pulling back the veil on the minor leagues of baseball."--

An eye-opening look at the life and legacy of Jackie Robinson, the man who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball and became an American hero.

A history of the national pastime as told through the craft of pitching draws on years of archival research and interviews with more than three hundred star athletes to reveal the colorful stories and folklore behind ten major pitches.

The longtime Commissioner of Major League Baseball provides an unprecedented look inside professional baseball today, focusing on how he helped bring the game into the modern age and revealing his interactions with players, managers, fellow owners, and fans nationwide. More than a century old, the game of baseball is resistant to change--owners, managers, players, and fans all hate it. Yet, now more than ever, baseball needs to evolve -- to compete...

In "The Last Hero", Bryant chronicles Aaron's childhood in segregated Alabama, his brief stardom in the Negro Leagues, his complicated relationship with celebrity, and his historic rivalry with Willie Mays--all culminating in the defining event of his life: his shattering of Babe Ruth's all-time home-run record. Bryant also examines Aaron's more complex second act: his quest to become an important voice beyond the ball field.

Examines "the modern history of America's favorite pastime. Kids will discover how the game has changed over the years, reading about topics such as the Dead Ball Era, World War II, segregation and integration, bonus babies, the Reserve Clause and Free Agency, and the designated hitter. Along the way, they'll [read] firsthand quotes and stories from more than 175 former major leaguers who were eyewitnesses to and participants in baseball's most incredible...

In the fall of 1992, America's National Pastime is in crisis and already on the path to the unthinkable: canceling a World Series for the first time in history. The owners are at war, their decades-long battle with the players has turned America against both sides, and the players' growing addiction to steroids will threaten the game's very foundation. It is a crucial moment in the game's history that catalyzes a struggle for power by three strong-willed...

"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...

Using an "Everyman" player as his narrator, Kadir Nelson tells the story of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through the decline after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947. Illustrations from oil paintings by artist Kadir Nelson.

"Amazing photography accompanies engaging information about the World Series. The combination of high-interest subject matter and light text is intended for students in grades 3 through 7"--