Includes bibliographical references (p. 548-549) and index.

Preface to the 2010 edition: Negative capability -- Preface: Where memory gathers -- Introduction: Hard lines / Roger Angell -- Our game: beginnings to 1900 -- Why baseball / John Thorn -- Something like a war: 1900-1910 -- Stats / Bill James -- The faith of fifty million people: 191-1920 -- The minors / David Lamb -- That big son of a bitch: 1920-1930 -- The church of baseball / Thomas Boswell -- Shadow ball: 1930-1940 -- Why would you feel sorry for me? / an interview with Buck O'Neill -- Thirties baseball / Robert W. Creamer -- The national pasttime: 1940-1950 -- Fan / Doris Kearns Goodwin -- The capital of baseball: 1950-1960 -- Fifties baseball / George F. Will -- A whole new game: 1960-1970 -- Baseball and African American life / Gerald Early -- Home: the modern ear -- Always right on time / Daniel Okrent -- The age of miracles and wonders: twenty-first century baseball / Kevin Baker.

A moving and fascinating history of the game of baseball. Goes beyond the stolen bases and home runs to demonstrate how baseball has been influenced by, and has in turn influenced, American life.