Battle of Base-Ball

C.H. Claudy was the author of 32 books and more than 1,600 essays and short stories. He freelanced for several newspapers and was a correspondent for Scientific American. His photographs of the early Wright brothers’ flights are now at the Smithsonian. The Battle of Base-ball was his only book on the national pastime.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgments      List of Illustrations      xiiiEditors’ Note      Preface      1. Base-ball A Battle of Brains as Well as Skill      2. Batting      3. Base-running      4. Generalship of Offense      5. Defense—Pitcher and Catcher      6. Fielding      7. Generalship of Defense      8. Drill—Battlefield and Arms      9. The Rules—League Law      10. Umpiring and Fair Play      How I Became a Big-League Pitcher, by Christy Mathewson      A.G. Spalding’s Simplified Rules      Index

“One of the best but least-heralded developments in the recent history of baseball literature was the inauguration of the McFarland Historical Baseball Library in 2003”—I>Spitball; “[a] wonderful read for any fans of the game who want to understand [its] strategies in a new light.”—Journal of Sport History; “invaluable McFarland Historical Baseball Library series”—Edward Achorn, The Providence Journal.