Leonard Cassuto is Professor of English at Fordham University. Stephen Partridge is Assistant Professor of English at the University of British Columbia.

• Introduction Leonard Cassuto; Chronology Stephen Partridge; 1. The rules of baseball Steven P. Gietschier; 2. Baseball in literature, baseball as literature Timothy Morris and Stephen Partridge; 3. Babe Ruth, sabermetrics, and baseball's politics of greatness Leonard Cassuto and David Grant; Interchapter: Babe Ruth Leonard Cassuto; 4. Not the major leagues: Japanese- and Mexican-Americans and the national pastime Samuel O. Regalado; 5. Baseball and the color line: from the Negro Leagues to Major League Baseball Leslie Heaphy; Interchapter: Jackie Robinson and Curt Flood Matthew Frye Jacobson; 6. Baseball and war Richard Crepeau; 7. Baseball and the American city David Finoli; Interchapter: Walter O'Malley Leonard Cassuto; 8. Baseball at the movies George Grella; 9. The baseball fan Al Filreis; 10. Baseball and material culture David F. Venturo; Interchapter: the Honus Wagner T-206 baseball card David F. Venturo; 11. Global baseball: Japan and East Asia Masaru Ikei; Interchapter: Roberto Clemente and Ichiro Leonard Cassuto; 12. Global baseball: Latin America Arturo J. Marcano and David P. Fidler; 13. Cheating in baseball David Luban and Daniel Luban; Interchapter: Pete Rose Leonard Cassuto; 14. The evolution of baseball's economy Andrew Zimbalist; Interchapter: Andy Messersmith, Charlie Finley, and George Steinbrenner Jonathan Lewin; 15. Baseball and the mass media Curt Smith; A guide to further reading.

"It seems like the entire history of baseball is packed into this one book - and without a wasted word. It's tremendously enjoyable - the perfect companion." - Jim Bouton, former New York Yankees Pitcher and author of Ball Four.