Baseball is a game of incredible moments, awe-inspiring feats, and dramatic finishes. But not all of these events actually impacted the game itself or the players still to come. Moments such as Lou Gehrig’s last Opening Day appearance, the very first All-Star game, or Mickey Mantle’s first game to hit home runs from both sides of the plate are iconic not because they were game-changing plays, but because they affected the course of baseball history. In 50 Moments That Defined Major League Baseball, Rocco Constantino provides a fresh history of the national pastime by recounting the most extraordinary and iconic moments—both renowned and obscure—that shaped the game as it moved from the Dead Ball Era, through World War II, and on to the modern era. Events include Jackie Robinson’s first All-Star Game, Babe Ruth’s 50th home run in his first season as a Yankee, Hank Aaron’s first career home run, and many more. Highlighting these moments are Constantino’s exclusive interviews with over 50 former Major League Baseball players, managers, and umpires, as they candidly share their memories and provide commentary on these impactful events. Many of the players interviewed played in the World Series or an All-Star Game, including Rod Carew, Fred Lynn, Shawn Estes, and Jeff Montgomery. 50 Moments That Defined Major League Baseball features rarely seen historic photographs of baseball immortals and modern photos of today’s stars. With two bonus chapters that include first-hand entertaining anecdotes from baseball icons and moving statements about those who helped them reach the sport’s pinnacle, this book is an engaging read for baseball fans and historians alike.

"The year in baseball has been an exciting one for Midwesterners, with both the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians in the World Series this year. If you want to learn more about baseball, CDPL has a great new book, 50 Moments That Defined Major League Baseball, by Rocco Constantino. This history is a collection of baseball memories including chapters on unbreakable records, historic home runs, the 'immortals' of baseball and more." - Journal Review

"[This type] of [book is] great for sparking debate among friends and may honestly generate some disputes that are never settled.... Constantino’s book is well written, greatly detailed and he presents concise arguments as to why each of these moments should be considered one of the games 50 greatest ones." - Gregg's Baseball Bookcase

"This book provides a fresh history of the game by recounting the most exceptional and memorable moments over more than a century. Author Rocco Constantino attempts to identify the 50 moments that changed the game or marked the beginning or the end of an era. This compilation of great moments in baseball history has a bit of everything and some unexpected candidates make it into the book. Perhaps, the best feature of the book is the photos ... very memorable photos.... Though there are many books that contain lists of the top events or moments of any sport, this book was a refreshing change in that many of the moments listed were not ones that one would expect.... This book is recommended for any baseball fan who wishes to learn more about important events in the sport’s history. The short passages make it a good choice for younger readers or those who prefer to read a book in bits and pieces. The unusual choices and reasoning behind them will make for debates about which moments to include in the top 50 that defined major league baseball. This is one of those books that one can keep after reading for later reference and makes for a good addition to one’s baseball book library." - The Inside Game: The Official Newsletter of SABR's Deadball Era Committee

"An excellent collection of short, interesting stories and anecdotes, often told In a new light and always entertaining. Recommended easy summer reading for baseball fans." - Ft.Myers & Southwest Florida