In this delightful history of the sport, Frommer captures the flavor, smell, and craziness of the early days of baseball. Starting with its invention in 1842 by the descendant of a British sea captain (and not Abner Doubleday), Frommer traces the development of the sport from the first games on a vacant lot at 27th and Madison in New York to the turn of the century, when the National League was emerging as the preeminent forum for truly professional baseball.

"...wonderful. Reading this book is a reminder of how little baseball—and the pleasure derived from it—has changed." - Publishers Weekly

"Priceless. Something for everyone. The reader will have an even greater appreciation for our National Pastime." - Pinstripe Press