Baseball: 100 Classic Moments in the History of the Game

America has been having a love affair with baseball for over 100 years. Reading this book is a way to relive the nation's collective memory of baseball through its best and worst moments. Readers will be guided through the highlights of the game and will see over 400 stunning photographs from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum photo archives. This hall of Fame is a not-for-profit educational institution dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the historical development of baseball. Over 350,000 people travel to Cooperstown, NY each year to enjoy the museums exhibits and special events. Nolan Ryan played for 27 seasons in the Major leagues and he was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1999. He has written a foreword filled with his memories of the game. "I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I've spent most of my adult life making a living doing something I love." -Nolan Ryan The text tells of little-known details and legendary records. All I have to say is..."Do men look good in baseball uniforms or what?" Now, if my grandmother sees this book, she will steal it from me. We enjoy going to Mariner games on occasion, but if there is a game you can bet she is listening to the radio while she is cooking in the kitchen, will be found sitting in front of the TV, or is at the game. I can't think of a better gift for a friend or relative who wants to reminisce over the classic moment in baseball. You can learn more about "The Curse of the Bambino," World Series games from 1903-1999," "The youngest Major League ballplayer," and ""The House that Ruth Built." This is the definitive story of baseball and is told in a way no other book has told the story before. This is a chronicle of baseball's greatest conquests and defeats, its triumphs, heartaches and joys. ~The Rebecca Review

The strength of this book is found in the many detailed and interesting essays about the evolution of professional baseball over the last 100 years. The essays are emotionally highlighted by some of the best baseball photography you can hope to see. The book was done in cooperation with the Baseball Hall of Fame in conjunction with its 1997 photography show.Clearly, many people will receive this book as a gift. I suggest it especially for youngsters who are developing their first interest in baseball. At that age, there is an insatiable thirst for knowledge that this wonderful volume can help to quench. Experienced fans will also enjoy receiving it, so keep it in mind for birthdays and occasions like Father's and Mother's Days.The book is divided into five chapters:1900-1919: A Sport . . . And A Scandal1920-1941: The Home Run Saves the Game1942-1960: The War and Post-War Period1961-1974: Expansion1975-1999: Today's Game Each chapter begins with an essay about the entire period covered. Then the chapter highlights 20 events from that period. A brief summary begins each of the 100 events, followed by a detailed essay with numerous photographs. So you can quickly scan the book to find something that interests you (the index is good for finding your favorite players, teams, and events), and leave book marks on sections you want to return to.The choice of subjects is varied and interesting. You get great moments in baseball (Babe Ruth "calling" his home run in the World Series, Bobbie Thompson's shot heard round the world, Roger Maris's 61st home run, and Nolan Ryan talking about his 7 no-hitters). In addition, you get historic moments like when Jackie Robinson first played for the Dodgers, the trading of Babe Ruth from the Red Sox to the Yankees, the first night game, and the first World Series. Beyond that you get the serious challenges to the game such as the Black Sox scandal, the evaporation of attendance after television coverage started, and teams moving onto new cities. You also get the oddball events like Bill Veeck's continuous promotional activities (including a midget coming to bat), the New York Giants refusing to play in the 1904 World Series because the American League was made up of "minor league teams," and games being lost because of "bonehead" plays (like a baserunner failing to touch second base on a winning hit). I also considered the book from the perspective of someone who has been a Dodger fan for 47 years. Every moment that I most cherished from that period is highlighted somewhere in this book. One thing that surprised me was that I had no other books about baseball as a whole before acquiring this one. I wonder how I happened to miss this way of enjoying baseball? If you are like me, you too will be glad you have a chance to enjoy your memories and acquire new and interesting information about baseball. In my case, I was fascinated to see the baseball parks in Boston that preceded Fenway Park, that wer

for the baseball fan this is a must.great plays captured here in there full essence & texture.when you see or read the impact of these plays you think what was i doing? the images are forever timeless you feel like they were all yesterday.so much joy & emotion from seeing them.that's why this is AMerica's Greatest Game ever.it has it all & more.the game has forever changed but it's impact is History always in the making.a great book.

A review of the book Baseball: 100 Classic Moments in the History of the Game WOW! If one word could summarize this incredible book, this three letter word, Wow, would be it. You know someone who loves baseball? Go out and get this book for them and they will always be in debt to you. With over 400 photos, and over 300 pages this book, sponsored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame, is a beautiful tribute to America's sport. Every one of these 100 mystical, classic moments leaps off the pages as the reader is seduced by subtle photographs and masterfully poetic writing by the editors. Of course we see Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb, Dizzy Dean, Satchell Paige, Ted Williams, Joe Dimaggio, Willie Mays, and more recent baseball greats Hank Aaron, Pete Rose, Cal Ripken, Mark Mc Gwire and Sammy Sosa. These are but a few of the baseball super stars in this book. But how about Johnny Vandermeer who pitched back to back no hitters for the Cincinnati Reds in 1938. Or how about Jim Bottomley of St. Louis who in 1924 set a record by getting six hits with six at bats. These six hits, three singles, a double, and two homers of which one was a grand slam home run resulted in 12 RBI's in one 9 inning game. This book also touches on how technology such as radio and professional lighting changed the dynamics of baseball and vastly increased the total attendance in all ballparks. One is easily lost in time by quickly becoming absorbed with the easy style and the dramatic photos of this book. A great book for baseball lovers everywhere. `

Very rarely do books come out that can be instantly realised as classic pieces of our culture. History of The Game is one such book, carrying you through over a hundred years of the most memorable, most mindboggling, most stunning baseball moments. When you read this book, when you gaze at the pictures, you will be taken back to a time when you sat up with your father to watch the late-night west coast game, when you waved with the crowd in Fenway, when your heart broke with the Sox in '86; when you leaped for joy for the miracle of '69; where you were for McGwire or Maris or Dimaggio. This book is not only full of simply baseball memories, but the memories of our life. It is a must-have for any true fan of the game.