Perhaps the most iconic representation of Americana, baseball captured the hearts of the American public when it first gained traction around the country in the mid-19th century. The sport continues to enthrall audiences both in the United States and around the world through informal games, regional associations, and at the professional level. This volume introduces readers to the history of a sport that in many ways is inextricably tied to the American ethos and surveys the lives of some of its key professional players.