This 100th anniversary commemorative edition constitutes the definitive guide to professional baseball as it was played a century ago. One of the most sought-after documents of the sport’s early days, it explores baseball’s roots in the 1830s, the origins of the National and American leagues, the art of pitching, star plays and players, umpiring, the minor leagues, and many other aspects of our national pastime.More than 220 illustrations include rare game-action photos, publicity shots, and line drawings by Charles Dana Gibson and other notable artists of the day, in addition to portraits of such well-known players as Ty Cobb, Cy Young, Joe Jackson, Christy Mathewson, John McGraw, Walter Johnson, and Connie Mack. This nostalgic history also features a recap of the 1910 season, along with a new Preface that places the book in historical context.