Reference, Baseball 

Gold-0224 

Eyewitness Baseball tells the story of America's pastime--from its beginnings in 19th-century English schoolyards to its current status as one of the world's favorite games. Broken down into helpful sections on the diamond, umpires, pitching, batting, the hall of fame, the Babe, and so on, each topic is clearly explained and illustrated with several photographs. Especially interesting are the sections on player equipment--from shoes to helmets and from mitts to balls--and the way these items have evolved over time. For example, in the early years catchers' mitts were little more than a round leather pillow with a space for the hand to fit in the back--a far cry from the smaller, more flexible gloves worn today. Trivia fans will find much fodder here, from the required weight of official baseballs (between 5 and 5.25 ounces) to the one day a year the Cincinnati Reds change their name (St. Patrick's Day, when they become the Greens). All of the great ballplayers are here, including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Satchel Paige, Mark McGwire, and Ken Griffey Jr. Packed with useful information, baseball fans of all ages will enjoy--and learn from--this beautiful book. (Ages 9 and older