Includes index.

The national game -- The origins of baseball -- Opening day / by Jim Brosnan -- The collector: J.R. Burdick and the world of baseball cards / by Mark Lamster -- Dynasties, more than just those damn Yankees / by Gary Gillette and Pete Palmer -- The Red Stockings, baseball's first professional team -- The Black Sox scandal / by Eliot Asinof -- 1941, an unmatchable summer / by Ray Robinson -- Next year arrives, the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers / by Doris Kearns Goodwin -- 1975 World Series / by Bill Lee -- The greatest World Series / by Josh Leventhal -- 1998: the year that baseball came back... / by Alan Schwarz -- The greatest rivalry, Yankees vs. Red Sox / by Harvey Frommer -- Pennant madness and a boy grows up / by Ty Cobb -- Christy Mathewson, gentleman Giant / by Eric Rolfe -- Revolution in baseball, Ruth reaches New York / by Robert Creamer -- The last immortals, Stan Musial and Bob Feller / by Marty Appel -- Satchel gets his start / by Leroy "Satchel" Paige -- A lone Negro in the game / by Jules Tygiel -- What is so rare as a Willie Mays? / by Tallulah Bankhead -- Perfection, the dominance of Sandy Koufax / by Jane Leavy -- Final twist of the drama, Hank Aaron, home run king / by George Plimpton -- Distance, the elusive Bob Gibson / by Roger Angell -- The education of Sammy Sosa / by Tom Verducci -- Barry Bonds, is he the greatest ever? / by John Thornby.