Middle Innings: A Documentary History of Baseball, 1900-1948

In the follow-up volume to the superb Early Innings, which documents baseball history in the 19th century, Sullivan has, in essence, compiled a scrapbook that continues the story from the founding of the American League to the debut of Jackie Robinson and the death of Babe Ruth. As with its predecessor, Middle Innings serves up a melange of primary sources--mainly original newspaper and periodical accounts of important events--then adds contextual introductions for each.

The compendium is as breezy as a summer evening at the ballpark, as fascinating as a perfectly executed hit-and-run, and covers the bases impressively. The dazzling line-up includes: the Giants refusal to play the 1903 World Series, Walter Johnson's signing with the Washington Senators, the opening of Ebbetts Field, Babe Ruth's first home run (wonderfully accounted for by Damon Runyon), the first Negro League All-Star Game, the end of Lou Gehrig's consecutive-game streak, the introduction of aluminum bats, and a recap of a season in the All-American Girls' Baseball League. An extensively appealing collection, Middle Innings combines serious research with some marvelous journalism, and is as full of surprises as the game itself. --Jeff Silverman, Sports editor