Baseball is a game of incredible moments, awe-inspiring feats, and dramatic finishes. But not all of these events actually impacted the game itself or the players still to come. Moments such as Lou Gehrig’s last Opening Day appearance, the very first All-Star game, or Mickey Mantle’s first game to hit home runs from both sides of the plate are iconic not because they were game-changing plays, but because they affected the course of baseball history. In 50 Moments That Defined Major League Baseball, Rocco Constantino provides a fresh history of the national pastime by recounting the most extraordinary and iconic moments—both renowned and obscure—that shaped the game as it moved from the Dead Ball Era, through World War II, and on to the modern era. Events include Jackie Robinson’s first All-Star Game, Babe Ruth’s 50th home run in his first season as a Yankee, Hank Aaron’s first career home run, and many more. Highlighting these moments are Constantino’s exclusive interviews with over 50 former Major League Baseball players, managers, and umpires, as they candidly share their memories and provide commentary on these impactful events. Many of the players interviewed played in the World Series or an All-Star Game, including Rod Carew, Fred Lynn, Shawn Estes, and Jeff Montgomery. 50 Moments That Defined Major League Baseball features rarely seen historic photographs of baseball immortals and modern photos of today’s stars. With two bonus chapters that include first-hand entertaining anecdotes from baseball icons and moving statements about those who helped them reach the sport’s pinnacle, this book is an engaging read for baseball fans and historians alike.

A fascinating history celebrating Black players in Major League Baseball from the 1800s through today, with special insight into what the future may hold. In Beyond Baseball's Color Barrier: The Story of African Americans in Major League Baseball, Past, Present, and Future, Rocco Constantino chronicles the history of generations of ballplayers, showing how African Americans have influenced baseball from the 1800s to the present. He details how the color line was drawn, efforts made to erode it, and the progress towards Jackie Robinson’s debut—including a pre-integration survey in which players unanimously promoted integration years before it actually happened. Personal accounts and colorful stories trace the exponential growth of diversity in the sport since integration, from a boom in participation in the 1970s to peak participation in the early 1990s, but also reveal the current downward trend in the number of African American players to percentages not seen since the 1960s. Beyond Baseball's Color Barrier not only explores the stories of icons like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Satchel Paige but also considers contributions made by players like Vida Blue, Mudcat Grant and Dwight Gooden. Exclusive interviews with former players and individuals involved in the game, including the President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, add first-hand expert insight into the history of the topic and what the future holds.

Celebrates thirty of the most memorable moments in baseball history, including Lou Gehrig's farewell speech at Yankee Stadium, Bobby Thomson's "shot heard 'round the world," and Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier.

For more than a century, the game of baseball has captivated a nation— and filled history with unforgettable moments that will live forever. Now in Memorable Moments, thirty of the sport’s greatest milestones are celebrated in one splendid volume that every fan will cherish. Lavishly illustrated and including original commentary, Ken Leiker brings to life these astonishing feats in all their glory. There is Lou Gehrig’s stirring “luckiest man” farewell speech at Yankee Stadium; Willie Mays’ catch in the far reaches of center field at the Polo Grounds; Bobby Thomson’s dramatic homer that gave the New York Giants the 1951 National League pennant; Reggie Jackson’s three consecutive out-of-the-park blasts in the 1977 World Series; the incredible power displays by Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in 1998 and Barry Bonds in 2001; and ironman Cal Ripken Jr.’s streak of most consecutive games played. Major League Baseball’s Memorable Moments captures dazzling individual performances, intense season-long rivalries, career excellence, heated emotion, and important historical events. This momentous tribute is for anyone who has ever thrilled to the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd. In the summer of 2002, Major League Baseball and its corporate partner, MasterCard, invited fans to select the game’s most memorable moment by filling out ballots distributed at ballparks and by voting online. Millions of ballots were cast worldwide. The most popular moment, announced on October 23, 2002, before Game 4 of the World Series, was Cal Ripken Jr., breaking Lou Gehrig’s streak for consecutive games played. Coming in second was Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record.