With more than 4 million people participating in Little League games every year, Little League is the rite of passage into the quintessential American pastime. "Play Ball!" charts Little League's history from its earliest days and shows how, in many respects, its history parallels America's history. 140 illustrations.

In 1990, 25.2 million people watched minor league baseball games. In 2001, that number had increased to 38.8 million thanks in large part to the "new minors." In addition to the die-hard fans, families and business associates and church, social and school groups come to eat crab cakes and sushi and drink lattes, take in the between-inning contests such as "Race the Mascot," see entertainers such as the Blues Brothers of Wisconsin, and watch post-game fireworks. This book examines the concept of the "new minors" as it has developed over the past fifteen years. Part One traces and analyzes the changes in the organization and operation of minor league franchises and the shifting relationship between the majors and the members of the National Association. Part Two focuses on the people, places and events of the 2003 season and playoffs. Special attention is paid to the personnel of the minor league franchises, the coaches and players, the player development departments of the major league clubs, and the relationships between them. Part Three offers general observations about the future of the "new minors." The Edmonton Trappers of the Pacific Coast League, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League, the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League, the El Paso Diablos of the Texas League, the Lansing Lugnuts of the Midwest League, and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the New York-Pennsylvania League are highlighted.

Though renowned as the Birthplace of Little League Baseball and the host of the annual Little League World Series, the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, has also been heir to a minor-league legacy that few cities of comparable size possess. In this engaging tribute to the memories of Williamsports halcyon professional baseball era, discover an integral part of the citys civic identity and social fabric during the past century. Williamsports Baseball Heritage includes the citys landmark ballparks, including Athletic Park, the West Third Street Field, and Bowman Field, and features rare snapshots of prominent players and influential boosters. A charter member of the old New York-Penn League in 1924 (later renamed the Eastern League), Williamsport enjoyed one of the longest periods of affiliation with the league, despite its small size relative to other member cities. Historic Bowman Field, constructed in 1926 and once considered the gem of the of the Eastern League, remains the second-oldest operating minor league ballpark in the country. It has been visited by countless barnstorming Major League and Negro League teams, Hall of Fame players such as Jim Bunning, and famous baseball personalities such as Connie Mack, Branch Rickey, and Casey Stengel. An authoritative and comprehensive view of the era, Williamsports Baseball Heritage will rekindle fond memories among fans and players alike. Images in this collection were culled from The Grit, formerly Williamsports longest-running Sunday newspaper, the D. Vincent Smith and Putsee Vannucci photograph collections, and the private collections of many Williamsport residents.

Baseball and law have intersected since the primordial days. In 1791, a Pittsfield, Massachusetts, ordinance prohibited ball playing near the town's meeting house. Ball games on Sundays were barred by a Pennsylvania statute in 1794. In 2015, a federal court held that baseball's exemption from antitrust laws applied to franchise relocations. Another court overturned the conviction of Barry Bonds for obstruction of justice. A third denied a request by rooftop entrepreneurs to enjoin the construction of a massive video screen at Wrigley Field. This exhaustive chronology traces the effects the law has had on the national pastime, both pro and con, on and off the field, from the use of copyright to protect not only equipment but also "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" to frequent litigation between players and owners over contracts and the reserve clause. The stories of lawyers like Kenesaw Mountain Landis and Branch Rickey are entertainingly instructive.

Each weekend in the 1950s, 30,000 boys knocked at the doors of more than 700,000 American small-town homes and were welcomed with a smile and a dime as they delivered the weekly edition of Grit, America's Greatest Family Newspaper. For more than 100 years, Grit delivered news, features, fiction, coupons, and comics to families across the nation. More than a million children have sold Grit, some for a few weeks, some for several years. Many adults, including Astronaut John Glenn, look back on the experience with pride. This short eBook single (5,500 words) introduces Grit and its founder, Dietrick Lamade, whose ambition and determination epitomizes the word "Grit" and who, despite his prejudices, brought the world to the American living room each week. A journalistic legacy, Grit recorded timely events and celebrated family and community through good times and bad. Many of its articles and features are endearing and touching portraits that chronicled the United States, indeed, the world's, progress and misfortune. Founded in 1882 as a Saturday edition of the Daily Sun and Banner in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Grit was at first a short-lived venture. Then, two years later, Dietrick Lamade purchased it. His story is typically American; the story of a young man who sought and found opportunity, and who, in 50 years, created one of the miracles of modern publishing. Beginning in 1882, Grit: America's Greatest Family Newspaper was on hand to record the world’s history. With millions of readers throughout the United States, it also had the power to influence politics, local and national. Many people miss their Sunday Grit, which brought homespun news to their doorsteps each week. It lives again at http://www.SundayGrit.com.