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This collection of new interviews--conducted by the author--recounts some of the pivotal moments in the careers of professional baseball players and in American history. Negro League players Leon Day, Buck O'Neil, Monte Irvin, Wilmer Fields and Joe Black speak about their experiences on the other side of the color line. Hank Aaron relates how the challenge of breaking Babe Ruth's home run record was not only on the diamond. Bob Feller, Cecil Travis, Tommy Henrich and Jerry Coleman describe the effects of World War II on their careers. Bobby Thomson and Ralph Branca address the'Shot Heard Round the World'in the Giants vs. Dodgers playoff of 1951.

This sensitive commentary on Jackie Robinson's life describes his childhood in Pasadena, through his years as a sports hero, to his later involvement in politics and the Civil Rights movement. Harvey Frommer has drawn upon interviews with Robinson's family, friends, and fellow ball players to tell the story of a courageous man who triumphed over bigotry and personal tragedy to take his place in the hearts of millions of Americans.

After 19 seasons in the major leagues, all with a single team—a feat few athletes in today's modern sport can match—Mariano Rivera closes out his career with the New York Yankees at the conclusion of the 2013 season. New York's much-loved closer retires as baseball's all-time leader in saves, ERA, and appearances, and he holds the Yankees'single-season saves record as well. Few could have predicted when the Yankees brought Rivera up to the majors in 1995 that he would one day hold the record for most career games pitched with a single team. Rivera did much more than lead by example; he powered his team to five World Series championships: 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2009. Celebrate Mo's amazing career with this full-color pictorial keepsake packed with unique images and exemplary writing from New York's award-winning newspaper, the New York Post.