The Great American Baseball Scrapbook

by A. D. Suehsdorf

Random House
160 pages, approximately 250 photographs, 120 in color, $14.95

Mostly a lively nostalgic picture book of players and assorted baseball memorabilia, this scrapbook also includes a quick run-through of baseball history from 1876 to 1969, including some enchanting trivia. For instance, did you know that early baseball players had to double as pregame ticket takers? That at one time it took nine balls to walk a batter? That for one year (1882) ballplayers were color-coded—pitchers light blue, catchers scarlet, and so forth? Only their socks showed what team they were on.