Learn to:

• Improve your hitting, pitching, and fielding
• Evaluate stats, players, and records
• Become a more effective coach
• Get more out of a trip to the ballpark

Your complete guide to baseball, the great American pastime

Take me out to the ballgame! There's nothing as American as baseball. With this great guide, you'll get a complete overview of the game, from tips to improve your hitting, pitching, and fielding to details on equipment, rules, and the game as it's played from the Little Leagues to the Major Leagues.

• Before your first at-bat -- discover the history of this great game, the rules of play, and the equipment you'll need to get ready to go
• Take your swings -- find out how to grip and rip the bat in the batter's box, how to take a stance, how to make contact, and how to follow-through to ensure you get a base hit
• The ball in play -- get the scoop on flashing the leather like a pro with tips on the various positions and how to play good defense
• From little league to the big leagues -- uncover the latest on all levels of baseball from the Little Leagues, college baseball, foreign leagues, the minor leagues, and Major League Baseball
• The top dog -- read about the many roles of a general manager and how his actions can greatly affect how an MLB team performs
• The spectator's guide -- know how to measure your favorite players' performances and find out how to get the most from your trip to the ballpark

Open the book and find:

• An overview to help you gear up like a Major Leaguer
• Rules that dictate playing the game
• The nuances of hitting, from grip to batting stance
• How to run the bases like a pro
• Fielding tips to help you play defense like an all-star
• In-depth secrets on pitching and playing catcher
• Updated information on the amateur draft
• The impact of steroids on baseball
• Revised specs about the MLB ballparks