John Chancellor

In 1894, sportswriter Byron Bancroft Johnson takes over a struggling Western League and turns it into a financial success. In 1900, he changes its name to the American League and begins talking about challenging the National League. In 1903, the first World Series is played between the American League Boston Pilgrims and the National League Pittsburgh Pirates.

Immigrants to America eagerly root for baseball, but baseball is trying to endure a decade that includes the meanest, vilest, angriest player ever to step onto a field and a scandal that almost destroys the game.

The Negro Leagues bring baseball to towns the major Leagues ignore. To delight the fans they develop an elaborate warm-up routine in pantomime; throwing and hitting an invisible ball. It's called "shadow ball."

When World War II ends, baseball becomes the national pastime. Joe DiMaggio sets a consecutive game-hitting streak that still stands. Ted Williams becomes the last man to hit .400. The Brooklyn Dodgers win their first pennant. And World War II takes so much talent from the majors that the St. Louis Browns win a pennant.

The 1960s is a turbulent time for baseball as one by one its "sacred" institutions fall. First with Bill Mazeroski bringing down the the mighty Yankees with one dramatic home run. In 1961 Roger Maris pursues Babe Ruth's "untouchable" record. In 1962 the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants are replaced by the New York Mets who compile the worst single season record of the century.