Table of Contents
Introduction ix
Why does the visiting team always bat first? 1
How does a curveball curve? 7
Why was Joe DiMaggio called "The Yankee Clipper"? 13
Why is the next batter considered to be "on deck"? 19
When did umpires start using hand signals? 24
Why do some new stadiums have the same names as old ones? 29
Why do pitchers throw overhand in baseball and underhand in Softball? 36
Why do teams start a different pitcher each day? 42
Why is the number 42 on the wall at every stadium? 49
Why is there a National League and an American League? 56
What is a Met? 63
Why is the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York? 76
So who invented baseball? 84
Why is the spitball illegal? 89
Why do managers wear uniforms in the dugout? 98
The names for basemen, outfielders, pitcher, and catcher make sense-but why "shortstop"? 103
What is the loss column and why is it so important? 109
Why do some teams not have players' names on the back of their uniforms? 115
Who won the first World Series? 122
Just what is a sandlot anyway? 128
Why is there a seventh-inning stretch? 135
Who wrote "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"? 141
How many times did Ty Cobb steal home? 147
Why is there ivy on the walls at Wrigley Field? 154
Why is Fenway Park's "Green Monster" so tall? 161
Why did St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa sometimes bat the pitcher eighth? 167
What is the most memorable stadium promotion ever held? 174
Extra Innings 181
Why do Major League games take so long? 182
Why do roster sizes change in September? 190
What do the different classes in the minor leagues mean? 197
About the Author 205
