The author presents a portrait of the players, managers, ballparks and games which shaped the history of America's national pastime in one of the country's oldest baseball towns. The history starts with the Excelsio's first game in 1859 and concludes with the city's return to the majors in 1954. Bready also revisits the International League teams of the first half of the 20th century and describes the teams Baltimore fielded in the old Negro leagues - the Black Sox and Elite Giants.