Throughout baseball’s history of cheaters and scandal, there is only one phrase that can sum up the result of the intentions of those trying to reinvent the rules of baseball for personal gain and that phrase is - -Cheaters NEVER prosper.-

Pitching is a game for people who can put failure aside and concentrate on the task at hand. It is very difficult for a pitcher to have 1-2-3 innings. A pitcher has to give up hits, walks and deal with fielders making errors. Pitchers generally get advice from everyone if you’re struggling to hit.

My baseball story.

Babe Ruth joined the Yankees baseball team in 1920, after his contract was sold by the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees. Babe Ruth's popularity drew huge crowds to the Polo Grounds, the field that the Yankee's had shared with the New York Giants since 1913. In fact, the Yankees became...

The New York Yankees lost Monday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies at the Citizens Bank Park being able to score only 2 runs while the Phillies scored 4. This was Yankees eighth loss in the last eleven games.

There is very little known about the origins of baseball. There appears to be a historic mish-mash of very early games that may very well have ties to modern baseball.

When you think about baseball, you think about a game that has been surrounded by myth, mystification and legends that have a tendency to get embellished over the years and re-embellished.

Pedro Martinez went back to New York on Monday night for some medical tests after he suffered his second injury in the last two months. This time the diagnosis was a strained right calf that occurred during the warm up in the bullpen. But he still pitched and was tagged for six runs in just one ugly inning in the game where the New York Mets were defeated by the Phillies with a final score of 13-0.

As with any sport, the initial cost of league fees is only the beginning of the cost associated with actually playing the sport. In Fastpitch Softball there is catcher's gear, softball gloves, composite bats, cleats, and the list sometimes seems endless. So, how do you stretch your budget to go farther, get more, and better equip your team?

X BAT Batting Gloves are the finest gloves from the most discriminating Major Leaguer to the serious youth and amateur players. A custom baseball glove enables you to personalize your gear to increase your comfort level and also improve your performance in the game.

The challenge of finding a suitable practice field for any baseball or fastpitch softball team is becoming increasingly difficult.This article explores one solution that is in abundant supply in virtually every city and a practice plan to accommodate the facility.

The Oakland Athletics might announce next week they will be building a new Stadium in suburban Fremont, California. The announcement is expected to be made by the A’s managing partner Lew Wolff and baseball commissioner Bud Selig next Tuesday in the Bay Area.

Only one season after they broke the 88-year curse, the Chicago White Sox will watch the postseason on their TVs as 21 other teams play against each other for the Pennants and for the World Series.

As most of us are aware baseball is the most popular game in United States and Americans enjoy playing this game. To play the game more frequently and for longer hours, the ideal thing would be to build a backyard baseball field. While it may not be practicable to build a backyard baseball field to scale, you can certainly make one that provides a lot of excitement and fun.

The Americans won the Olympic gold medal in the year 2000, but didn’t succeed to qualify for the 2004 Summer Games in Athens. This year the United States of America’s Olympic Baseball Team earned the right to participate in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing by beating Panama 11 – 5 on Sunday night. Cuba also qualified for the Olympics after winning the game against Mexico 4 – 0. Both qualified teams will play against each other next Tuesday. The U.S. record stands at 5-1 in the tournament, while Cuba is 6-0. Tuesday marks the final game for both teams.

There are stories of players who love their bats so much that they even sleep with them. A thumb rule to select a proper bat is to hold it by its handle and extend your arm so that you form an L with your body. A difference of mere one or two ounces in weight can make a huge difference in the swing.

You want your dress or uniform to last longer and also retain its original brand new color, crispness, strength and freshness. SPEC-TAK color has been introduced recently in the market. It is cheap and particularly useful for white uniforms. It brightens the clothes and removes the yellowness.

This articles tells you the techniques of Evaluating MLB Pitching. You can earn good money if you know the techniques of Evaluating MLB Pitching.

The first baseball fantasy step to creating a league is getting your teams together. This basically means you need to get 8-12 friends together to create teams. Remember, if you have less than 8 teams or more than 12 your season will not be as enjoyable.

Well not exactly. No one really knows where baseball started, but settlers in America brought with them the English games of cricket, rounders and the similar townball, which gradually evolved into the game we know today.

The Pitching Pad for baseball and softball can be used for both games as the strike zones for both are the same. As a matter of fact, it can even be used for football by hanging it at a higher level on a fence. This makes the Pitching Pad a great tool for players who participate in multiple sports or for families who have more than one child each interested in different sports.

Baseball card collecting has been a part of American culture since the 1800s and it not only is a great hobby but many people turn a good profit also. With so many various cards out there and so many great players there is still plenty of money to be made collecting baseball cards.

Every day I will be looking over the performances and trends from previous baseball games to help you make educated decisions about your fantasy baseball roster. Here are a few players from yesterday’s action.

After several months of doubtfulness, Alex Rodriguez has decided that he will participate in the World Baseball Classic (WBC), and that he will do so wearing a Team USA uniform.

The US lives and breaths baseball, the game runs in the blood and young and old are hooked up to the sport. There are baseball leagues major and little, baseball journalists and reporters, fans who own teams others who collect memorabilia and record histories.

If you are interested in buying baseball bats, check out the maple and ash baseball bats by X BATS. The baseball bats by XBATS are customized to your requirements. The wood baseball bats come in either maple or ash. You can choose from 27 different models, and 32 different colors.

In a softball game, pitchers should have great skill, attitude and patience because without that a pitcher cannot win the diamond game. These softball pitching tips may help you to win the game.

Victory Custom Athletic, Inc. has since 1988, specialized in manufacturing custom baseball uniforms and softball uniforms through their Los Angeles based manufacturing operation. Victory has been the custom uniform supplier to some of the finest and most successful baseball and softball teams.

Selection of right baseball bat is as important as to know the game properly. There is also no replacement for hard work and relentless practice, but the choice for a good bat can definitely play a major role towards the great batting performance.

Stool Ball was a game played in America as well as Europe, which involved a pitcher trying to hit a target with a ball, and a batter defending the target by batting the ball away. After successfully hitting the ball, the batter then runs between the bases to get to -home-.

Baseball is yet another game where its accessories render assistance to the player to give his best shot. Baseball accessories include performance gear, batting gloves, hitting shirts and jackets, hats, wristbands, bat sleeves et al. So, if you have recently nurtured a passion for this intriguing game, gear up for its accessories for your safety and convenience.

An athletic uniform is to an athlete what a logo or a trademark is to a business. Since 1988, Victory Custom Athletic, Inc. has specialized in custom baseball uniforms and softball uniforms through our Los Angeles based factory direct manufacturing operation.

Baseball is a bat and ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. In baseball, a pitch is the act of throwing a baseball towards home plate to start a play. Pitchers generally throw a variety of pitches, each of which has a slightly different velocity, trajectory, movement, hand position, wrist position and arm angle.

Baseball history, like all history, certainly is ever changing, but some aspects of the game have remained unchanged for well over a half-century. There are a few reasons for this - over time the basic rules of the game have for the most part remained unaltered

One can buy a best sports uniform but its also important to maintain the sports uniform that increase their life. The sports uniform come with instructions which one must follow to keep them intact. This articles deals with the tips and tricks of keeping the sports uniform in a good condition.

A proper fitted uniform definitely boosts your confidence on facing the game. Victory Custom Athletic specializes in baseball and softball uniforms to provide a unique collection for all the game lovers spread across Los Angeles.

Softball pitchers must contend with numerous pressures arising out of a constant barrage of one-on-one duels with hard and obstinate hitters. They should work untiringly to refine the art of the windup and delivery.

Pitching pad is used for throwing balls on it; it is made for that only. It is useful and helpful for all kinds of ages, they can be a beginner or a trainer or a professional player. If a child wants to learn how to throw ball, pitching pad helps in it. Just gaining knowledge of how to throw, you have the entire area inside the gray outline in which the child has to try and hit.

The season of MLB baseball is a long one, thanks to each team playing 162 games, and it's filled to the brim with opportunity. The successful baseball bettor can make an excellent profit over the course of a season.

It is difficult to pinpoint when baseball was first played in America. The early development of baseball is chronicled more in myth and legend rather than in facts and history.

As a player of baseball the most important issue is choosing a bat. The other important factor is the length, weight and drop of the baseball bat. If you are looking for custom baseball bats, you can visit xbats website.

More than five hundred photographs, many in full color, capture the milestones, mythmakers, and historical development of baseball over fifteen decades. Reprint. 100,000 first printing. NYT.

Author: Geoffrey C. Ward, Ken Burns
Paperback: 512 pages
Company: Knopf (1996-08-13) (1996-08-13)
ISBN: 0679765417
List Price: $45.00
Amazon Price: $28.71
Used Price: $5.64

Author: Ron Shandler
Paperback: 280 pages ISBN13: 9781600783555, Condition: NEW, Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Company: Triumph Books (2010-01-25)
ISBN: 1600783554
List Price: $24.95
Amazon Price: $15.42
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Paperback:
Company: (2010)
ISBN: 0910692300
List Price:
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Coaching young players, developing their skills, and cultivating a love for the sport may be the most rewarding experience baseball can offer. Cal and Bill Ripken understand this like few others.

From their father, Cal Sr., a legend in the Baltimore Orioles organization for 37 years, they learned to play the game the right way. Those lessons, paired with their combined 33 years of big league experience, helped develop the Ripken Way, a method of teaching the game through simple instruction, solid explanations, encouragement, and a positive atmosphere. In Coaching Youth Baseball the Ripken Way, Cal and Bill share this approach to coaching and development.

Whether you’re teaching your children at home, managing the local travel team, or working with high school-level players, Coaching Youth Baseball the Ripken Way will help you make a difference both on and off the field, with these features: More than 50 drills covering defense, hitting, pitching, and baserunning Age-specific practice plans for players ranging from 4 to 15+ Strategies for setting goals and reasonable expectations for your players and team Advice on communicating with parents, players, and staff Methods for creating a positive and fun environment in which kids can learn the skills and strategies of the game Bill Ripken was once voted by his peers as one of the big league players most likely to become a manager. Cal Ripken, Jr., known as baseball’s Iron Man, is a member of the game’s All-Century Team and a future Hall of Famer. Together, they are proof positive that the Ripken Way is the right way to teach the game of baseball.

Author: Cal Ripken Jr., Bill Ripken, Scott Lowe
Paperback: 264 pages ISBN13: 9780736067829, Condition: USED - GOOD, Notes:, Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices
Company: Human Kinetics (2006-12-15)
ISBN: 0736067825
List Price: $16.95
Amazon Price: $11.40
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The bestselling annual baseball preview from the smartest analysts in the business

The essential guide to the 2010 baseball season is on deck now, and whether you're a fan or fantasy player-or both-you won't be properly informed without it. Baseball Prospectus 2010 brings together an elite group of analysts to provide the definitive look at the upcoming season in critical essays and commentary on the thirty teams, their managers, and more than sixty players and prospects from each team. Contains critical essays on each of the thirty teams and player comments for some sixty players for each of those teams Projects each players stats for the coming season using the groundbreaking PECOTA projection system, which has been called "perhaps the game's most accurate projection model" (Sports Illustrated) From Baseball Prospectus, America's leading provider of statistical analysis for baseball

Now in its fifteenth edition, this New York Times bestselling insider's guide remains hands down the most authoritative and entertaining book of its kind.

Top Ten Ways Your Friends Will Know You Haven't Read Baseball Prospectus 2010 10. You think signing Jason Bay for $66 million was a great move, and wish Omar Minaya had gone harder after Bengie Molina and Jarrod Washburn. 9. You drafted Derek Jeter and Derrek Lee early in your fantasy league this year. 8. You can't imagine why we'd need their new pitching stat--SIERA--when we already have ERA. 7. You think this might be Houston's year. 6. You've never heard of Jesus Montero, Jason Heyward, or Mike Stanton. 5. You've heard of Montero, Heyward, and Stanton, but without BP's new "MLB %" playing time projection, you overdrafted them. 4. You think your team will be better than the Yankees this year. 3. You're not bleary-eyed from staying up all night reading hundreds of pages of smart stats and witty commentary. 2. The name Matt Wieters doesn't make you giggle a little. 1. You're Brian Sabean.

Author: Baseball Prospectus
Paperback: 672 pages ISBN13: 9780470558409, Condition: NEW, Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Company: Wiley (2010-02-22)
ISBN: 0470558407
List Price: $24.95
Amazon Price: $15.58
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Get more out of each practice! The Baseball Drill Book presents 198 activities to sharpen every aspect of player and team performance.

The American Baseball Coaches Association enlisted 17 top baseball coaches to create the best and most complete collection of baseball drills in print. Bob Bennett, Ed Cheff, Gordie Gillespie, Gene Stephenson, Ray Tanner, and a dozen more coaching greats cover all the bases:

· Conditioning and warm-up
· Throwing and catching
· Base running and sliding
· Hitting and bunting
· Pitching
· Fielding
· Offensive and defensive tactics

Additional chapters explain how to incorporate drills in practice sessions and simulate game situations. The Baseball Drill Book provides the essential links between initial skill learning, mastery, and winning performance on the diamond.

Author: American Baseball Coaches Association
Paperback: 320 pages ISBN13: 9780736050838, Condition: NEW, Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Company: Human Kinetics (2003-11-26)
ISBN: 0736050833
List Price: $19.95
Amazon Price: $12.87
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Everyone knows that baseball is a game of intricate regulations, but it turns out to be even more complicated than we realize. What truly governs the Major League game is a set of unwritten rules, some of which are openly discussed (don’t steal a base with a big lead late in the game), and some of which only a minority of players are even aware of (don’t cross between the catcher and the pitcher on the way to the batter’s box). In The Baseball Codes, old-timers and all-time greats share their insights into the game’s most hallowed—and least known—traditions. For the learned and the casual baseball fan alike, the result is illuminating and thoroughly entertaining.
 
At the heart of this book are incredible and often hilarious stories involving national heroes (like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays) and notorious headhunters (like Bob Gibson and Don Drysdale) in a century-long series of confrontations over respect, honor, and the soul of the game. With The Baseball Codes, we see for the first time the game as it’s actually played, through the eyes of the players on the field.
 
With rollicking stories from the past and new perspectives on baseball’s informal rulebook, The Baseball Codes is a must for every fan.

Author: Jason Turbow, Michael Duca
Hardcover: 304 pages Deckle EdgeISBN13: 9780375424694, Condition: NEW, Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Company: Pantheon (2010-03-09) (2010-03-09)
ISBN: 0375424695
List Price: $25.00
Amazon Price: $14.99
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The Baseball America 2010 Prospect Handbook is the leading annual reference guide to the next generation of rising stars.  The Prospect Handbook profiles in-depth analysis and statistics of 900 players, provides a detailed amateur draft report card, a list of the top one hundred prospects, and a ranking of the Major League Baseball player development programs. The Prospect Handbook is the resource for information regarding the leading minor leagues throughout baseball and is a valuable tool for fans, fantast leaguers, and anyone who wants to know more about the player development process.

Author: The Editors of Baseball America
Paperback: 512 pages ISBN13: 9781932391299, Condition: NEW, Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Company: Baseball America (2010-02-23)
ISBN: 1932391290
List Price: $31.95
Amazon Price: $20.85
Used Price: $20.62

Use Youth Baseball Drills to develop players’ understanding, skills, and love for the game. The activities presented will help you make each practice more educational and fun.

This handy coaching tool contains a variety of both tried-and-true and innovative drills that build on and reinforce your technique and tactic instruction of 7- to 12-year-olds. Drills are easily located by topic in the seven chapters, and they progress in difficulty so that you can choose the most appropriate ones for your players’ abilities in each facet of the game. And, because attention spans are short at those ages, each drill is designed to maximize the number of players involved on the field.

Helpful tips throughout the book make on-field practice, organization, and time management much easier. Youth Baseball Drills is your guide to fun, productive practices so that your players get the best possible experience playing the sport.

Author: Marty Schupak
Paperback: 208 pages ISBN13: 9780736056328, Condition: USED - VERY GOOD, Notes:
Company: Human Kinetics (2005-02-18)
ISBN: 0736056327
List Price: $15.95
Amazon Price: $9.42
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Whether you’re a major league couch potato, life-long season ticket-holder, or teaching game to a beginner, Watching Baseball Smarter leaves no territory uncovered. In this smart and funny fan’s guide Hample explains the ins and outs of pitching, hitting, running, and fielding, while offering insider trivia and anecdotes that will surprise even the most informed viewers of our national pastime.

What is the difference between a slider and a curveball?
At which stadium did “The Wave” first make an appearance?
How do some hitters use iPods to improve their skills?
Which positions are never played by lefties?
Why do some players urinate on their hands?

Combining the narrative voice and attitude of Michael Lewis with the compulsive brilliance of Schott’s Miscellany, Watching Baseball Smarter will increase your understanding and enjoyment of the sport–no matter what your level of expertise.

Zack Hample is an obsessed fan and a regular writer for minorleaguebaseball.com. He's collected nearly 3,000 baseballs from major league games and has appeared on dozens of TV and radio shows. His first book, How to Snag Major League Baseballs, was published in 1999.

Author: Zack Hample
Paperback: 272 pages ISBN13: 9780307280329, Condition: NEW, Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Company: Vintage (2007-03-27) (2007-03-27)
ISBN: 0307280322
List Price: $14.00
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No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: DVD
Artist: SELLECK/HAYSBERT
Title: MR BASEBALL
Street Release Date: 08/01/2006

MLB Bloopers The Funny Side Of Baseball

Hosted by Chris Kattan

If Major League Baseball was just pitching, hitting and defense, there wouldn't be anything funny about it. But there are pranks. And practical jokes. And the funniest on-the-field baseball mishaps and brain cramps this side of the new millennium that must be seen to be believed.

From sprinklers gone awry to bugs where they don't belong to players coming to the ballpark on skateboards and rickshaws, MLB Bloopers: The Funny Side Of Baseball delivers the laughs and is the perfect DVD for baseball fans who both love their sport and more than a little comic relief.

Special Features:

Hosted by comedian Chris Kattan!
The Bruce Chen and Steve Kline show
Dontrelle Willis and Jimmy Rollins talk about growing up together
The aftermath of the Tim Hudson/Eddie Perez prank
1993 Florida Marlins grounds crew's tarp troubles
Randy Wolf and Mike Lieberthal talk about Mike's pre-game dance
Ruben Rivera: "The Worst Baserunning In The History Of The Game"
Nook Logan hits a "Little League Homerun"
Ryan Dempster's Harry Caray impersonation
Jason Lane forgets how many outs there are in an inning
Mike Cameron falls and makes a great catch
Chad Cordero trips on the mound while throwing a pitch
Johnny Damon recalls when Manny Ramirez cut off one of his throws in the outfield

Atists: Artist Not Provided
DVD: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSCOfficially Licensed, Highest Quality Recording
Company: Shout! Factory (2006-06-27)
List Price: $19.99
Amazon Price: $10.45
Used Price: $10.43

The "Play Ball! Basic Fielding" DVD with Ray Romano and Harold Reynolds is an authentic Little League? baseball guide that teaches basic fielding techniques, strategies, tips, practice drills, and safety. It's hosted by Ray Romano from TV's "Everybody Loves Raymond".

DVD: Color, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC
Company: Peter Pan (2003-11-18)
List Price: $14.98
Amazon Price: $3.94
Used Price: $2.98

This magnificent DVD Collection elegantly displays the iconic moments, thrilling heroics, triumphant favorites, and breathtaking upsets across seven decades of World Series Films, plus a narrative and pictorial essay on the Fall Classic since its origin in 1903.

This beautifully-packaged, digitally-preserved celebration of the Fall Classic is a timeless treasure that will become the ultimate centerpiece of any baseball fan's DVD library. Records and seasons change with time, but the legends and lore of the World Series on DVD will last forever.

Fall Classic film highlights showcase extraordinary players including: Stan Musial, Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Henry Aaron, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Brooks Robinson, Tom Seaver, Johnny Bench, Willie Stargell, Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols, and many more. The drama and unforgettable images of baseball are the World Series moments etched in our minds and celebrated from generation to generation. These dynamic events are preserved and commemorated in this one-of-a-kind collection.

DVD FEATURES: 58-Page World Series Pictorial and Retrospective with Foreword by Bob Costas
*DISC 1: 1943 Yankees, 1944 Cardinals, 1945 Tigers, 1946 Cardinals, 1947 Yankees, 1948 Indians (approx 182 min)
*DISC 2 1949-53 Yankees (approx 167 min)
*DISC 3 1954 Giants, 1955 Dodgers, 1956 Yankees (approx 115 min)
*DISC 4 1957 Braves, 1958 Yankees, 1959 Dodgers, 1960 Pirates, 1961 Yankees (approx 182 min)
*DISC 5 1962 Yankees, 1963 Dodgers, 1964 Cardinals (approx 100 min)
*DISC 6 1965 Dodgers, 1966 Orioles, 1967 Cardinals, 1968 Tigers (approx 152 min)
*DISC 7 1969 Mets, 1970 Orioles, 1971 Pirates (approx 116 min)
*DISC 8 1972-74 A's, 1975-76 Reds (approx 170 min)
*DISC 9 1977-78 Yankees, 1979 Pirates, 1980 Phillies, 1981 Dodgers (approx 166 min)
*DISC 10 1982 Cardinals, 1983 Orioles, 1984 Tigers (approx 107 min)
*DISC 11 1985 Royals, 1986 Mets, 1987 Twins (approx 119 min)
*DISC 12 1988 Dodgers, 1989 A's, 1990 Reds (approx 177 min)
*DISC 13 1991 Twins, 1992 Blue Jays (approx 139 min)
*DISC 14 1993 Blue Jays, 1995 Braves (approx 132 min)
*DISC 15 1996 Yankees, 1997 Marlins (approx 143 min)
*DISC 16 1998-2000 Yankees (approx 186 min)
*DISC 17 2001 Diamondbacks, 2002 Angels (approx 145 min)
*DISC 18 2003 Marlins, 2004 Red Sox (approx 142 min)
*DISC 19 2005 White Sox, 2006 Cardinals (approx 152 min)
*DISC 20 2007 Red Sox, 2008 Phillies (approx 163 min)

(Click for larger image)

A Message from Jeff Scott, Senior Writer-- Major League Baseball Productions, someone who has worked on the World Series MLB Project for the last 20 years.

There was no shortage of storylines in the first World Series film I wrote for Major League Baseball Productions. The year was 1988 and this fellow Orel Hershiser had just completed a regular season in which he threw six consecutive scoreless games - topped off by a 10 inning masterpiece that enabled him to set a new record with 59 straight scoreless innings. He threw another eight scoreless in the LCS against the Mets to extend his mark to 67 straight innings without allowing a run. Did I mention his save in Game Four of the LCS - a shutout in Game Seven of that series and still another in Game Two of the World Series against the A's (he also went 3-3 with two doubles in that game)? Of course, what most folks remember from that '88 Series was the home run a hobbling (Hobbsing?) Kirk Gibson hit to win the opener and set the stage for a Dodger championship. Whew, I thought. This script writes itself. I soon discovered that it doesn't always work that way - in fact, there have been many years when folks have said that our official World Series Film was better than the real thing.

But regardless of the drama or lack thereof, it's always baseball -- and I have had the pleasure and honor to write the World Series film for more than 20 years. A little background is in order here. The first four decades of World Series films were created as archival programs designed to capture the highlights for posterity. The narration was staccato and to the point - much more play-by-play than storytelling. By the 1970s the film became a blend of archive and entertainment - more story intensive - and come the 1980s these films were offered to the public first on VHS and later DVD. With this latest evolution came a drastic change in production. What once took months to leisurely put together now had to be turned around in less than two weeks to accommodate the film's distributor. And that's how it's been since I first became a part of the process. That first script I wrote back in 1988 was banged out on an IBM Selectric Typewriter (with automatic back space white out.) I would soon move on to a Smith Corona Word Processer - the kind where you had to insert a new piece of paper into the roll for each page you wanted to print. It took close to 45 minutes to print out the 1991 classic which described how John Smoltz and Jack Morris traded darts in an unforgettable Game Seven. The 1993 series was the first one I wrote that included my beloved Phillies. But after enduring the traumatic Game Four and Joe Carter's blast three days later I can assure you that film is still sitting on my shelf wrapped in its original cellophane. Just because I wrote it doesn't mean I have to watch it!

There was no World Series film in 1994 - perhaps the darkest October in baseball history. I was still writing for Mel Allen on "This Week in Baseball" that year, and the only time I ever saw him cry was when he read that there would be no World Series that year. The Yankees incredible run that began in 1996 electrified New York City. And it all seemed ready to peak in 2001, for this World Series was very much a part of the healing process after 9-11 - and the Yankees were following the script to a "T." Miraculous back-to-back comebacks at Yankee Stadium had put the Yankees on the brink of the title -- all they had to do was win one more in the desert. But just when everything appeared to be in place for a true Fall Classic classic, Luis Gonzalez hit a little flair over shortstop off the best closer on the planet and the unpredictable world of baseball had thrown us all another curve.

The premiere of the 2004 World Series film in Boston was a raucous delight - the audience was screaming and cheering every moment on the big screen. This was also the year we shifted away from classic voiceover talent (Vin Scully, Ernie Harwell, Curt Chaplin, Len Cariou) and instead called upon actors who lived and died with their teams. Denis Leary voiced that 2004 film and he did a fantastic job. But the truth is, it was almost as much fun listening to the stream of good-natured invective he unleashed in the voiceover booth every time he messed up. Chicago native Michael Clarke Duncan manned the mike the next year, followed by St. Louis fan Billy Bob Thornton. Matt Damon was a pleasure to work with when the Sox won again in 2007. How much he loves his team became apparent halfway through the session when this award-winning actor -- who has been in some of this generation's top films -- sat back and said that this might have been the coolest thing he'd ever done. And in 2008 - when I finally got to write a World Series film that had a happy ending (at least for me), Terrence Howard brought just the right tone to the script.

Beyond all these actors and narrators, I have been blessed to work with many talented producers, editors, executive producers, field crews, audio engineers, proofreaders and myriad assistants, associates and coordinators who together form the basis of each and every film. And nothing on a professional level makes me feel better than when the show is finally recorded and mixed and they get to see their hard work brought together by a solid script and crisp narration. The World Series film is the gift we give to baseball fans every year - and I'm just happy to be the one who gets to tie the bow.

Jeff Scott

Senior Writer -- Major League Baseball Productions

Atists: Major League Baseball, MLB
DVD: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSCOFFICIAL WORLD SERIES FILM COLLECTION (DVD MOVIE)
Company: A&E Home Video (2009-11-10)
List Price: $229.95
Amazon Price: $113.49
Used Price: $99.99

Ken Burns tops himself with this epic of American history, told in "nine innings," with a skilled narration by John Chancellor and the voices of Paul Newman, Jason Robards, Billy Crystal, and other stars. The series spans 150 years, starting with the myth-debunking tale of baseball's true beginnings -- when it was a game "one degree above mayhem." Then follow the growth of America's National Pastime through the decades of glory and record-setting achievements, as well as the scandals, the bigotry, and the big money. The series portrays the game as a mirror of America itself -- the passions, prejudices, and ambitions that have shape the country.

Director: Ken Burns
DVD: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSCOfficially Licensed, Highest Quality Recording
Company: PBS Paramount (2004-09-28)
List Price: $99.99
Amazon Price: $57.71
Used Price: $53.99

The best selling instructional video "the 59 Minute Baseball Practice" is now available in high quality DVD format.The Youth Sports Club is the national leader in instructional sports videos being the producer of such best selling titles as "48 Championship Basketball Drills", "Winning Baseball Strategies", "Championship Soccer Drills" and the award winning "Backyard Baseball Drills". This DVD format will enable parents and coaches to show the 34 drills right on a laptop computer at the playing field.

Director: Marty Schupak & Players, Marty Schupak & Players;Baseball Equipment;Baseball Training;Baseball Bats;Little League
DVD: Color, DVD, NTSC
Company: Youth Sports Club (2002-06-26)
ISBN: 0967124840
List Price: $24.95
Amazon Price: $19.45
Used Price: $19.40

Bill Ripken and Cal Ripken, Jr. have developed a method of baseball instruction based on their combined 33 years of major league experience and the teachings of their father, Cal Ripken, Sr. The Ripken Way is based on the following principles: Keep It Simple, Make It Fun, Explain Why and Celebrate The Individual. This unique series of instructional programs explores how to play baseball the Ripken Way. Actual footage of professional baseball players is used to illustrate each lesson. This DVD 3-Pack teaches the fundamentals of Defense, Hitting & Pitching.

Stars former Major Leaguer Billy Ripken and his Hall of Fame Brother, Cal Ripken Jr, who teach the fundamentals of baseball in an easy to understand way that is guaranteed to improve your child s game.
Start the season right! The DVD Box set is an entire teaching library that covers every aspect of the game.

Director: Cal Ripken Jr.
DVD: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSCBASEBALL THE RIPKEN WAY 3 PACK (DVD MOVIE)
Company: Virgil Films and Entertainment (2009-03-10)
List Price: $39.95
Amazon Price: $28.59

Director: Major League Baseball
DVD: Color, DVD, NTSC
Company: Shout! Factory (2010-06-01)
List Price: $14.93
Amazon Price: $13.49

When It Was a Game (1991); When it Was a Game 2 (1992); When It Was a Game 3 (2000)

DVD: Box set, Black & White, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSCOfficially Licensed, Highest Quality Recording
Company: Hbo Home Video (2001-05-01)
List Price: $38.98
Amazon Price: $19.49
Used Price: $20.00

The Ultimate Baseball Collector’s Collection features two great documentaries that allow baseball fans of all ages to share the glory of more than a century of organized baseball with fascinating souvenirs and anecdotes that celebrate the giants of the game. Both documentaries, Collecting America and Ultimate Baseball Memorabilia, provide viewers with an inside look at baseball’s greatest treasures and also explore the big business of the baseball memorabilia industry. Featuring the games greatest including Mickey Mantle, Nolan Ryan, Don Mattingly, Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, and Hank Aaron, The Ultimate Baseball Collector’s Collection is a must-have for all baseball fans and sports collectors!

Atists: Artist Not Provided
DVD: Color, DVD, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC
Company: Rhi Entertainment (2007-09-25)
List Price: $9.95
Amazon Price: $5.11
Used Price: $5.74