"A thoroughly diverting and occasionally surprising exploration of a slice of baseball history heretofore largely ignored . . . marvelously informative and fun to read." — Sports Illustrated
"Mr. Mead describes the Browns and baseball's war years with wit and irony." — The New York Times
"In this delightful rambling history, the author sees wartime baseball in its unique social context." — Time
Now known as the Baltimore Orioles, the bumbling St. Louis Browns won their only American League pennant in 1944 — during an era when the game's brightest stars were in the military. This lighthearted look at America's Pastime during World War II recalls charity games, cigarette drives, and the Browns themselves, a team stocked with a one-armed outfielder and other unlikely players. A joy to read, this trip through baseball's past was written by William B. Mead, a veteran Washington journalist and author of several other baseball books.