{"product_id":"2940012976468","title":"The Great American Pastime","description":"Baseball has long been referred to as \"the Great American Pastime\" but has slipped in it's popularity, many feel replaced by football.  Meet Frank \"Hot Dog\" Henderson, All Star centerfielder for the Chicago Cubs.  Frank is a large part of the problem.  He's so caught up in himself and his stats and accomplishments, he feels nothing for the game, the colorful history of his franchise, the fans, just himself.\u003cbr\u003eHe breaks one of baseball's \"Unwritten Rules\" and is attacked for this infraction not only verbally but physically as well.\u003cbr\u003eThe beaning he receives as retribution for his actions, knocks him out cold and when he awakens, he finds himself in the early 1950's where he attempts to adjust to playing a game he thought he knew in an era he's forced to learn anew.\u003cbr\u003eAs he grows in appreciation for the game, he falls in love with, not only the game of baseball, but the girl of his dreams.\u003cbr\u003eRather than just another story, \"The Great American Pastime\" is actually a collection of true baseball stories retold in this fictional account.  Some will appear somewhat familiar others probably not, yet they are all mostly true, gathered from years of research and love of the game.\u003cbr\u003eEach chapter is opened with a quote from either former ballplayers, sportswriters or just baseball fans, then the chapter unfolds in such a way to try to explain what was meant by the quote.\u003cbr\u003eEven the \"fringe\" baseball fan will be entertained by the insight of the inner game of baseball, one rarely discussed, that teach them the appreciation of this great game right along with the main character. \u003cbr\u003eAs a special treat, the story opens with a word for word copy of Abbott and Costello's \"Who's on First\" and concludes with George Carlin's hilarious explanation of a comparison between baseball and football.  It closes with several pages of baseball quotes that never made it to a chapter explanation, or else this book would have made Michener proud.","brand":"DWC Associates, Inc","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47145590587632,"sku":"2940012976468","price":1.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940012976468_p0.jpg?v=1763575250","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940012976468","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}