{"product_id":"9780803248250","title":"Center Field Shot: A History of Baseball on Television","description":"\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eBaseball Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e’s list of things that most affected baseball in the twentieth century, television ranked second—behind only the signing of Jackie Robinson. The new medium of television exposed baseball to a genuinely national audience; altered the financial picture for teams, owners, and players; and changed the way Americans followed the game. \u003ci\u003eCenter Field Shot\u003c\/i\u003e explores these changes—all even more prominent in the first few years of the twenty-first century—and makes sense of their meaning for America’s pastime. \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eCenter Field Shot\u003c\/i\u003e traces a sometimes contentious but mutually beneficial relationship from the first televised game in 1939 to the new era of Internet broadcasts, satellite radio, and high-definition TV, considered from the perspective of businessmen collecting merchandising fees and advertising rights, franchise owners with ever more money to spend on talent, and broadcasters trying to present a game long considered “unfriendly” to television. Ultimately the association of baseball with television emerges as a reflection of—perhaps even a central feature of—American culture at large.","brand":"UNP - Bison Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47007600247024,"sku":"9780803248250","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780803248250_p0.jpg?v=1763725016","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780803248250","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}