One of the largest of the mass immigrations to this country came from Italy in the latter years of the nineteenth century. As the children of these immigrants assimilated into the culture, one of the developing areas of their interest was in the American game of baseball. It soon became apparent to the hardworking parents that baseball provided more than a source of pleasure but an income that far exceeded anything they could earn with hours of hard labor. This book traces the story of those Italian Americans whose lives and careers were spent as a part of Americas game, beginning with the first recognized player of Italian heritage who played in the National League in 1897. This will be the only volume on the subject that brings the story to the present time.