This is an anthology of 17 papers, eight presented at the Fifteenth Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American Culture in June 2003 and nine presented at the Sixteenth in June 2004. Selected from over 60 papers delivered at both symposia, the essays represent the finest scholarship from two conferences.

The essays are divided into five sections. "Gender: Feminism and Masculinity on and off the Diamond" examines the relationship between baseball and gender, and includes a discussion of the rituals of brawling and a unique autobiographical account from former major league player Dan Ardell. "African Americans and the Game" studies Reconstruction-era baseball, the African American press's attitude toward the Negro Leagues, and the declining appeal of baseball for the African American community. "Other Minorities: Beyond Baseball's Melting Pot" expands on the discussion of baseball and ethnicity. "Baseball Media: Literature, Journalism, and Audiovisual Reproduction" examines baseball from the perspective of the media and popular arts and considers baseball's cultural stereotypes in film, drama, and literature. "The Business of Baseball" offers five essays on topics ranging from the foundation of the Yankees dynasty to the impact of market size on competition in the modern major leagues.