Acclaimed poet and photographer, Charles R. Smith, Jr., brings America's favorite pastime to life in this bright, energetic ode to the game of baseball.

Sliding into first. Striking out. Hitting a home run. Playing baseball can be thrilling, heartbreaking, and always, quintessentially, American. In this celebration of the game, Charles Smith's luminous, artful photographs and rhythmic, free-flowing text create an unforgettable portrait of all the joys, frustrations, and surprises of life lived on the baseball diamond. A mix of rhyming verse and lyrical prose bring to life the myriad emotions of young baseball players, and colorful photographs of batters, balls, and, of course, diamonds, capture the essence of our nation's beloved pastime.