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The history of the sport of baseball in America, told through archival photos, film footage, and the words of those who contributed to the game in each era. Writers, historians, players, baseball personnel, and fans review key events and the significance of the game in America's history.
Highest-rated episodes all ranked
- 01
Inning One: Our GameIn New York City, in the 1840s, people need a diversion from the "railroad pace" at which they work and live. They find it in a game of questionable origins. On June 19th, 1846, at the Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey, a team of well-dressed gentlemen, the Knickerbockers, play the first game of baseball. By 1856, the game is already being called "the national pastime," or simply, "Our Game." But the nation is about to be torn apart. And, in the midst of the Civil War, there is one thing that Americans North and South have in common: baseball. - 02
Inning Six: The National PastimeThis episode covers the 1940s and includes Joe DiMaggio's celebrated hitting streak, the awe-inspiring performance of Ted Williams and what Burns calls “baseball's finest moment” — the debut of Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. - 03
Inning Seven: The Capitol of BaseballViewers are taken through the 1950s when New York City had three successful baseball teams and dominated the World Series. By the end of the decade, the Giants and Dodgers had left New York, a signal that the old game was changed forever.
Cast
Episodes by season
Season01
- S01E01Season's bestInning One: Our GameSeptember 18, 1994In New York City, in the 1840s, people need a diversion from the "railroad pace" at which they work and live. They find it in a game of ques
- S01E02
Inning Two: Something Like a WarSeptember 19, 1994It is a decade of revolution. In China, in Central America. At Kitty Hawk. In Henry Ford's factory. And on America's baseball fields. In 189 - S01E03
Inning Three: The Faith of Fifty Million PeopleSeptember 20, 1994Examine the century's second decade, which was dominated by the Black Sox scandal. George Herman “Babe” Ruth makes his first major league ap - S01E04
Inning Four: A National HeirloomSeptember 21, 1994This episode concentrates on Babe Ruth, whose phenomenal performance thrilled the nation throughout the 1920s and rescued the game from the - S01E05
Inning Five: Shadow BallSeptember 22, 1994The story of the Negro Leagues in the 1930s. “Shadow Ball” refers to a common pre-game feature in which the players staged a mock game with - S01E06Inning Six: The National PastimeSeptember 25, 1994This episode covers the 1940s and includes Joe DiMaggio's celebrated hitting streak, the awe-inspiring performance of Ted Williams and what
- S01E07Inning Seven: The Capitol of BaseballSeptember 26, 1994Viewers are taken through the 1950s when New York City had three successful baseball teams and dominated the World Series. By the end of the
- S01E08
Inning Eight: A Whole New Ball GameSeptember 27, 1994The field is moved to the 1960s. This episode traces the emergence of television, the expansion to new cities and the building of anonymous - S01E09
Inning Nine: HomeSeptember 28, 1994The final episode looks at baseball from the 1970s to the present, including the establishment of the free agent system, the rise in player
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