Change Up : An Oral History of 8 Key Events That Shaped Modern Baseball

Change Up is every fan's box-seat ticket to a remarkable baseball event: a round-table conversation among the participants themselves about pivotal developments that changed the game, from the 1960s to today. Here, through the eyes and words of star players like Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and Ichiro Suzuki, baseball legends like Cal Ripken, Earl Weaver, and Jim Bouton, and award-winning writers like David Marainiss, Bob Lipsyte, and Robert Whiting who reported the stories, are vivid and very personal accounts of some of the most important happenings in the history of the sport.

How did the game change with the creation of the players union, the hiring of Frank Robinson as the first black manager, the rise of Latin and Japanese players? From the return of National League baseball to New York to the publication of Ball Four, these are fascinating stories viewed from a unique perspective. Even the most rabid and informed fans will find much that is new in these pages—and they will emerge with a greater understanding and appreciation of the game they love.

Larry Burke is a senior editor at Sports Illustrated. He is the author of four books, including The Baseball Chronicles: A Decade-by-Decade History of the All-American Pastime. He lives in Connecticut.

Peter Thomas Fornatale is an author and writer whose work has appeared in many places, including ESPN.com and the New York Times. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Jim Baker is an author at Baseball Prospectus and a frequent contributor to ESPN.com, and has contributed to baseball books by Bill James and Rob Neyer. He lives in Austin, Texas.