The crack of the bat. The All-Star lineup. Playing catch with your dad. Bleacher seats in early summer. A hot dog with everything. Three up, three out. The seventh inning stretch. Barry Bond''s breathtaking, tie-breaking home run at the bottom of the ninth. There are so many reasons to love America''s national pastime: With more than 300 pages of classic photos, memorable quotes, and fascinating facts, this winning compilation counts the ways. The second title in Stewart, Tabori & Chang''s successful series, "1,001 Reasons to Love Baseball celebrates a sport that combines the mathematical strategy of a chess match with the larger-than-life characters of a Broadway show. Striking archival and modern illustrations illuminate memorable moments, incredible feats, equipment and collectibles, the country''s greatest ballparks, the game''s most famous players, and much more. Passionate philosopher-fans will savor excerpts from the canon of baseball literature, and anyone who has ever experienced the triumph of catching a fly ball can appreciate the simple truths on the list. Chock full of trivia, information, and sentiment, the book''s a sure hit.