The “national pastime” engages (and sometimes enrages) fans and fanatics across America and around the world. Many of The New Yorker’s best cartoonists, an esteemed and talented lot, have experienced our passion for this great game. These one hundred drawings give hilarious proof of that.

An unforgettable, all-star lineup of cartoonists from A (Charles Addams) to Z (Jack Ziegler) are on deck, making this collection a grand slam! In cartoons spanning eight decades, the artists have captured the emotional essence of the game—kids playing pickup and beleagured major leaguers; fans at the ballpark or glued to the TV; zealous players to zany managers; and, yes, even that necessary evil, the umpires.

The humor endures because baseball—and our relationship with it—keeps a powerful, timeless grip upon all who await those precious words: “Play ball!”