Everyone knows that baseball is a game of intricate regulations, but it turns out to be even more complicated than we realize. What truly governs the Major League game is a set of unwritten rules, some of which are openly discussed (donrsquo;t steal a base with a big lead late in the game), and some of which only a minority of players are even aware of (donrsquo;t cross between the catcher and the pitcher on the way to the batterrsquo;s box). In The Baseball Codes, old-timers and all-time greats share their insights into the gamersquo;s most hallowedmdash;and least knownmdash;traditions. For the learned and the casual baseball fan alike, the result is illuminating and thoroughly entertaining. 160;At the heart of this book are incredible and often hilarious stories involving national heroes (like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays) and notorious headhunters (like Bob Gibson and Don Drysdale) in a century-long series of confrontations over respect, honor, and the soul of the game. With The Baseball Codes, we see for the first time the game as itrsquo;s actually played, through the eyes of the players on the field.160;With rollicking stories from the past and new perspectives on baseballrsquo;s informal rulebook, The Baseball Codes is a must for every fan.From the Hardcover edition.