Major League Baseball has compiled the definitive instruction manual on learning to play the game. Fully illustrated with action photos of MLB stars illustrating key points and drills for each defensive position, this book also includes special tips from MLB players on batting, base running, the rules of the game, and coaching. Easy-to-follow instructions and diagrams of all the skills beginning players need to master the game--how to throw, hit, and field all the positions--while also promoting good sportsmanship. Each skill and position is presented separately, with photographs and drawings of a player executing the specific skill, advice on how to perform it, and when to use it, and the most common mistakes. Written and compiled by the best baseball instructors, coaches, and players in the world, this comprehensive how-to is informative enough to help even the brightest young stars shine brighter. With keen insights from instruction and developmental coaches, the need to create a positive environment in practice and encourage creativity as well as technical correctness is stressed. Most importantly, the coaches understand that kids are not just small adults--and they back up their understanding with advice on how to help kids fall in love with "America's pastime." Model training sections construct excellent practice sessions--from warm-up through cool-down exercises and hundreds of drills and games to reinforce--this is an essential tool for all coaches as a guide to improving performance and enjoyment of practice and playing the game. This must-have resource covers it all: Batting, Pitching, Base running and sliding, Specific drills for playing all defensive positions, Coaching and rules, Offensive and defensive strategy. Partial list of Big League tips on How to Play the Game: Tony Gwynn (hitting), Sammy Sosa (judging fly balls), Bernie Williams (playing the outfield), Mark Grace (approach to hitting), Alex Rodriguez (fielding ground balls), Jeff Bagwell (hitting), Roberto Alomar (fielding ground balls), Jaret Wright (pitching mechanics), Edgar Renteria (how to play SS), John Lackey (improving your pitching), Carlos Delgado (mastering 1B), Rocco Baldelli (basic approach at plate), Cristian Guzman (fielding ground balls), Danny Kolb (good approach on the mound), Dontrelle Willis (pitching strategies), Torii Hunter (playing the outfield), Jason Marquis (pitching with control), Chone Figgins (sliding), Orlando Cabrera (improving your game), Gary Bennett (becoming a better catcher), Ervin Santana (pitching under pressure), Mark Teixeira (playing 1B), Ryan Howard (hitting), Joey Gathright (playing the OF), Troy Tulowitzki (succeeding at the plate), Joel Zumaya (pitching with poise), Josh Johnson (pitching with confidence) "Baseball writer Williams presents a how-to book, generously illustrated, that will serve both as a beautiful coffee-table work for fans interested in seeing gorgeous action shots of star players and as a definitive guide to skills acquisition and enhancement for players and coaches. From fundamentals to mechanics, drills to talent development, every element of the game is analyzed and illustrated. Youths and adults alike will enjoy the tips included from star MLB players. While there is nothing new in this text, the combination of superb photography with stellar commentary results in a fine book." ~Library Journal

"For those who want to play the game better, for those whom want to understand the game better, this is the book for you. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED." ~Dr. Harvey Frommer, Sportsology

"When I received this book in the mail I was simply blown away. This is a gorgeous book full of spectacular glossy close-up photographs of major league baseball stars from the past and present. If you aren’t interested in getting the best tips and advice possible from the world’s greatest baseball stars, you definitely might be interested in displaying this on your coffee table – it’s that nice... This book is the ultimate guide for either a child wishing to play the game or the adult looking to coach a baseball team. With Father’s Day approaching, this just might be the perfect gift for the dad in your life who is a baseball fan or little league coach." ~BookDads


“The MLB has compiled this definitive instruction manual on learning to play the game; fully illustrated with action photos of professional stars illustrating key points and drills for each defensive position.” ~Publishers Weekly


“ This book is the ultimate guide for anyone that wishes to play or coach a baseball team. With chapters written by experts (people who have played the game themselves), the book is amazingly easy to read and understand and you can tell that anyone that reads this will gain a better understanding of the skills that you will need to succeed in the game itself... All-in-all, this is an amazing resource that I would recommend to anyone who is trying to play or coach baseball. You will not be disappointed!” ~Dad of Divas'