As a 19-year-old heading east to play for the Boston Red Sox, Ted Williams could be heard muttering over and over again, "All I want out of life is when I walk down the street, folks will say, 'There goes the greatest hitter who ever lived.'" Through a tumultuous, boisterous career that touched four decades, Williams worked tirelessly to perfect the science of hitting and accomplish his goal. Two-time winner of the Triple Crown, Williams hit an astonishing.406 in his 1941 season, a record that stands to this day. During his last ballpark appearance at the 1999 All-Star game, 80-year-old...

George Herman Ruth Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1895. A rebellious child, he was eventually sent to a reformatory boarding school where he never quite learned the discipline his parents hoped for, but he did learn something that changed his life: baseball. Later known as Babe Ruth, he became one of the most infamous, talented, influential, and iconic figures in baseball. Signed as a pitcher to the Boston Red Sox, he was then traded to the Yankees, where he ushered in one of the most thrilling eras in baseball history. Ruth was an exciting player, sending home runs over the wall to...

Widely regarded as one of the best baseball players of our time, slugger Albert Pujols started playing the game on the streets of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Often compared to such baseball legends as Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, he has thrilled fans with his exploits at the plate, and touched the hearts of millions with his tireless advocacy for people with Down syndrome and for the poor of his native Dominican Republic. From growing up poor to signing a $100 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, this devoted father of three has been able to balance family time with...

In a Major League Baseball career spanning 25 years and nine clubs, Rickey Henderson became baseball's greatest base-stealer, and, arguably, the game's greatest lead-off hitter. Though controversial at times, Henderson was first and foremost a run-producing entertainer who led his teams to victory in many different ways. Known for his infectious smile, electrifying headfirst slides, and split-second snatch catches, he remains the all-time leader of stolen bases, with 1,406, and also holds the league record for runs scored, with 2,295. Readers of "Rickey Henderson" will be captivated by this...

One of only four modern major league pitchers to strike out more than 300 batters in a year for two different teams, Curt Schilling delivered on a famous promise to help bring a world championship to the Boston Red Sox in 2004. Pitching on a mangled and bloody ankle, he fought through the pain to win crucial games in that postseason against the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals. In 2001, he also helped lead the then-four-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks to the team's one-and-only world championship. Off the mound, this father of four is an outspoken political voice, a dynamic business...

"What will Johnny do?" That was the question on the lips of Boston Red Sox fans - otherwise known as Red Sox Nation - during the 2004 season. That year, Johnny Damon and his band of self-proclaimed "Idiots" stunned the baseball world by staging a historic comeback against longtime rivals, the New York Yankees, in the American League Championship Series. Shortly after, they routed the St. Louis Cardinals for Boston's first title in 86 years. Damon was a chief architect of that championship before leaving the Red Sox and signing with their bitter rivals in New York. Johnny Damon explores the...

As an Atlanta Brave, Andruw Jones proved himself a dependable and tenacious player, appearing in at least 150 games per season. Born in the Caribbean, Jones was encouraged by his baseball-playing father and showed prodigious talent at an early age, signing with the Braves when he was only 16. Since making the majors, he has been awarded the Rawlings Gold Glove for center fielders every year since 1998, and is a five-time All-Star. With his almost-perfect glove in the outfield and aiming-for-the-wall bat, this center fielder has drawn comparisons to past greats such as Willie Mays. Andruw...

Hank Aaron broke into the major leagues in 1954 with the Milwaukee Braves and spent the next 21 seasons making baseball history with the organization. He is perhaps best known for setting the MLB record for most career home runs with 755--a record that was only recently broken by Barry Bonds. Aaron owns the major league record for total bases (6,856), extra-base hits (1,477), and RBI (2,297). Aaron, who appeared in a record-tying 24 All-Star games, won three Gold Gloves for his play in right field and was the 1957 National League MVP. And in 1982, he was inducted into the National Baseball...

Widely regarded as one of the best baseball players of our time, slugger Albert Pujols started playing the game on the streets of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Often compared to such baseball legends as Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, he has thrilled fans with his exploits at the plate, and touched the hearts of millions with his tireless advocacy for people with Down syndrome and for the poor of his native Dominican Republic. From growing up poor to signing a $100 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, this devoted father of three has always been able to balance family time...

Before 1947, professional baseball was as segregated as the rest of American society: Black baseball players were forced to compete in the Negro Leagues, rather than in Major League Baseball. But on April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and changed history by becoming the first African American to play on a Major League team. Signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers and managed by visionary Branch Rickey, Robinson spent 10 seasons in the major leagues, during which time the Dodgers won six pennants. Robinson was a six-time All-Star, the National League Rookie of the Year in 1947, and...