In the winter of 1948, the Detroit Tigers host an essay contest to find their next batboy. Already a dedicated Tigers fan, young Danny Dillman enters the contest, and to his delight he wins. From 1948 to 1950 he becomes clubhouse boy, ball boy, and batboy for visiting teams at Detroit's Briggs Stadium.

In these glorious years, Dillman discovers the complexities of an apparently simple game. But even more fascinating, he becomes intimately involved with the game's best players. He listens as Ted Williams explains how he became baseball's greatest hitter, witnesses the breaking of the color...