In the 1930s, despite the ravages of the Great Depression, professional baseball remained the king of American sports in terms of both spectators and participants. In
Breaking the Slump,
the first history of baseball during the Great Depression, Alexander captures the flavor of baseball and American life during a time when America remained at peace but was mired in the worst economic circumstances in its history. Rich in narrative appeal, this story conveys baseball's persistence as the truly "National Pastime" and what it meant to millions of Americans who could no longer afford to attend games on a regular basis.