TheNationalPastimeistheannualreviewofbaseballhistoricalresearchandregionaltopicspublishedbytheSocietyforAmericanBaseballResearch(SABR).Eachyearthepublicationfocusesonthehistoryofbaseballinadifferentregionorcity,followingtheannualSABRconventionfromonemajorleagueterritorytoanother.The2018volumefocusesonPittsburgh,hometosometrulysignificantepisodesinbaseballhistory,beingnotonlythehometothegreatNegroLeaguesteamstheHomesteadGraysandPittsburghCrawfords,buttoamajorleagueteamwhocamebytheirnamehonestly--nopunintended--forwhatotherscalledthe“piratical“practiceofpoachingplayers.Thearticlesinthevolumearearrangedchronologically,startingfromtheopeningofForbesFieldin1909andcarryingthroughtoastoryoftheannualfangatheringeachOctoberatthesectionofForbesFieldwallthatstillstandstoday.Fanere-livethemagicofGameSevenofthe1960WoldSeriesontheveryspotwhereBillMazeroski’shomerunflewoverthewall.Thearticlesfeaturenotonlythehall-of-fameplayersHonusWagner,JoshGibson,RobertoClemente,andWillieStargell,butsomelesserrememberedfigureslikeGuyBush,RoyFace,SamBankhead,andCarlosBernier.ThetalesofHonusWagnerrunningforsheriff,MosesYellowHorselearningbadhabitsfromRabbitMaranville,andPiratesplayerMudcatGrant’squesttosingtheNationalAnthemaretoldalongsidearticlesdetailingPittsburgh-relatedbaseballlitigation,Piratesappearancesinthemovies,andamateurbaseballconteststhatproducedseveralmajorleaguers.
