A lot happened in baseball in 1980. After being stabbed with a penknife in Mexico during spring training, the Indians'' "Super Joe" Charboneau captured Cleveland''s heart--and Rookie of the Year. Nolan Ryan became baseball''s first Million Dollar Man, Reggie Jackson twice found himself looking down the wrong end of a gun, and George Brett posted the highest single-season batting average since 1941.

The Phillies and Expos battled up to the season''s final weekend while the Dodgers tilted against the Astros in a one-game playoff for the division title. In the American League, Brett led Kansas City past the mighty Yankees and into the Series, where slugger Mike Schmidt and the Phillies awaited. This book covers it all.