{"product_id":"center-field-shot-james-r-walker-9780803248250","title":"Center Field Shot: A History of Baseball on Television","description":"In \u003ci\u003eBaseball Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e's list of things that most affected baseball in the twentieth century, television ranked second--behind only the signing of Jackie Robinson. The new medium of television exposed baseball to a genuinely national audience; altered the financial picture for teams, owners, and players; and changed the way Americans followed the game. \u003ci\u003eCenter Field Shot\u003c\/i\u003e explores these changes--all even more prominent in the first few years of the twenty-first century--and makes sense of their meaning for America's pastime. \u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eCenter Field Shot\u003c\/i\u003e traces a sometimes contentious but mutually beneficial relationship from the first televised game in 1939 to the new era of Internet broadcasts, satellite radio, and high-definition TV, considered from the perspective of businessmen collecting merchandising fees and advertising rights, franchise owners with ever more money to spend on talent, and broadcasters trying to present a game long considered \"unfriendly\" to television. Ultimately the association of baseball with television emerges as a reflection of--perhaps even a central feature of--American culture at large.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e James R. Walker, Robert V. Bellamy\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0803248253\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780803248250\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Bison Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/01\/2008\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 402\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.21lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.82h x 6.02w x 0.81d","brand":"James R. Walker","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43926186361087,"sku":"9780803248250","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/products\/img_edd5d99c-8e2a-436d-9dab-8e6c62d9bf70.jpg?v=1681081680","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/center-field-shot-james-r-walker-9780803248250","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}