[SelzShoes]

Without a pitch being thrown; one of the most monumental summers in the history of baseball has just ended. More ‘experienced’ writers whose memories extend back to the days of the Federal challenge can not remember a time of such upheaval and displacement. Only the wake of the Black Sox controversy pushed the structure of the game to such a breaking point; and even then, calmer heads prevailed. The basic fabric of the game had not been broken.

Now with spring training a mere four months away, the geography of the game--a static comfort for almost fifty years--has shifted dramatically. From a steady eleven cities to a teetering giant of nineteen, the national game truly is that for the first time.

However, as the reach of the highest level of baseball extends westward the question of quality rises in even the most casual of fan. Bigger is not always better to Mr. and Mrs. Sportfan, the proof will be in the play. We here at The Sporting News have prided ourselves on being the best source for baseball news and notes. So, for you fans who find the shifting of teams and players as hard to figure as we do, we offer the following recap of the last half-year.