It was called baseball's Golden Age. Beginning in 1946, when stars like Ted Williams returned from war to resume big-league careers, and ending in 1960, when baseball entered an era of expansion, the game flourished in post-war America. There were just eight teams in each of the American and National Leagues and baseball was, for the most part, an afternoon pastime broadcast on radio and played by men who took the game, if not themselves, seriously. In The Heart of the Game nationally acclaimed artist Andy Jurinko has recreated baseball's most memorable era in a collection of more than 300 color paintings that celebrate the American League.

The artwork, part of Jurinko's 600-painting baseball collection, includes almost 200 exquisite portraits of the stars of the game, including Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Al Rosen, Nellie Fox, Ted Williams, Lou Boudreau, Larry Doby, Harmon Killebrew, Al Kaline, Bob Feller and many more. There are also dozens of "action" portraits, including depictions of such inspiring baseball moments as Don Larsen's World Series perfect game, as well as aerial and panoramic views of the memorable American League stadiums of the era.

The exquisite artwork is packaged with an introductory essay recalling baseball's most beloved era as well as several feature articles reprinted from the archive of SPORT magazine. The book also includes comprehensive lists of champions, award winners and the career statistics reprinted from Total Baseball of every player featured in the book.

The Heart of the Game takes readers on a nostalgic journey in a book that exudes warmth and is loaded with memories.

Andy Jurinko belongs among America's elite sports artists. His work has sold for as much as $30,000, been showcased in galleries across the country, been featured in such publications as Sports Illustrated, New York Magazine, Baron's and The New York Times, and is on permanent display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. His home and studio, located just 300 feet from the South Tower of the World Trade Center, were destroyed on September 11, 2001, and the story of how he rebuilt his life has garnered widespread media attention. A lifelong baseball fan, The Heart of the Game is the product of 12 years of labor and is part of a 600-painting baseball collection. Jurinko lives in New York.

Robert Creamer ranks among America's most accomplished sports writers. A writer and editor at Sports Illustrated for 30 years, Creamer has authored or co-authored numerous books, including Babe: The Legend Comes to Life, considered the definitive biography of Babe Ruth. He lives in New York.

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Related website:

• www.andyjurinko.com

Also by Robert Creamer:

• Twentieth Century Sports: Images of Greatness