Kids slam fists in their first gloves, and dream of one day playing in the big leagues.
For a few, the dream comes true. The rest of us keep the fantasy alive through youth leagues, on adult softball teams, or pickup games with friends. We pledge allegiance to our favorite major league team, sharing the triumph or agony of every win and loss. The major leagues formed in 1871, and the modern era began in 1903 when the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Boston Red Sox in the first World Series. Since then, Americans fill ballparks on hot summer nights, and watch autumn's pennant races and championship playoffs culminate in the ultimate showdown between the best American and National league teams.