Peverelly's Book of American Pastimes, which covered several sports from badminton to horseracing, is best known for its dominant chapter on base ball, "The National Game." It is the first historical-reference book ever published about the sport, and includes the rosters of the most prominent early clubs with results of games played from their beginnings through 1866. The original 200-page chapter, a seminal work of baseball historiography, is reproduced...