George Altman grew up in the segregated South but was able to participate in the sport at more levels of competition than perhaps anyone else who has ever played the game, from the 1940s to the 1970s.

Altman played baseball at all the kids' levels, played college baseball at Tennessee State, played for the Kansas City Monarchs during the waning days of the Negro Leagues, played for the U.S. Army in service competition, played winter league ball in Cuba and Panama, spent nine years with the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets, a two-time All-Star outfielder--then played in Japan as a regular All-Star. Altman has seen it all and he offers illuminating observations about teams, fans and the game.