From The Publisher: Apr. 12, 1993

What is it about baseball that commands the attention of grownup men? Some might ask the identical question about our other national pastime, politics. Contributor Walter Shapiro, author of this week's lament on the parlous state of the major leagues, has had ample experience with both obsessions. He nearly won a primary for Congress in Michigan in 1972 and was later a speechwriter for President Carter. His assignments since joining TIME in 1987 have been mostly in politics, including months last year tracking Bill Clinton.

While on Clinton's trail, Shapiro slipped away from the press pack to catch 15 ball games....