-The Kitbook for Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines

Published during World War II for distribution to enlisted men in Europe and the Pacific, this work is a compilation of stories and illustrations from well-known authors including O. Henry., Rudyard Kipling, and J. D. Salinger. This work is perhaps best known for being the first time Salinger’s story "The Hang of It" was published in a book. Representative of baseball’s cultural appeal, this book contains two pieces about the sport, the story “Last Time Around” by Pat Frank and the poem “Casey at the Bat” by Ernest Lawrence Thayer. “Last Time Around” is about an aging player in his final game and mentions baseball being played in war training camps. “Casey at the Bat” was first published in 1888 and tells the story of a losing team getting an unexpected chance to win a game. The short, iconic poem captures the emotional rollercoaster baseball fans often experience as they root for the home team.