CHEERING FOR THE HOME TEAM: THE STORY OF BASEBALL IN CANADA William Humber. Erin (ON), Boston Mills Press, c1983. 150pp, cloth, $24.95. ISBN 0-919822-54-1. Grades 11 and up. Reviewed by Michael Freeman. Volume 11 Number 6. 1983 November. Humber has written a detailed, well-researched, scholarly history of baseball in Canada. One wonders only to whom the work is directed. The casual sports fan will have little patience with the complete account, both geographical and chronological, of the early development of the sport in small provincial towns throughout the country. The student of Canadian history on the other hand may well decide that the subject itself is too trivial for serious consideration. The careful reader will unearth continual delights in the depiction of pioneer societies whose pride and sense of purpose often seemed to rise and fall with the fortunes of its local ball teams. The brilliant selection of original photographs from archival sources throughout Canada brings to life the deeds of these men who waged titanic struggles on the diamond after putting in ten to twelve-hour days of heavy labour in their regular occupations. The extensive chapter on the history of black ballplayers^ in Canada may contain surprises for those fans who assumed that the black era began in the late 1940s. The experiences of those few Canadians who have made the Major Leagues provide tales of brief stardom and often enduring frustrations. Finally, the coming of Big League ball to Canada with the Expos and Blue Jays is outlined with all the attendant political and economic ramifications. The appendix lists all those Canadians who have played in the Majors with appropriate statistical background. This volume makes a worthwhile contribution to one fascinating aspect of Canadian history and deserves a place on library shelves for that reason alone. Recommended for senior students, staff, and the general public. Michael Freeman, Downsview S. S., Downsview, ON.