The game of baseball has been around for well over a hundred years and in that time, it has endured both success and criticism. More specifically, the modern era, which is also called the “wild card era,” has experienced a series of highs and lows. In 1994, Major League Baseball suffered through a player’s strike and, since then, has sought to recuperate and become more dynamic than ever. In this detailed look at the last 25 years of the sport, baseball historian Soderholm-Diffate (Tumultuous Times in America’s Game) takes readers through the wild card era’s many struggles and triumphs. Moments such as the unbelievable pitching trio of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz of the 1990s Atlanta Braves; the return of the championship of the Chicago Cubs; the struggles of the New York Yankees; the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal, and more are highlighted throughout. The author also considers the legacy of dynasties such as the San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox, and their paths to the World Series over the years. Baseball fans actively following the sport in the 1990s and 2000s will greatly appreciate this fantastic book and its detailed insight.
— Library Journal
A spin through recent baseball history – the Wild Card Era, beginning in 1995 – we see 15 different World Series champions over the past 26 seasons. Updated through the year 2020, we are shown the player signings, trades, and business dealings, and how changes in the game of baseball have been reflected in the fortunes of the teams on the field.
— Bill Nowlin, baseball editor and author, Working a “Perfect Game”
The last quarter century produced some of baseball’s most exciting pennant races and post-seasons, along with many changes of the guard among baseball's top teams. With lively and fresh writing, Bryan Soderholm-Difatte captures both the game on the field and the stories behind the changing fortunes of the competing franchises.
— Daniel R. Levitt, author of The Battle that Forged Modern Baseball: The Federal League Challenge and Its Legacy