Daryl Lorette

In 1846, a young reporter for the Brooklyn Eagle named Walt Whitman wrote: "The game of ball is glorious." Whitman might have been among the first to recognize the baseball's intoxicating allure, but he certainly wasn't the last. Following his highly praised PBS-TV series "The Civil War," documentary director/producer/writer {|Ken Burns|} gave us "Baseball," a stunning 18-hour programming achievement -- (collected here on nine video tapes), chronicling the history of America's pastime from the mid-19th century through the end of the 20th. Using a vast array of fascinating still photographs and priceless archival film, capturing many of the game's most historic moments, Burns created an entertaining, riveting film, encompassing not only a history of a sport but of America itself. Burns seamlessly weaves his images with masterful narration by the late TV news anchorman John Chancellor; renowned fans such as {|Billy Crystal|}, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Bob Costas; and the voices of, among others, Julie Harris, {|Ossie Davis|}, and Arthur Miller. Haunting renditions of the National Anthem and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" sustain a mood that's both wistful and stirring. Burns has created a glorious paean to our summer's game.