Among Southern California baseball towns, Los Angeles inevitably comes to mind, followed by some variation of San Diego and Anaheim. In this work, Jerome takes Fullertonians down memory lane, delivering a little slice of forgotten baseball history that serves as a reminder of just how special a baseball town Fullerton is. Undoubtedly, even most locals will attribute the city's baseball reputation to the Titans' perennial dominance in college baseball or Hall of Famer Gary Carter's high school years at Sunny Hills High, located off Warburton Way. The author demonstrates, with unrelenting conviction and meticulously researched references, that it was, in fact, Amerige Park in the 1930s that put Fullerton on the baseball map.

Names etched into the fabric of baseball history, including Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, played at the ballpark. The Los Angeles Angels played spring training at Amerige Park in 1946. The roots of the San Diego Padres, formerly the Hollywood Stars, stem from here, too. In fact, iterations of several major league teams graced Amerige Park. What makes the author's work truly special is the ability to perfectly blend facts and stirring stories, whether they are about "Scrappy" Curtis or Pepper "Wild Horse" Martin.

From Tommy Lasorda's first time in Fullerton in 1953 to painting a picture of baseball from the prism of the Great Depression and the war years, Jerome exhibits an uncanny storytelling ability. He takes America's favorite pastime and spins a narrative that tugs at the heartstrings, turning the countless home runs and strikeouts at Amerige Park into stories that would have otherwise remained buried. While history aficionados and local Fullertonians will relish this work for the gem it is, its true purpose is to both look back and look ahead, to provide a pathway for younger generations of baseball fans to remember where it all began.

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