Moments in the sun : baseball's briefly famous

Baseball's ranks are filled with those whose careers may not have been as spectacular as Ruth or Mays but who played essential roles in the game's history.

Some were well-known in their day; others were lesser lights whose feats and misdeeds were so notable they deserve to be remembered.

Bert Shepard pitched a game for the Washington Senators in 1945 despite being shot down over Germany the year before and losing a leg.

Bo Belinsky no-hit the powerful Baltimore Orioles in 1962, but he finished his career with a disappointing 28-51 record.

The 40 other subjects profiled in this volume prove that, in baseball, fame can be fleeting.