George Altman grew up in the segregated South but through a mix of timing and opportunity was able to participate in the sport at more levels of competition than perhaps anyone else who has ever played the game, starting in the 1940s and concluding in the 1970s.

Not only did Altman play baseball at all of the usual kids' levels, he played college baseball at Tennessee State University, played for the Kansas City Monarchs during the waning days of the Negro Leagues, played for the US Army in service competition, played winter league ball in Cuba and Panama, spent nine years in the majors with the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets as a two-time All-Star outfielder, and then culminated his remarkable career by playing in Japan where he was a regular All-Star. For Altman, it was a case of Have bat, will travel. When it comes to baseball, Altman has seen it all and he offers illuminating observations about teams, fans and the game as he journeyed around the world to play it.