Introduction: True to the way it happens / by Bill Littlefield -- Out of the war. Transition: Autumn 1945 -- On the beat. Memories of a great jockey: George M. Woolf, 1910-1946 -- Beau Jack is good customer: "Ah'm buyin' hats..." -- Down memory lane with the Babe: The ascension of George Herman Ruth -- About two guys named Joe: DiMaggio and Louis are picture-perfect sportsmen -- German Heavyweight checks in: Hein Ten Hoff says "Ja" to America -- "They used to fight dogs": Ringside with William Jennings Bryan -- Rumpus in the living room: "Toughie" Brasuhn, queen of the roller derby -- Uncle Mike is back: You can tell he's all right, he won't listen to Morgan -- Late afternoon on the Harlem: The Columbia freshmen are first on the river -- How they told Charlie Keller: The Yankees send a good man down -- Jake steals the show: Mintz crowned heavyweight manager of the world -- Death of a race horse: Air Lift, son of Bold Venture -- The psychology of horse betting: Hooked on the thrill of almost winning -- "The lost leader": Gardella drops his suit against baseball -- Retired undefeated heavyweight champion: Or, How Joe Louis makes a living -- Out in the world. Brownsville bum: Al ("Bunny") Davis, 1910-1945 -- The day of the fight: Graziano-Zale, September 27, 1946 -- The fighter's wife: Norma Graziano gets through the night -- Punching out a living: Billy Graham, boxing's uncrowned champ -- Young fighter: The trouble with McNeece is that he fears nothing -- Brockton's boy: A rising Marciano lifts all boats -- Scouting for the Yankees: Between phone calls with Paul Krichell -- The rocky road of Pistol Pete: The Dodger they padded the walls for -- The ghost of the gridiron: Red Grange could carry the ball -- Work horse on ice: Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings -- The happiest hooligan of them all: What a card this Pepper Martin is! -- The rough and tumble life: Jim Tescher, rodeo rider -- The twilight of boxing: They're dimming the lights at Stillman's Gym -- Among the monuments. The shy one: The quiet power of Floyd Patterson -- The man who belongs in blue jeans: Jim Tescher revisited -- So long, Jack: John C. Hurley, 1897-1972 -- The fireman: Joe Page's good days -- The artist supreme: Dancing with Willie Pep -- The coach, relived: Willie Davis talks Vince Lombardi -- The greatest, pound for pound: There's only one Sugar Ray -- The smallest titan of them all: Eddie Arcaro rode to win -- Somebody up there likes him: The life and times of Rocky Graziano.