This volume investigates the historical impact of player movement on Major League Baseball team performance by cataloging every significant transaction from the turn of the 20th century through 1983. Joseph L. Reichler, a veteran baseball writer and executive, utilizes his extensive access to official league records to compile a comprehensive ledger of trades, sales, and free-agent signings. The work provides a structured framework for evaluating the long-term success or failure of personnel decisions within professional baseball organizations.

Historians and sports researchers frequently cite this text as a foundational reference for understanding the evolution of roster management in professional baseball. The dense, data-heavy presentation is valued by those seeking a definitive record of mid-century league transactions.