Future Pastime

Earth's middle latitudes have become a roiling hot house global desert. Countries have dissolved and disappeared. The people of Earth, to survive, have come together in six regional alliances. There is no more war but the Earth Alliance Government executives have promoted the futuristic game of Alliance Major League Baseball to keep the surviving populace of Earth engaged and entertained the game's enhanced athleticism and savagery for all to openly see. The rules of baseball have drastically changed to allow for violent play on the field.
There are four normal young boys at the center of this sports fantasy that play Junior Alliance Baseball (Soft Rules Baseball) together in the minor leagues. They mature into deadly Major League Baseball Players. Dean Luthbert, Lenny Peecheh, Ray A. Tenner (the Rat) and Boisie Wallers all get drafted to different Earth Alliance teams where they eventually meet in a World Series final game.