The Wandering Warriors — Alan Smale

A 1940s baseball team finds itself in Ancient Rome in this action-filled romp by two award-winning writers -- also includes two bonus stories.
 
In this alternate-history adventure, a 1940s barnstorming baseball team, led by retired baseball player and spy Moe Berg, is transported from rural Illinois to Ancient Rome, just after the death of Emperor Septimius Severus.

The Romans -- who actually played a game called “small ball” -- put the captured team to work teaching baseball to the gladiators for a major Colosseum event . . . that turns into an over-the-top life or death finale.

Baseball hijinks, a wild ride through Rome in a careening team bus, a hint of romance, and some viciously good hitting and fielding -- but amid all this adventure, will the Wandering Warriors make it home? Will the widowed empress escape the fate her evil son has in mind for her? Will the rattletrap team bus find its way through time and space (and Roman roads) back to Illinois? And what will happen when Chicago White Sox owner Grace Comiskey shows up?