Whatever happened to apple pie?

There's nothing quite so American as baseball. Except maybe for gambling, drugs, and cheating. They all come into play in Roger Abrams's new book, "The Dark Side of the Diamond: Gambling, Violence, Drugs, and Alcoholism in the National Pastime," just released from Rounder Books. Abrams, a professor at Northeastern University School of Law, has published three previous books on baseball. It may seem like our sports heroes have come under a lot of scrutiny lately, but his book shows that baseball has always had an unseemly side. (Except the Red Sox, right?) Perhaps that vaunted golden age is all a myth. He reads from the book today. 1 p.m. Free. Borders Downtown Crossing, 10-24 School St., Boston. 617-557-7188. bordersstores.com