Baseball Books

I am a diehard Red Sox fan and normally pay little attention to other teams; I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book that covers so much history, etc. about all of baseball. I particularly enjoyed raeding the little known facts about "the greats" and the lesser knowns. The book also helped me appreciate the differences between baseball today and baseball of the past. I learned a lot - but just as importantly, it is a great read!

Looking for the perfect baseball bedside companion? Or how about the book you can pick up during the maddening number of commercials while watching a baseball game? Or do you simply need to brush up on your baseball history for trivia night at a local bar? In any of these cases this is the ideal book for you. If you are already a baseball history geek this will jar those memory banks in the most pleasing of ways. If you are a normal baseball fan this will help you put into perspective all of those anecdotes (and give them to you correctly) your hear announcers spouting. Do yourself a favor and give yourself or a friend this head nodding and hmm inspired Bill Chuck baseball companion.

Having been a loyal reader of Bill Chuck's "Billy Ball" column/eRantings for 4 or 5 years, I had to pick up a copy of this book. Needless to say I was not disappointed. What I love about the book is the clear passion for the game of baseball, with loyalties to home teams put aside, and boyish wonder and awe at the complexities of such a fantastic sport. This book is great for anyone who loves the game of baseball and is the perfect fathers day gift, providing hours of father-son/father-daughter reading material.

Bill Chuck is the man behind Billy-Ball.com and Jim Kaplan is a former writer for Sports Illustrated who has authored (or co-authored) several other books.

With "Walkoffs, Last Licks, and Final Outs," Chuck and Kaplan take a look at the greatest post-season races and World Series games of all-time, the final moments for many Hall-of-Famers, the last games played at ballparks now gone, some famous streaks in baseball history, players who passed away while in active duty, and a slew of other "last" baseball trivia type items.

For a baseball fanatic, "Walkoffs, Last Licks, and Final Outs" is a fun little book. I've enjoyed thumbing through the pages and reading it in a pick and choose type fashion.

Chuck and Kaplan have done a great job compiling the information for this book. If you're looking to add a unique reference material to your baseball library, or, if you want to get an original and entertaining gift for the baseball fan in your life, I recommend that you pick up a copy of "Walkoffs, Last Licks, and Final Outs: Baseball's Grand (and Not-So-Grand) Finales."

As a baseball fan, and a fan of baseball history, thoroughly enjoyed this book. Well laid out and easy to read, you can open the book to any page and just start reading. Includes stories, tidbits, and trivia about the great and not so great endings to pennant races, playoffs, world series, and stadium and career farewells, of famous and not so famous players. Wish it included more! Don't be left standing in the on-deck circle. Step up to the plate and walk-off with a great book - enjoy!

THIS BOOK COVERS 50 YANKEES MANY OF WHOM WERE NOT SO GREAT. AMONG THEM ARE TOM TRESH, MIKE HEGAN, BOBBY MERCER AND HORACE CLARK. IT GIVES EACH PERSON 4 PAGES OF COVERAGE AND HAS A PICTURE OF EACH IN THE PIN STRIPES. MOST PHOTOS WERE TAKEN AT OLD COMISKEY PARK. IT TELLS US A LITTLE ABOUT THEIR CAREER AS A YANKEE AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW. A GREAT TRIP DOWN NOSTALGIA LANE. IF YOU ARE A LONG TIME YANKEE FAN THIS IS A GREAT READ FOR YOU. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Wow, there they are, all of those men whose names have slipped from my memory over the years. From Stan Bahnsen to George Zeber. From Jay Johnstone to Dooley Womack. They are the lesser lights of baseball, the non-legends who played for the Yankees but who are a part of Yankees' history. This is great stuff! Allen picked 50 former players, tells us what they're doing now and then recounts some wonderful stories about their playing days and their sometimes small parts in Yankees' lore. These are the kinds of stories that you won't read in a newspaper or press release, and even though I'm not a Yankees fan, I enjoyed reading them. Allen has a wonderful knack for telling interesting baseball stories and he shows the human side of these journeymen players and how they loved the game. If you like going behind the box scores, you'll love this book.

True Yankees never really leave. This book proves it. Ball players who played for many other teams still consider their time with the Yankees (however brief) the highlight of their careers. Only one bitter player in the bunch (Hal Reniff).
Maury Allen is a walking sports encyclopedia, and this is a great book. An easy read, and chock filled with Yankees information. I loved it. Maury should write "Part 2".

Well done, by a fine writer. I love reading about the lesser lights, and what happened to them after their playing days. This book was great for that.

Now that Jim Murray and Leonard Koppett are gone, Maury Allen may be the greatest literary link to our storied sports past. The man is a treasure. He has more first-hand knowledge of great sporting events of the past 50 years than any single writer, and this latest book is just another example of a terrific scribe at work. Bravo!

STEVEN TRAVERS
Author of "Barry Bonds: Baseball's Superman"
STWRITES@aol.com

I came upon this book by accident and found it a pleasant surprise. At first it seemed a bit scattered in its narrative technique: it is all in the first-person like Damon Runyon and moves from character to character, people who do not seem connected for a time.

The central figure has to be Babe Ruth himself, because everything that happens revolves about him, one way or another. A bootlegger in Asbury Park, New Jersey, in winter, has his latest shipment of booze stolen and sets out to find it. Instead, he comes into possession an IOU for $7,000 signed by none other than the Bambino. At this point the bootlegger, his sometime girl friend, Babe Ruth, and Chicago mobsters descent upon St. Petersburg, Florida, where the New York Yankees are in spring training and where there the Florida real estate scam is near its acme.

The plot is complicated and fascinating. It never drags. The characters are marvelous and multi=dimensional. The atmosphere of the Roaring Twenties feels right on the money. There are some grammar and syntax problems, e.g.: "A few pelicans descend on the deck of the speedboat, wiating to be fed." That last phrase should refer to speedboat, but surely the watercraft is not waiting to be fed. There are other similar problems that the publisher's editor should have ironed out, but no matter. This is still a very, very good book. that's two verys, as Woody Allen would say. I'm eager to read the sequel to this.

What makes this mystery a stand out is it's sense of history and of place. You get the feeling that Irby, a professor, knows every building in old St Pete, has read every newspaper article, spent months in archives and in the library. His encompassing knowledge of the rough, free-wheeling twenties seeps in to every scene-the mystery, the love story, and the adventure all play out against a lively, realistic backdrop. Plus, it's got the Babe in it. You can't beat that. Check this book out. It's worth it.

This is an amazing book for a debute. This author is well on his way. I learned about this book from the authors brother in law as I shopped for furniture in Richmond VA. I ordered it but wasn't really sure It was my kinda book. 1920s, baseball, Babe Ruth, not interesting to me. I did start reading it and was very surprised! I absolutely could not put it down. The best book I've read in a long time. could not wait to get to the end and then was so sorry when it was over. I'm checking all the time for Lee Irby's next book. Can't wait. Would love to e-mail him but can't find a cite.

You shouldn 't like the characters that Irby writes about, but you do. His details captivate you.

This book is a fun read. Every chapter stands on its own. The ones on Babe Ruth are mesmerizing. They remind me of the stories my grand uncle used to tell me about his baseball years in the 20s and his accounts of the Babe.

Wouldn't surprise me that they make this one into a movie.

Can't wait for Irby's 2nd book.

My grandmother, Toots, often bemoaned the fact that she'd been so busy raising her family that she missed out on being a flapper, yet she could do the Charleston 'til the cows came home. Irby captures the talk, the characters, the larger-than-life Babe Ruth, still giving them a human quality that rings true. This book is not my usual read, but I found it captivating.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ray at Border's book store here in Sacramento and hearing his story besides reading it. I even got him to autograph a baseball. I have always said "if I win the lotto I will go to a baseball game.....in every stadium in the MLB circuit..." Well, Ray, surely accomplished that...now it is my turn. Great stories. Thanks Ray for writing it.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ray at Border's book store here in Sacramento and hearing his story besides reading it. I even got him to autograph a baseball. I have always said "if I win the lotto I will go to a baseball game.....in every stadium in the MLB circuit..." Well, Ray, surely accomplished that...now it is my turn. Great stories. Thanks Ray for writing it.

I can remember my dad and I discussing a similar trip after I graduated. Ray Bergman, however, had the gumption to do it, and do it right. I enjoyed every fleeting chapter as Ray worked his way across North America visiting all of the 26 major league ballparks in his MLBC. Any baseball fan finds themself craving the taste of Ray's unbeatable hot dog of Dodger Stadium or the street sceen on Yawkey Way outside Fenway Park.

I've never been a fan, however, of Won Ton Soup.

Are you a baseball fan? If so, you should not miss this book. This is a view of baseball you can only appreciate if you have ever experienced a warm summer home game,in a familiar ballpark, playing hookey from work. Ray Bergman has, obviously, been there,,done that!

Mr Bergman's book is full of information that would be of interest to a typically "statistics" oriented baseball nut. He writes with humor, data and a passion for the game.

Truly an "under fifteen bucks" well spent.

Ray Bergman shares his experiences in his regular life and as a full time Baseball fan. He lives his dream and writes about it in a clear humorous way. This is the ideal baseball book for teenager's and adult's who love baseball. I loved the way he mixed in his growing up years and how he came to love this game. Every baseball fan should have a copy of Around The Majors In 60 Days

If you are a baseball junkie, this book is a must have. It lists the top 30 prospects for each team and provides a nice overview of each organization's recent draft history. For fantasy baseball players, this is a great way to get ahead of the competition. Last year, I knew about guys like Lincecum, Braun, Tulowitzski, Gallardo, etc, before they were called up. This year, when the Orioles traded Miguel Tejada to the Astros and Erik Bedard to the Mariners, it was great seeing the in-depth scouting reports on all the young prospects coming over. Highly recommended.

Baseball America covers prospects like nobody else. And the annual prospect guide is a can't miss title, especially for those of us who live in minor league towns and visit the Arizona Fall League every year.

The book features detailed writeups on the top 30 prospects from every organization, in addition to great depth chart features. My favorite is the "Future Starting Lineups" feature for every team; it's an easy way to identify the likely major leaguers of the future.

This is the quintessential resource for Prospects in Major League Baseball. This year's edition is no exception. I liked the fact that Baseball America included the top ten prospect from each minor league

Very comprehensive and no stone left un-turned on who will be the next MLB star or superstar !!!

The Baseball America Prospect book is the very best prospect book written.
Its a real shame that Baseball America does not write a Major League book like it.
The book goes into detail of the ball player. It is a book I use all summer long. At the trading dead line in MLB I often refer to it.

Jack does a great job of producing the addresses of players. Just that simple. If you want to write them, here is your resource. Buy it new, don't get it used because you will be throwing money away.

This book is indispensable if you're a baseball autograph collector. I've gotten hundreds of autographs over the years using Jack Smalling's books. And if a letter is returned to you for an out-of-date address, you can simply send a copy of the returned envelope (with old address) to Jack and if he has a new address he'll send it to you for free! He's a heck of a nice guy. I'd also advice anyone buying the book to get on his mailing list (address is in the book) for autograph auctions and sales. I have no relation to Jack other than a satisfied customer, but he's truly the best when it comes to baseball autographs.

One caveat, the edition for sale here on Amazon has been replaced by Vol. 11, which is available on the Baseball America website.

I have been using Jack Smalling's autograph handbooks for over 5 years (the version shown is edition number 10), and my autograph collection has grown exponentially. If you want to collect autographs of retired baseball players, then this is the book for you!

If you want free baseball players autographs via the mail... this is a must have book!

What a great book!!! A definate plus for any autograph collector. Very useful, easy to read, gives tips on how to write to a baseball player (past or present). An all around great book, if you love baseball as much as I do, you'll buy this book.

I really enjoyed this book, and learned a lot about the finer points of the game. I particularly liked the baseball history. I'm more of a football fan, but this book did give me a better appreciation of the place of baseball in American history.

Written by Jeffrey Lichtman and profusely illustrated, Baseball For Rookies: An Introduction To The Sport For The Beginner covers the rules of baseball, its strategies, its unique terminology, how to read box scores, a brief history of the game, some of its legendary athletes, and more. Baseball For Rookies is very highly recommended as an all-in-one reference and an excellent "get-started" guide for anyone looking to learn more about baseball, whether to play a game or simply enjoy attending one.

If you have ever tried to explain the game of baseball to anyone, you know how difficult it is. Jeffrey Lichtman has managed to make the complicated rules of the game accessible to all, and to convey the fun of the game at the same time. Rookies and non-rookies will enjoy learning about the game's history and traditions, including its colorful personalities and great accomplishments. Everyone will learn something new from this book, including long-time fans. The chapter on strategy alone is worth the price of the book.

Baseball for Rookies provides a clear, simple, engaging explanation of the game, and does it extremely well. Anyone unfamiliar with baseball, or curious about baseball will find Baseball for Rookies both informative and entertaining. Importantly, the book is not a dry recitation of rules; the author's love of the game, and his sly sense of humor makes it a good read. I recommend the book not only for its stated purpose, but for those already familiar with the baseball. The chapters on history, strategy, and great players provide the framework and context essential to enjoying the subtlety of the game. Lichtman even makes baseball scoring and stats understandable. The chapter on "flakey" players is occasionally hilarious. With Spring Training and a new season coming, this book is at the top of my gift list.

Jeff Lichtman's Baseball for Rookies is a great book for kids and adults who want to understand our country's national sport. Clearly and warmly written, graced by humor, well illustrated, and loaded with examples, the book explains the rules and how they grew up. Even baseball experts will learn something from Lichtman's book. Your little leaguer will love it. Your mother-in-law won't have to ask you all those questions at the ballpark.

Lichtman also lays out the game's history: the labor disputes, the sorry color line, the superstars, and the jargon which became part of our daily speech. It's a great slice of our national story from the Civil War forward.

With its handy glossary, Baseball for Rookies makes a terrific reference work. It's the simplest, most entertaining book on the topic that I've ever read.

Everyone who loves the great game of baseball, or Life itself, should get their hands on this delightful book. The card illustrations are worth the price alone! Good job Workman Press.

This novel Kit is a good fair play of an old sports institution that uses a theme song based upon "The Old Timers Waltz" music piece for singing "Take Me Out to the old Ball game!"...etc... The cards have a beautiful air-brushed picture on each card all the way through the deck with their own card titles. But, if there any "dislikers" of this Tarot; that's ok..."cause we can shake it off!" A Beginner or an Initiate who knows the game can learn the Tarot quicker (My ex-wife did and enjoyed it immensely learning the Tarot). However, one has to know the standard card titles. The "Fair Play" meanings are a departure from the Rider-Waite-Smith Industry standard. Sports Fans out there should have Tarots done for other major sports such as NFL/AFL;NBA;NHL; and so on- Let's get creative at The Old Ball Game,shall we!??...Blessings...

The Baseball Tarot made the tarot understandable and enjoyable for my boyfriend. It is written in terms that are meaningful to him. We really enjoy our Tarot readings with these cards.

The interpretations and graphics on these cards make them a real delight to use. I am actually playing tarot. I have used many different decks but this is by far the clearest for me. This is a great way to introduce sports minded men to this wonderful practice.

I just purchased this set as a his/her wedding shower gift and everybody just loved them. They were passed around from person to person, the ladies and the gents each finding something of value from them. The art work is beautiful, the book very complete, and the card discriptions are really very insightful. They explain things in an easy to understand, applicable to today way. They were a hit. I have about 4 more people I'm going to buy decks for including myself. I doubt anyone would be dissapointed in this set. Certainly unique for a collector of either Tarot cards, or baseball paraphernalia. Thanks :-)

The reason I could call my review Tight boy and his violin because He was the bomb. I meen like he was the bat boy and he had it good because if you wer at my school C.L.A.S you couldent be no bat boy or a water boy . My school cause it self C.L.A.S because it stands for CULTURE AND LANGUGE ACADEMY OF SUCESES se THE C IS CULTURE AND THE L IS LANGUAGE AND THE A IS ACADEMY AND S IS FOR SUCCES. But yeah some of the other books chek me out like darnell rock reporting or this one oh yeah thats it.

Reginald's father is the manager of a baseball team in the Negro league. Reginald would rather play his violin than anything else. His dad signs him up to be a bat boy. Reginald plays his violin for the team which starts them on a winning streak. Shows insight into world of music impact and Negro ball players.

Reginald's father is the manager of a baseball team in the Negro league. Reginald would rather play his violin than a else. His dad signs him up to be a bat boy. Reginals plays his violin for the team which starts them on a winning streak. Shows insight into world of music impact and Negro ball players.

My son and I absolutely loved the story and illustrations. We can't wait for Gavin Curtis to write his next book, and for E.B. Lewis to illustrate his next book. Continue to keep up the high standards for children's books. We love to read! Reading is one of my most favorite things to share with my son who will be 5 in July. Thank you again to the both of you for a book well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book has so many themes superimposed on one another, but they are all presented within the context of a wonderful story about a boy who just wanted to play his violin.

Set among the context of the Negro League era, Reginald's father decides one summer to make him bat boy for his team. The team is down on its luck, and Reginald's heart isn't in this assignment, but everything comes together for him and the team one day.

The history of the era as gently portrayed in the travels of the players is presented for young readers. The story of being true to yourself, and of parents learning to accept that in their children, is here as well. Above all else, the story of Reginald and his journeys with the ball players is a story of hope and triumph among the community in a time that was not always seen as one of hope. Along with all of this, the illustrations of E. B. Lewis capture these themes beautifully.

I've seen mountains. I've seen sunsets. I've seen babies being born. None of those were as beautiful as this book!

I thought I was a baseball fan with a deep and broad base of knowledge. That was, until I read this book. This book taught this old dog a new trick or two about baseball.

Not only is the content interesting - and from what I can tell, extremely unique - but the author crafts the content as if you were sitting at the park and enjoying a game while reminiscing with an old friend. It's hard to put this baby down!

I read the first edition of this book, and found that it answered a ton of questions I'd long had about baseball, like how the AL came about and why the Astros had to play 28 straight road games in 1992. It's a great gift for baseball fans.

This book is packed full of interesting and exciting baseball stories and is fun to read. It's a good information resource and is loaded with baseball history and statistics. I would recommend this book for the die-hard as well as the casual baseball fan.

This is a fantastic book because it is equally as enjoyable for people new to the game as it is for long-time fans who thought they knew all there was to know about the game. The author gives you all of the basics, but then adds additional stats, info and anecdotes which make the book great for those who have followed the game for decades. I would highly recommend this book, particularly as a Christmas gift, for anyone who enjoys baseball--I guarantee it will be the hit among all fans.

Ordinarily, winter spells doom for the baseball fan. Waiting for pitchers and catchers to report at the end of February can be an excruciating exercise. The tiny scraps of baseball information scattered in the back pages of newspapers are never enough.

If you see yourself in the previous paragraph, I prescribe Mr. Martinez's "The Book of Baseball Literacy." It might save your life this January. The work is packed with anecdotes, biographies, definitions, and descriptions essential for a comprehensive mastery of baseball. The writing style is clear and entertaining, and, by organizing the book into a series of short entries (each typically spanning one-half to two pages), Martinez makes it easy for readers to pick the book up for five minutes or five hours at a time.

Martinez doesn't ignore the novice fan, either. His explanations and descriptions avoid jargon typical of other baseball reference books, while also managing to tackle the material in a manner that also satisfies the experienced fan of the game.

Highly recommended reading!