Baseball Books

I have not been to a ballgame yet but when I do, i will bring this book with me. It is a great guide with tips on how to get a baseball(get to the game early, etc.) I am glad that there is someone from New York who agrees with me about the kid who reached onto the field in Yankee stadium. Recommended for any baseball fans. END

We snagged a baseball within 24 hours after the book arrived, at Shea Stadium, from reliever Armando Benitez. Never thought it would be possible!!

My ten year old grandson is a baseball nut. His greatest dream is to snag a ball at a major league baseball game. I gave Zack Hample's HOW TO SNAG MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALLS to him and he can't wait for the season to start so that he can put into practice what this so smart book teaches him to do.

This book will put a major league baseball in your hands. I stumbled on some of the tips Zack explains in trying to get a ball myself. But Zack outlines many more - most common sense - but easy to overlook unless you have the single-minded devotion to major league baseball acquisition that characterizes Zack. This is a book for all little boys and girls, even those over ten (or forty) years of age, whose passion is to hold their own major league baseball.

This is a highly amusing look at baseball by one of the game's most colorful characters. John Kruk looked more like a beer-swilling softball player from the corner tavern than a pro athlete - maybe that's why so many fans rooted for him. But Kruk was a good ballplayer, not to mention a decent and intelligent human being. Here he recounts the 1993 season with the Philadelphia Phillies, a colorful squad that won that year's NL pennant and faced Toronto in the World Series. Kruk describes himself, many of his teammates, and that very enjoyable season. He is both funny and revealing without being disrespectful. Kruk clearly enjoyed himself as a player and a teammate, and isn't baseball supposed to be fun?

This book may be no compendium of deep ideas, but it's a fun read by a player with a nice balance of decency and humor.

I think this book is great it was written so neatly and i think you should all call the publisher and tell them to bring it back.

Simply, there are three main reasons to read this book One, it provides the reader with an inside look at the lifestyle of Major League Baseball Players. This is especially interesting because the Krukker is not the stereotypical mold for a baseball player, physically, or as you will know when you finish the book, he has a more humble attitude then baseball players are given credit for. It really makes you wish you could live your life playing baseball Two, it is hysterical, especially the second or third time you read it (I have read it at least 5 times) Three, even non-baseball fans can appreciate this down to earth look at life generally.

John Kruk was not known in Philly for his neatness therefore you cannot expect his book to be neat either ! Instead the book is everything that embodied Krukker,and the rest of his team mates during that wonderful season 1993. He is honest, open and caring. He is straight forward where criticism is needed and gentle and kind where emotions ran high. His story about his bout with cancer was touching and human. I ain't an athlete lady, maybe not but you are a heck of a human being. Thanks for a terrific experience. This book makes us all part of the 93 Phillies. Welcome to Macho Row !

I Know Who Likes You
By: Doug Cooney

Swimming Pool is the only girl on a boy's baseball team.
She is probably the best pitcher and she is maybe a tiny bit better than Ron-Jon who is a boy on her team.
She has her signature pitch The Cincinnati Special, which is her way to strike out at least half of the other team.
A day before their practice started, Swimming Pool's mom told her that she has to go to charm school.
When she told the boys at practice about charm school they all laughed at her.
Ernie, a player on her team likes to do things like a girly girl such as baking cookies.
I LOVED this book and I think it had amazing word choices such as groaned. I hope you read this book.

I Know Who Likes You


It's the first day of baseball and Billy is as nervous as he can be. He was one of the first people on the field. There was a ball coming to second base . Billy was still yelling at Swimming Pool. This was not a good day for base ball fans. That day as they lost Billy got very angry when he went home.
This is the problem in this story. It's that Billy got kind of mad at Swimming Pool. Also he did not want to go to school the next day so it was not a good day. That's the problem in the book, I Know Who Likes You.
I would recommend this book to,people that don't like baseball because Billy doesent like baseball.
This is why I liked this book. It's because I hate baseball.

I loved The Beloved Dearly but this was even better! My teacher let me write a book report on it and now my class wants to read it too. My favorite part was the party. *****

I enjoyed Beloved Dearly so much! It was so much fun to follow the adventures of Ernie and Swimming Pool and their group of friends once again. I can't wait to read another book with these characters! This group of friends rocks!!!!

This is the premiere book of its kind on the Red Sox. Knoefel has clearly established himself as the Bob Dylan of sports writing. He is able to make sense of and put into words the things the rest of us only wish we could. No one his age has ever understood the psychology of the game as he does. How many masterpieces must a writer publish before you call him a sage? The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind but this kid has it!

This book was absolutely amazing. There aren't any sports authors his age that can understand the depth of baseball culture, fanaticisicm, and performance like Knoefel. He has a level of understanding that would make major sports networks weep, and could add more than quality insight to any major syndicated show in the US (not just because he is a sox author). Furthermore, he's been able to capture the essence of a season that really can't be described with any language god's been kind enough to pass to us. Not that I'm religious, but Knoefel has a divine talent and should be read, studied and respected by any baseball, or aspiring sports author in the planet. Enjoy, and to knoefel, keep hacking away.

We all knew it would hit--the onslaught of books, each claiming to be "the" definitive documentation of how the Red Sox won. I've perused most of them--except the O'Nan/King debacle which I blindly purchased thinking, "Hey, it's Stephen King--it's got to be good--right?" Wrong! Boy, do I wish I had my money back. The last time I read something so boring I think Joseph Conrad wrote it.

The first warning to every fan looking for a definitive documentary of the Red Sox 2004 season is to not be put off by the cover of Idiot-syncrasies. The cartoonish caricatures would make one believe the book is another in the long line of box score recaps that populate the market. Jerry Remy's forward certainly does nothing to alert readers to what will follow. Rather, it appears to simply be a vehicle for Remy to remind us of his playing days.

Then--then, if you will simply take a moment to read Longest's introduction, The Eternal Sunshine of Terry Francona, you will know that Idiot-syncrasies holds the promise of something as special as the 2004 season itself. I must admit that Longest knew how to hook me when he begins his season-long narrative with the grandest "idiot" of all--Johnny Damon. After a delightful analysis of how JD fit into the overall dynamics of the team I was captured. If Longest was to dissect the entire team as he did Damon I couldn't wait to read on. There they were: Manny and Ortiz. Varitek, Millar and Pokey--Mueller--well, count on it--they're all there. While many championship season books include only the post season, Longest puts us on a season-long path with the Red Sox--potholes and all.

Longest takes us far beyond the mundane stats of a season. He engages us in a deep analysis of what makes these men tick and how they converged to make a team tick. There are some who might argue his analysis, but this is precisely the point--you can't argue finite, historical statistics, but you can debate the elements, and eccentricities, of personality. It's the same as debating how one man won the presidency--a conversation of personality, character, soul and many intangibles we can never really quantify. This is what we'll discuss over the years rather than the stats--well, except "the walk"--a stat we'll not soon forget. Longest doesn't completely ignore statistics, but couches them in game situations that assist in explicating his analysis of character and skill.

Longest's compelling analysis of a season is enhanced by his generous inclusion of sidebars he labels "MONSTERminutiae" and his final words at the conclusion of each chapter (Idiot Rule) are thoughts one might choose to live one's life by.

A few hours later when I read the last Idiot Rule--The Future Can Wait--on page 288, I felt I had been in the stands for every precious moment of a precious season. I really didn't care there was very little box score trivia like so-and-so was lifted in the seventh for so-and-so; so what! Rather I now have a vivid portrait of a team of players who performed magic tricks for us. I agree with another reviewer who compares Longest to Roger Angell. While I think this is Longest's first book, it's obvious he's a student of baseball and probably a student of Mr. Angell's prowess at capturing so much more than statistics. In fact Longest may have an even keener sense of vision in his ability to seize nuance.

You might buy one of the "box score" books, but if you want a documentary to consult over time in reliving the 2004 Red Sox season--something to pass along to your children and grandchildren--then Idiot-syncrasies is the one book you should have. I've only owned the book two weeks and I've relived the season cover-to-cover three times.

Somehow this book is flying under the radar, and I'm afraid it's going to be lost under the deluge of titles hitting the market about the 2004 Red Sox. Too bad, because there is only one word to describe "Idiot-syncrasies" - Gem.

This book is difficult to describe precisely. It's not a nuts-and-bolts examination of the strategy of the 2004 season. It's not a retropective of the year. It's not a behind-the-scenes look at the team. I suppose it's best described as a look at the philosophy of and the lessons imparted by the "Idiots," and how we as fans related to them, and they to us.

What's best about this book is its style; it utilizes magnificent turns of phrase and builds profiles with the lyricism of Roger Angell (with perhaps a bit of the wryness of George Plimpton as well). At various moments I was nodding in agreement, then laughing out loud, and then breaking into tears. It's a magnificently crafted series of essays on most of the key players of the 2004.

This is a MUST read for any Red Sox fan. Treat yourself, or buy it for a Sox fan you love.

I read this brilliant book when it first came out many years ago. I was thinking about it recently and wanting to re-read it sometime, it's still on my bookshelf along with my Roger Kahn, Roger Angell, Thomas Boswell and various other baseball books.

The tales were fascinating. D'Antonio found himself in some interesting situations and often I felt I was along for the trip, he's a fascinating story teller and writer. As I recall, this book was a quick read. There are cheap copies out there if you can't find a new copy, treat yourself, it's well worth the time and money.

I am not a baseball fan. My tenure in Little League was spent bird watching, and the only flies I caught were the ones buzzing around my gaping mouth as I scanned the skies for scissor tail flycatchers.

I am a fan of the tales Dave D'Antonio spins out as he recounts his travels around the country hunting down the final rest stops of the Greats of Baseball. The characters that Dave met along his circuitous route, the converstations with true blue fans, and the personal insights accrued on his mission kept me up past my bed time savoring each quirky experience.

If you are a baseball fan, you will appreciate D'Antonio's passion for the national pastime as it was before players became millionaires, and the season depended on owner/player labor negotiations. The only free agent in this delightful book is Dave as he pushes his Geo Metro through the thousands of miles traveled to gather stories for his tribute.This is a book that is destined to be passed along from fan to fan, but I'd suggest keeping a copy for yourself to read the next time you get tired of the corporate manipulations of America's favorite pastime.

Author Dave D'Antonio has written an interesting book on his travels visiting cemeteries across the country and attending baseball games on all levels while traveling in his car "Nellie." I, too, find it interesting visiting cemeteries and locating graves of the famous and infamous. Dave also visited with people who could provide him with information on the individual he was looking for. It was a tiring trip for this middle school history teacher to take on his own, but if you would like a quick read on an offbeat subject on baseball, this book will hold your interest. I enjoyed the book, but four stars, not five.

The overwhelming majority of baseball books run pretty much to form. Aside from statistical tomes, Roger Angell colletions and a few valuable historical works, the games's non-fiction oeuvre is confined to dreary reminiscences by aging sports writers and broadcasters and a spate of yawn-inducing, blatantly self-serving, as-told-to player autobiographies. But two new books, both published by Diamond Communications, Inc. represent happy departures from the norm. What is particularly refreshing about Dave D'Antonio's Invincible Summer is that the author sets out on a quest only peripherally connected with baseball. D'Antonio, a middle school history teacher recovering from a succession of personal setbacks, tries to find himself. Dave D'Antonio, of San Leandro, Calif., is certainly no cosmopolite. In his curiously affecting little book, Invincibe Summer, he comes across as a vulnerable naif. A fiercely loyal fan, he suffered mightily during the 1994 baseball strike. This disastrous event, coupled with "the lost of...half my life savings" in an investment scam, "a pair of painful romantic relationships" and the unexpected divorce of his parents, persuaded him to hit the road at age 34, in the sprint of 1995. But not without a purpose, for D'Antonio set out to visit the gravesites of as many Hall of Fame ballplayers as he could find. "Cemeteries have always interested me," he explains. "I felt their peace and silence." Besides, by find the past he would be "forgetting the present." D'Antonio's odyssey led him through 43 states and 25,873 miles in five months. Most of the time he slept in his car, Nellie, and bathed in hotel pools. Along the way he stood reverently before the graves of close to 100 Hall of Famers. D'Antonio faithfully, if briefly recounts the careers and personalities of the departed immortals he visited, but what makes this book interesting is the author's own decidedly odd adventures. On his unmerry way he became involved in an angry traffic dispute with a mute, fell desperately in love with a woman he later discovered was a lesbian and in a pique over past racism, urinated on the steps of the capitol building in Montgomery, Ala. It's an intriguing ride, marred only by touches of sophmoric philosophizing and the author's addiction to preposterous similes and analogies, the most egregious of which is his description of Jesus Christ as having "more saves than Lee Smith, Rollie Finger and Hoyt Wilhelm put together." D'Antonio may not exactly have banished his own "demons," as he calls them, but at the graves of the great his love for the game was restored, and he convinced himself that, unlike those he visited, he would "rise again".

Reading Deirdre Silva & Jackie Koney's "It Takes More Than Balls" is like sitting down at an evening barbeque and having a great conversation with two new friends. Oh, and we are all drinking gimlets.
Deirdre and Jackie have a wonderful loving relationship with baseball that comes through loud and clear in their witty, well written, and more than occasionally acerbic prose. (I did say that we were drinking gimlets...) But the sarcasm doesn't detract from the lovingly presented history of baseball that is full of anecdotes and insider information.
Bottom line: there is just enough data to keep the information collector baseball fans in your house happy, but plenty of great stories about baseball's many characters to keep the rest of us fair weather fans reading this fantastic book late into the night.

"It Takes More Than Balls" is a great introduction to baseball. And if you are a seasoned veteran of the game, it's still a lot of fun because it will give you a whole new slant on what's happening on the field. It was written to help women learn about and enjoy baseball, but it's loaded with wry humor and off-beat anecdotes that will appeal to any fan. Here's an example: some hitters have the knack of fouling off pitch after pitch to wear the pitcher down. Luke Appling of the Chicago White Sox fouled off an incredible number of pitches because he was unhappy with the team's owner who had to pay to replace each ball hit into the stands. Stories like this come from thorough research (writing the book was a four-year project). It is strong on facts, yet it presents them in a unique, playful way. I stronly recommend "It Takes More Than Balls" to anyone looking to have fun with baseball.

This a very well written book for all baseball fans and it should be a must for all of people who are interesting in learning or know the game of baseball. It is written from a different perspective and takes you through the game step by step. There are interesting quips from different women thought out the book and some amazing antidotes

I loved it! It provides a great mix of history, humor and stats. It is a quick read and would be interesting to both hard core fans and novices.

This book doesn't sugarcoat what Jackie Robinson experienced as an African-American player in Baseball. It is an interesting story about a white bat boy who may have his own racist tendencies too. He can't help that he admires and likes Jackie Robinson, but doesn't shine Jackie's shoes like he does the white players and watches the white players mistreat Jackie often. It isn't unsuitable for children but the story does hit home what Jackie may have experienced. I read a book on Hank Aaron yesterday and this book is a good companion to yesterday's story. Great for Black History Month or Baseball season.

This is a first rate book that has a message without being preachy and remains a children's book; one with substance. I have three kids and I am constantly amazed at how much mediocre, hollow work is out there. This is a well written book, with an interesting message that still resonates today - I wish more children's books hit this book's level of quality. The artwork is first rate as well.

This lyrical book is a treasure! It will be added to libraries of import for years to come. It's a life lesson, important for teaching our children how we were, and more importantly, how we can become. Mrs. Jackie Robinson's letter included on the cover was a poignant touch; perhaps she assessed it best. I'll use this book many times, as an example of honed prose, morality, and plain old American history. Thank you Ms. Lorbiecki for sharing your gift with our children.

My six-year-old son loves sports, and he loved this story about one of his baseball heroes. Along the way, he learned some important lessons about tolerance, kindness, and respect, taught by Lorbiecki's well-drawn fictional bat boy. It's great to find a picture book that works as both a great sports story and an inspiring tale about fighting prejudice that even a six-year-old can understand.

Umpire Jocko Conlan (1899-1989) describes his long career in baseball in this entertaining biography co-written with Robert Creamer. Growing up on Chicago's South Side Conlan dreamed of playing for the White Sox, and briefly did so (1934-35) after years in the minors. One day as the Sox were about to play the Browns in St. Louis an umpire was out, so Conlan went in to officiate (as occasionally happened then) and the rest is history. Conlan officiated in the minors from 1936-1940, then spent a quarter century as an umpire in the majors. Conlan describes many facets of umpiring, including getting into position, not anticipating the call, using your head, and maintaining your integrity and respect. We also learn about the spitball, bean balls, arguments, travel, plus the non-stellar pay and benefits. This valuable book should be read by anybody with an interest in umpiring at any level, be it the pro's, high school, or little league. There's also much baseball history in these pages, including anecdotes about people like Leo Durocher, Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, etc.

This dated book remains a valuable read, given Conlan's upbeat, intelligent style and Creamer's easy-reading prose.

Anyone who loves baseball will enjoy the stories Jocko relates in this book. A true baseball fan will appreciate the directness and honesty with which he went about his work--and wish that more of that were evident in the game today!

I've read the book over and over. Baseball means visiting the past in what we thought as kids as simpler times with heroes. Baseball players were my heroes. Jocko Conlan was a man behind the mask in control of the great game. I've related myself with a person's will without the GOD given gift to be a player but with the determination to find a place in the game. Jocko Conlan was just that. He found his way into the game through his determination and strength to be part of it. The stories depict the golden age of the time we considered the game our national pastime. What wonderful stories! What a wonderful baseball book!

As a young amateur umpire in 1966, I had bought and read this book by former National League Umpire, Jock Conlan. Well, 33 years later, a little worn and a little tattered, I still have the book amongst my collection. I found it to be a wonderful inspriing book about a fine umpire. It was enjoyable then, just as I think the remake of this book will be enjoyable to your readers now. Truly a collectors' item.

This book was great! It tells the story of the immortal Joe Dimaggio,the Yankee Clipper. It begins with Joe's childhood, growing up in San Francisco, California. Joe's family was very poor so he did not have a lot of the things other kids had. he became interested in baseball because it didn't cost anything to play. Joe and the other kids in the the neighborhood would have pick up games and Joe soon found he was a very good baseball player. he decided that if he was going to be great he needed to practice more. In school all Joe could think about was baseball. Then in October,1929 the stock market crashed and Joe quit school to help support his family. It was during this time that Joe joined a neighborhhod baseball team called Rossi Olive Oil Company. Soon he was being noticed by major league scouts who were impressed with the 15 year old. By the time Joe was 18 years old he was playing with the minor league Seals and had a hitting streak of 48 games to tie the minor league record. The New York Yankees took notice of the talented young player and decided to sign him to major league contract in 1936.Joe played for the Yankees for 15 years and had the memorable and historical 56 game hitting streak that still stands today. Joe was a 3 time MVP and was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955. In 1969 Joe was voted the greatest living ball player. Joe was also honored in 1976 with the Medal of Freedom by President Ford. Joe died in 1999 at age 84 in Hollywood, Florida.

This book was great!Joe went threw alot of hard times when he was a kid.Joe always wanted to be a great ball player when he grew up.He would always play pick up games with the neighbor hood.He was very poor,all he could afford was fish for dinner.Joe was very good at baseball.When he grew up he was one of the greatest Yankees.I found this book helpful because it has all the information you probally could get on Joe Dimaggio.Also at the end there was a timeline you could use it for a report.Also there was a stat chart of all of the stats that Joe Dimaggio had like how many home runs and hits and all stuff like that.Thats how i found it helpful and why you should read this book! By Griffin

This book was great!Joe went threw alot of hard times when he was a kid.Joe always wanted to be a great ball player when he grew up.He would always play pick up games with the neighbor hood.He was very poor,all he could afford was fish for dinner.Joe was very good at baseball.When he grew up he was one of the greatest Yankees.I found this book helpful because it has all the information you probally could get on Joe Dimaggio.Also at the end there was a timeline you could use it for a report.Also there was a stat chart of all of the stats that Joe Dimaggio had like how many home runs and hits and all stuff like that.Thats how i found it helpful and why you should read this book! By Griffin

This was just one of the facts my son spontaneously shared. This was the first book in the series that my almost 8-year old read. He was enthused about sharing what he learned about young JD and his family. He is asking for more titles from this series for his upcoming birthday.

Within 2 weeks of my 16 year old son reading this book and practicing the techniques, he was throwing a consistent (85% of the time) knuckleball that had excellent movement. I highly recommend this book.

Nice to see someone passionate enough about something to write a decent book. I gotta tell you if you want to know about Knuckleballs, How to pitch, how to catch, how to coach or just how the suckers break then get this book. Its all in there plus some great quotes.

Baseball players will recognize the knuckleball as one of the more difficult pitches of baseball; but they've never before had an entire book devoted to the play before. Author Dave Clark has spent much of his life studying it, talking to major league pitchers, and trying it out for himself: his in-depth survey reveals everything you need to know about the knuckleball's unique plays and attributes.

I've been throwing the knuckler for a long time and have pined for a technical, historical, and personal history of this wonder of nature. Anyone who wants to know more about how to throw, catch, hit, or call this pitch needs to read this book. Specific information from famous knuckleball pitchers regarding grip and throwing mechanics are not available elsewhere.It's also funny.

I do suspect that the physicists have the explanation wrong and that its strange irregularities are more related to relativistic properties than chaotic airflow patterns.