Baseball Books

Lost in the Sun is told by Gleason, whose family left their Midwestern roots for postwar Garden Grove, California in the 1950s. The story weaves together remembrances of Gleason's love for baseball as a young boy inspired by his paternal grandfather; his natural agility for the game that drew the attention of team scouts and mentors like Ted Williams; the ultimate fulfillment of his boyhood dream as a Los Angeles Dodger; the pain and grief of his Vietnam service; and his promising baseball career interrupted by the military draft.

The book is an inspiring read for adults, even non-baseball fans like myself. The book also exudes with admiration and tribute to the memory of fallen military personnel and especially for those overseas in the present day War.

I am so inspired by the strength of Mr. Gleason, who endured so much disappointment and heartache, and who is the only major league baseball player to have served in Vietnam, to survive an ambush, and be awarded with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

Roy grew up living next door to me and my family in Garden Grove Calif. He and my oldest son used to play catch in our front yard.
We are still in contact with his family. His mother,Molly recently passed away, but we still have dinner with his sister, Cathy and her husband John. We live in Oakhurst Calif. an Cathy and family live in Bass Lake Calif. which is about 5 miles away.
Sothe book was very nostalgic for me....

Roy Gleason tells his story to Wallace Wasinack and Mark Langill in Lost In The Sun: Roy Gleason's Odyssey From The Outfield To The Battlefield, an account of one who was the only person to serve in Vietnam and play at least one game in the major leagues. Roy was the only player from his era to be drafted and sent to war: Lost In The Sun tells why, and also provides both wartime and game insights in a 'you are there' gripping autobiography.

This book is the best I've read on the subject of pitching. Forget about Tom House--this book includes everything you need to know to become more successful on the mound: pitching mechanics, how to throw particular pitches, the mental aspects of pitching, conditioning, and more in language that is accessible for any reader. Authors Myers and Gola are thorough in their presentation of pitching as both art and science. I highly recommend the book for pitchers, parents and coaches at any level from little league to professional.

This book is great! I bought the book yesterday and already see immediate results in my pitching fundamentals and mechanics. Any age level can use this book, from little league to the pros (but I would assume the pros would aready know all the facts in this book). This book is broken down into chapters, dealing early with the mechanics to correctly pitch, and then later on, learning about the mental part of pitching. It goes over how to pitch fastballs, curveballs and sliders, and change-ups. THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER COMPLETE BOOK OF PITCHNG is a great buy if you're a beginner just learning the game or a veteran trying to master the art of pitching!

In many ways this book is a like a summary of many of the ideas that you can read about elsewhere. The section stressing the importance of the change-up is a classic and is worth the price of the whole book. Illustrations are superb throughout and the book is full of priceless quotations from well known pitchers and coaches.

However I would not say 'forget about Tom House' because House still provide the more thorough run down on pitching mechanics, and the section on pitching mechanics is the only relative weakness that this otherwise excellent book has. It is however true that this book is a better place to start than House, whose "The Pitching Edge" remains high powered advanced reading for the serious pro.

You cannot go far wrong by reading this book. Highly recommended.

This is a great book for beginners and advanced players. Easy to read tips and instruction on all aspects of the game including pitching. Terrific for players, parents, coaches and instructors. Lots of tips from College Coaches and players. Highly recommended.

Very comprehensive book. I learned something new EVERY chapter! It will be on my desk and passed along to my players for years to come.

THE BOOK I WOULD RATE AS EXCELLENT. THE VIDEO AS LISTED IN YOUR ,(WAS ALSO BOUGHT BY )LISTING MISLED US TO BELIEVE THIS WAS A FASTPITCH HITTING VIDEO. IT IS NOT AND THEREFORE A WASTE OF MY MONEY.

One of the many true stories involving the All American Girls Baseball League (AAGBBL), this small volume recounts some of the history of the women who played professional baseball, beginning when so many of the men were drafted or enlisted during WWII, and ending in the early 1950's. An important part of baseball history that is often neglected. Your kids, especially the girls, will love it.

Another reviewer has done a terrific job encaptulating this book, so I won't go there.

But I will say, my two toddler age kids love books, especially about baseball. I've read them (and purchased) just about every children's book worth considering regarding baseball and this is in the top five.

Beautifully written and elegantly illustrated, this book tells the story from a young girls perspective about a mother that plays baseball during WWII.

It sends a number of positive messages to boys and girls alike. Pick up a copy of this book -- it's a keeper.

Through the eyes of a little girl named Amy, we can experience a little bit of life during World War II. During this time many athletic women vied for spots in the All-American Girls' Professional Baseball League. When Amy's mother first tells her of her plans to get a job in the league, Amy wonders, "What kind of job is that?" Baseball is only a game she thinks. Amy's perception of her mother playing pro-baseball changes as her mother makes the team, wins games, and is popular with the fans who ask for her autograph. The reader can easily sense Amy's excitement as she watches many of her mother's games, jumping up and down when her mom scores a hit.
Through a simple plot line, award-winning author David Adler has adequately shown the events of that time. He works a little humor into the story giving the reader a laugh or two and reminding us of common life experiences. "Mama Played Baseball" has a happy ending as Amy's father returns home safely. This is illustrator Chris O'Leary's first picture-book and he has done a magnificent job bringing the story to life. His artwork depicts the 1940s and contributes immensely to the overall story. The story is suitable for children in the lower elementary grades and could also be used in social studies or to introduce sports.

I don't read many mysteries. They are usually too formulaic to be entertaining. That being said, I am so happy I found this book because it has renewed my faith in mystery writers. Mr. Markowitz is an excellent writer and this particular story captivated me. The characters had such depth--I found myself thinking about Cassie O'Malley all the time! This is a wonderful read, I am looking forward to Mr. Markowitz's next book.

Some good fun at the ballpark turned tragic. A local political race, a psychic, a mysterious cabbie, a disputed wildlife refuge and the intrepid Cassie O'Malley all come together in "A Minor Case of Murder" to guarantee readers a fast-paced scramble to unravel the mystery of a woman's mistaken death on the pitcher's mound. Jeff Markowitz is masterful as he weaves romance, humor and drama together in a tale that escalates to a dramatic---and surprising---finish. Entertaining, and guaranteed to keep readers guessing until the very end!

In Doah, reporter Cassie O'Malley meets minor league baseball owner Andy MacTavish following the funeral of his great-great uncle octogenarian local historian Harrison T. Dicke. They talk over hot cocoa and he soon asks if he could call her for a date. The thirtyish widow says yes, which is a first since her spouse died a few years ago.

Andy takes Cassie to watch his baseball team, the Sand Skeeters, play. She enjoys the game and the between innings fun especially the mascot Skeeter. Later she meets Skeeter without the costume, teenager Donna Carter, who is dating Andy's younger brother. At the last game of the season, Skeeter dies on the pitching mound; however, the victim is not Donna, but her pal Heather. Andy wonders if the Birders who opposed his ballpark are behind the homicide so he asks journalist Cassie to investigate even as he continues to date her.

This fine sports whodunit pays homage to minor league baseball, which is so much fun (this reviewer born near Yankee Stadium and living a few miles from the Braves loved watching the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons play a game last year - if you have not done so try it; so much fun). The story line is a cozy that looks deep into the soul of the heroine as she begins to unravel the motive behind the murder of the mascot until she finally hits a walk off homerun. Sub-genre fans will want to watch all nine innings of this delightful hometown baseball mystery.

Harriet Klausner

In this book, forty or fifty ball players are described and then each of them talk about players they have played against. Several umpires also tell of different events in some of their ballgames. It's very interesting to read of their thoughts about some of the better ball players.

THIS IS A BUNCH OF SHORT STORIES AND INSIGHTS FROM MORE THAN 60 PLAYERS FROM THE 1940'S THRU THE 1960'S. SOME PLAYERS INCLUDE RALPH KINER, FRANK MALZONE, BOB SHAW AND BOBBY THOMSON. EACH PLAYER IS GIVEN 3-4 PAGES OF INTERSTING AND ENTERTAINING STORIES. THIS AN EASY BOOK TO READ BUT VERY VERY ENJOYABLE. WE MORE AND MORE TALES FROM BASEBALL'S GOLDEN ERA. A MUST READ FOR NOSTALGIC FANS.

Between 1940 and 1959 players like Musial, Aaron, Mantle, Mays, Spahn and Banks were just a few of the men to play baseball during what baseball purest call the "Golden Age of Baseball". Gene Fehler has put together a collection of 56 players from the era and the stories they tell bring to life the true world of baseball.

262 pages may seem short and believe me there could have so much more, but what the author does within those pages is pure magic. Reading about what is was like to play along side the greats to winning World Series to having Joe DiMaggio spike you are but a few of the tales in this book.

Baseball comes to life and the players live again as Fehler has collected stories about what is was like to face Musial and Williams, how to avoid Mantle's bat and so many other great ones. As a true baseball fan, I found this book both entertaining and a delight to read and read again.

If you looking for a baseball book that gives the dirt on players this book is certainly not the one, but if you are looking for several hours of fun and enlightening then you can stop at your nearest book store and get yourself a copy.

Fun under $20.00 Sports Publishing has given you a real winner - enjoy the reading!

I purchase these books for my nephew, Nathan. He is MY Nate, the Great. The books are delightful and I know he enjoys his reading time with his parents.

I love the "Nate the Great" books by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. They keep my daughter's interest and she loves the characters and Nate always having his pancakes. She tries to read the books herself and I love any book that challenges her to do that. I hope to see more books by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. I feel she's a talented author and should be applauded for her children's works.

I really liked the book because it talks about some kids that play baseball togheter and when the second base was stollen they decided to look for it. Nate the Great worked hard to find it. He found it behind the bookcase in Oliver's house. I also liked the name he gave his dog: Sludge. I think he is a great detective because he was able to solve the case.

For a Washington baseball fan like me, this book is a must-have, for those who want to read a very good account of the events in the return of baseball to the Nation's Capital, this book is the best that I have seen about it.

I am a longtime fan of Washington baseball, loving the Washington Senators in the 1960's, and have been studying the history of baseball in D. C. for years. I attended the 2005 Opening Night game that I had looked forward to for 33 years, and also many other games since then. Barry Svrluga gives a very interesting inside account of the July 5 game when Jose Guillen threw the ball over the catcher's head and all the way to the backstop, I had wondered what on earth was going on that night, I saw that happen in person. The accounts were interesting, and told a story that is not obvious to the average baseball fan who does not know what goes on behind-the-scene.

A very good book, I highly recommend it!

Many of us non-native Washingtonians see the Nationals as simply an overdue return of baseball to the DC area. But few of us are really privy to an inside behind the scenes view of the agony and ecstasy experienced by the die hard fans and baseball professionals who lived through this experience. If you thought baseball was just a game you won't after reading this compelling tale of just how DC came to have a new baseball team. If you want to understand more than just the current standings or statistics of your favority team and really want to know how the business of baseball is "played" grab a copy of this one. You'll find it an easy and thoroughly enjoyable read.

Attention baseball fans who are looking for the best reads in 2006...
The two outstanding baseball books this season are "National Pastime" and "Black and Blue." Why?? Frank Robinson is why. Robby is the "Man for All Seasons", as told in these incredible two extraordinary straight-forward non-fiction books re-capping the 1966 Baltimore Orioles and the 2005 Washington Nationals seasons. These efforts are sports writing at its finest by two of the trade's brightest and most promising upcoming reporters. I urge baseball fans to seek out and relish Frank Robinson --this 70 year-old legend and icon who epitomizes what is great about the National Pastime. "God bless you please, Mr. Robinson, heaven holds a place for those who pray. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you." Good luck, Skip, in 2006!!!!

"A Negro League Scrapbook" paired with Sharon Robinson's "Safe at Home" would make a great gift for boys ages 10 - 16. Add a baseball glove and other gear and you are sure to score a home run with your loved one!
The history in "Scrapbook" should be taught to our boys at school or in church -- please don't let this history die! "Safe at Home" has great insight into the thought processes of boys dealing with death, moving, peer pressure, bullies, teamwork, hard work, and perseverance. This would also be a great gift for a new teacher looking for high quality history and / or sports books. Enjoy!

With the saturation of sports coverage today, great teams & players are as disposable as the paper boxes for a fast-food meal. That is what makes A Negro League Scrapbook so important for young people.

With a forward by the great Buck O'Neil, the book takes the reader through the pre-NLB era to 1947, when Jackie Robinson donned the Brooklyn Dodgers uniform and desegregated Major League Baseball. The rich history of NLB includes no discrimination in the stands, on the field or in the front offices.

Through the use of archival photographs - in a layout like a family album - and creative, short cutlines/overviews, the book can be a fun study tool for family members. It is important that our future leaders in all walks of life learn about the past today to forge ahead with a clear understanding of the journey to tomorrow.

Young people will not learn about NLB - or the pre-NLB era - in most history classes. And the names Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell, Buck Leonard, Josh Gibson and - importantly - Buck O'Neil need to be understood in an overall historical sense as much as appreciating their achievements on the diamond.

Carole Boston Weatherford has touched all the bases - and home plate - with a book that adults and children can share and learn from for many years.

In 1998, my family visited the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri. It was an unforgettable experience. To create this book, I paired a poetic tribute to the Negro Leagues with statistics, anecdotes, player profiles, and historic images of baseball players, teams and memorabilia. The result is a virtual museum of the Negro League's heyday during the Jim Crow era. Back then, African-Americans were treated as second-class citizens, but these black ball players were second to none. And their game was first class. The most rewarding part of researching this project was talking with baseball legend Buck O'Neil, who graciously provided the book's foreword. The book appeals to baseball fans and history buffs of all ages.

I got this book because I collect autographs, but I enjoyed reading the book for the short bio written about each player. It's easy to read all about the famous Negro Leaguers, but in this book you can learn a lot about some of the lesser known, but very good players. I think this book is great for both autograph and baseball history buffs.

This book was a delight to read and will be a great reference in the future. The authors did a thorough, scholarly research effort and it shows in the quality of the information in the book. Though the focus is on autographs, I felt the background on the players and other history was worth the price of the book alone. A must for autograph collectors and of great value to anyone interested in the Negro Leagues of American baseball history. Congrats to the authors on an outstanding job!

The book not only gives you a run down of the players career and their history but shares with the reader the variations in the signature that transpired from playing days to reunion times. Gives a scarcity report on the autograph besides the price range value. Superb reading!!