Players Books

This book has become a mainstay at my house, and a favorite of my family's as a reference tool. It's not as in-depth as Total Baseball or the ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia, but it gives quick summaries of Hall-of-Famers careers, great pennant races, important games from history, and also lists award winners, record holders, and seasonal batting and pitching leaders. The portability of this book makes it much easier to bring to games or to have near the TV.

A great resource, and well-written.

This book is filled with lot of biographical information of teams, players, stadiums and such interesting games that occured in the past. If you like this kind of information such as statistics of the player and such as things you'll love this book as I do !
Let's read it an screams PLAY BALL !

Rube Foster-what an amazing man! Dr. Robert Cottrell's impeccably researched biography gives us insight into the evolution of an outstanding athlete, coach, manager, businessman, visionary, and co-founder of the Negro Leagues. In this book, we not only get a detailed look into the day-to-day life of a ballplayer (complete with box scores-balls, strikes, hits, walks, stolen bases, and outstanding plays). More importantly, we see the panorama of black ball (and white ball) in the early part of the 20th century as we barnstorm the country and Cuba with Rube and his various teams and teammates. This biography joins the pantheon of other works by Dr. Cottrell. In his earlier biographies of I.F. Stone, Nicholas Comfort, and Roger Baldwin, we saw sensitive yet balanced looks at strong-willed men in conflict with oppressive conservatism and prejudice in the areas of journalism, religion, and social injustice. Now, we are treated to the same spirited view of our nation's pastime and one of its unsung heroes. This book about Rube Foster provides us nothing less than a much needed revisionist's look at American history.

Rube Foster-what an amazing man! Dr. Robert Cottrell's impeccably researched biography gives us insight into the evolution of an outstanding athlete, coach, manager, businessman, visionary, and co-founder of the Negro Leagues. In this book, we not only get a detailed look into the day-to-day life of a ballplayer (complete with box scores-balls, strikes, hits, walks, stolen bases, and outstanding plays). More importantly, we see the panorama of black ball (and white ball) in the early part of the 20th century as we barnstorm the country and Cuba with Rube and his various teams and teammates. This biography joins the pantheon of other works by Dr. Cottrell. In his earlier biographies of I.F. Stone, Nicholas Comfort, and Roger Baldwin, we saw sensitive yet balanced looks at strong-willed men in conflict with oppressive conservatism and prejudice in the areas of journalism, religion, and social injustice. Now, we are treated to the same spirited view of our nation's pastime and one of its unsung heroes. This book about Rube Foster provides us nothing less than a much needed revisionist's look at American history.

I bought and played Beyond Competition when it first came out at the age of 8; nearly 25 years later, I still think back on it fondly and still pull it out from time to time to introduce to friends. As a life-long player of games, I am nostalgic for many educational game titles from my youth (such as the classic "M.U.L.E." for Atari 800). While I can't say that the 6 games included in this title are the best games I've ever played, they were solid games with an excellent point: that there are limits to what competition can do for society, that not everything must be a win-lose situation. A point world leaders could do well to remember in this age of terrorism. There is so little work done in this space, so few games that get you to think outside the box politically, that this book will always remain close to my heart.

A note for prospective buyers. The book has many tear-out pages, so be sure to discuss the condition with a seller of a used copy.

Sid Sackson is a genius known for designing excellent board games. This book consists of six "board" games designed to be played cooperatively. The themes are unique, as are the game mechanics. Another winner from Sackson.

I bought the book for my cousin, he and myself love it. Is very easy to read and funny

Is baseball good? Truly a thought to siphen, nor weary and lasting is the prime thought. I'll concede Senor David Ortiz is great, but only if you stop waiving that violin in my face.

Big Play has the best writing on college football Ive read since Dan Jenkins' classic Saturday's America, and the best stuff on pro football since Tex Maule was at his peak in Sports Illustrated. A great book, particularly the Bart Starr-Johnny Unitas comparison.

I've had the pleasure of knowing Allen Barra since 1970 or so when we wrote for the UAB (University of Alabama in Birmingham) student newspaper. A very imaginative writer, he could write 15 inches of column on anything and everything, and while he wrote mostly about entertainment items back then, sports was always something that intrigued him.

Over the years, I occasionally read his articles in INSIDE SPORTS and other publications, then in the early 1990's, I picked-up a Village Voice because of the blurb on the cover "Barra on Tyson," and we've renewed our friendship. But, please don't think that this review is merely the writing of an appreciative friend.

From the early 1990's, I've read his works in a variety of publications and webzines, such as Slate.com., and the New York times: sometimes agreeing with him, sometimes not, but always enjoying his way of cutting through the bull. Allen sometimes has a way of over-analyzing situations that drives some folks nuts, but he actually developed, with the assistance of an economics professor at the UAB whose name I forget, a great way of using statistics to compare two players from different era.

With regards to this collection of articles, I cannot tell you if these 38 articles, covering 20+ years of writings, are the cream of the crop, because there are some I've read that aren't included that were terrific, too. However, I will tell you that these are written by someone who knows how to write about sports in a way that tries to place it in perspective to the society that we live in. Usually when a writer tries to do that, they end up in a fourth and inches situation and then get caught behind the line of scrimage, and the ball is turned over. In BIG PLAY, though, Allen gets the first down everytime and succeeds on such a scale that I am truly puzzled why he has not won a Pulitzer Prize.

This is an excellent book for anyone who loves football and appreciates great writing.

I consider myself lucky to have a hardcover copy of this book. It reads like fiction while still providing quite a bit of insight into the world of a professional blackjack team. While casino conditions have changed, most of the presented information is still valuable for any serious blackjack player.

Back in the late 70's and early 80's, Ken Uston was the king of blackjack. The Big Player is a story of his adventures where he gets recruited into a team of card counters to play and win blackjack against the casinos. This book does not present any card counting systems. It is a book about the stories he had after going up against the casinos.

He had a wild ride and discusses the never ending battle between his teams and the casinos. How they'd get barred, different tactics and strategies they used, team play, etc.

If you are interested in card counting of blackjack, you'll love this story.

My only complaint about this book was that it was too short.

I waited too long. Brashler's book sent me back in time to the 1930s and let me enter the world of Negro League baseball, and the atmospheric writing transported me there thoroughly. I'm now going to rent the DVD, and hope it's half as good as the book.

I recommend this book to anyone who's a fan of baseball history.

there was never a dull moment reading this. inspired by countless tape recordings brashler made with cool papa bell and satchel paige, this books puts you into the lives of back baseball players in the 1930's as they travel through the midwest, often encountering prejudice, con-men, loneliness and self-doubt but sticking to their guns and rising about the drama. the language brashler uses to tell the tale makes it authentic and warm. a perfect companion to the movie...

This is an incredible book of historical significance, as former major league pitcher Jim "Mudcat" Grant profiles the thirteen African-Americans who won 20 or more games in Major League Baseball and ten pitchers from Negro Leagues Baseball who he feels would have achieved that feat in MLB.

Grant writes from a knowledge gained from his own experience in the pro game; he is the first African-American to reach the single-season milestone in the American League and win a World Series Game for an AL club, both achieved in 1965 with the Minnesota Twins.

The updated edition includes additional text and photos and a chronicle of Grant's visit to The White House, with Dontrelle Willis of the Detroit Tigers and former fire-balling aces, Mike Norris and Ferguson Jenkins.

The MLB season is in its opening weeks and dreams are still as fresh as the sod in the stadium outfields. Each of the pitchers in the book dreamed of diamond glory and will forever be remembered for their achievements due to Grant's meticulous work in bringing their stories to life.

This book covers both the African-American Major League pitchers who have won 20 or more games in a season (the "Black Aces": 13 of them to date) and African-American pitchers from the Negro Leagues who the author thinks would have been in the "Black Aces" group (eg Satchel Paige). The lead author is Jim "Mudcat" Grant, the first AL "Black Ace" and his own experiences along with his intimate knowledge of many of the other subjects lend great authenticity and charm to the book.
It is an historical celebration of great baseball players and a reflection of trying times. I am enjoying it greatly.

Denker gives us a nice picture of the U.S. chess scene in the 1930s and 1940s, as well as his insights and much wanted and valued information on many of the great players of the era, as well as some before and after the period.I loved his chapter on Dr. Euwe and was shocked by his experience with Salo Flohr, a great player I used to admire. Grandmaster Denker, please write a sequel!

I have read at least 300 chess books in the last 25 years, and this is one of the very best. There is much information here about 20th century American players that I haven't seen elsewhere. I found out, for instance, that Arthur Dake did not learn chess until the advanced age of 17, but was beating Alekhine very one-sidedly in blitz chess just a few years later. This isn't the typical chess trivia/scandal book (e.g., the list of the 30 unusual words supposedly memorized by Pillsbury), which is exactly the sort of book we DON'T need more of.

There are plenty of games in this book, so it's not just a bunch of biographical sketches. I recommend this book to players of all levels. Even people who don't know anything about chess might enjoy this book. It's a much better read than "Searching for Bobby Fischer," another book that was, deservedly, appreciated by those with little knowledge of chess. And there is the added benefit that the author of "The Bobby Fischer I Knew" is, unlike the author of "Searching...", a very strong player in addition to being a good storyteller.

Having looked at numerous baseball photography books, from Conlon to Brace to TSN, SI, you name it, Sweet's book is one of the best I've ever laid hands on. Many of the photos have similar shots of what you see today, until you read the book and realize that Sweet was THE FIRST ONE to shoot baseball photos from these great angles. But many of the shots you'll see in here are complex shots that you likely won't see anywhere else, such as the simulated action shots of a pitcher throwing a ball (ball included) or a closeup of a fielder turning two. Sweet's photos also offer a great deal of detail via the medium format film--lots of textures of wool-uniform, felt logos, embroidered logos, sweat beads, pores, stubble. Then on top of all that you notice a slightly different take or emotional expression that Sweet had a knack for capturing. Cap it off with a bright yellow background or blue sky and the results have a timeless quality.

Where George Brace's work (black/white photography) primarily ends is where Sweet (color) picks up--1949 to present. With the invention of color film at mid-century, Sweet's early photos were taken at the dawn of a new era, and we're priviledged to be able to see those legends in full color from 1949 with Joe D to Hideki Matsui in 2005.

The focus of this book is spring training, and looking/reading through it is about as enjoyable as being there. The book has a nice 1950's vintage feel with softer colors and great use of negative space. The stories are very informative and entertaining--a commentary about the shot, each player's personality, as well as some historical info/data on the players.

Many of the photos have a vintage/retro coloring to them, as if the negative had already been oxidized a bit. and it's not clear to me whether they were intentional or just not color-corrected. In any case, the result does produce a more vintage feel, particularly the 50's-60's shots.

Baseball fans who grew up during the 50's-70's will appreciate the photos in this book. I can't see why sports photographers would pass this book up, not for someone who is considered to be the greatest by his peers.

I thouroughly enjoyed viewing the old and new photos in Ozzie Sweet's new book and reading the accompanying stories. His photographic style is unmatched even today in the unique way in which he posed his shots. It's amazing how he captures such such great colors and seems to look into the souls of his subjects. After reading the book it is amazing how many current day sports photographers look at him as a baseball player would look at Babe Ruth. Whether you are a camera buff or a sports fan, I highly recommend this book.