04-28-2008, 09:01 PM | #1 | ||
Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Colorado
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Favorite Baseball Books
It's that time of year again when I dive into my favorite baseball books, as well as pick up new ones.
Here are my favorites: I am reading (actually listening to on my iPod) this one now. Vecsey is a NY Times writer and a non-fiction author. So far, it's probably the best book I've read/listened to on the history of baseball: Baseball: A History of America's Favorite Game, George Vecsey http://www.amazon.com/Baseball-Histo...9432895&sr=1-1 In my opinion, Roger Angell is the best baseball writer of all time. Here is his collection of baseball articles he wrote for the New Yorker, covering many decades of baseball: Game Time, Roger Angell http://www.amazon.com/Game-Time-Comp...9433220&sr=1-2 Probably everyone here has this one, however I think I may like the first edition a little better but both are great: The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract http://www.amazon.com/Bill-James-His...9433061&sr=1-2 I read this last year for the first time and like Men At Work, this covers the genius of Tony Larussa and Dave Duncan, detailing a nerve-wrecking series between the Cards and Cubs, and the events leading up to it: 3 Nights in August, Bissinger http://www.amazon.com/Three-Nights-A...9433289&sr=1-1 This one is not linked in amazon but I did enjoy reading this (it's an encyclopedia with anecdotes of anyone associated with the game, from the beginnings to present): New Biographical History of Baseball, Dewey and Acocella Another popular Bill James books. This book solidified my Small Hall views: Politics of Glory, Bill James http://www.amazon.com/POLITICS-GLORY...9433349&sr=1-1 This is by far my favorite fictional sports book ever, really brings the 1869 Red Stockings and their amazing season to life: If I Never Get Back, Darryl Brock http://www.amazon.com/If-Never-Get-B...9433412&sr=1-1 Probably my top 5 favorite book of all time, a personal favorite that I would take with me on a deserted island. Written in the early 70s, it is also one of the funniest and wittiest books I've read: Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book, Boyd and Harris http://www.amazon.com/If-Never-Get-B...9433412&sr=1-1 What are your favorites? ps. I am looking for a good book on the 1961 season, specifically the Maris & Mantle HR race. |
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04-28-2008, 09:08 PM | #2 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Puyallup, WA
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Outside of the BP annual and some Bill James stuff, the last baseball book I read was:
Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Blunders: A Complete Guide to the Worst Decisions and Stupidest Moments in Baseball History http://www.amazon.com/Rob-Neyers-Boo...9434575&sr=8-2 I'm a big fan of Rob Neyer's work, so I really liked this book. It breaks down everything from bad trades, bad managerial decisions, bad manager/general manager hires along with some other things and goes chronologically through baseball history. |
04-28-2008, 09:10 PM | #3 |
Favored Bitch #1
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: homeless in NJ
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the Curious Case of Sid Fintch
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04-28-2008, 09:39 PM | #4 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
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Huge fan of the Bill James Historical Abstract (I actually have the yearly Abstracts from 1982 on, plus the Baseball Books or whatever they were called for three-four years after that. I'll also second the Hall of Fame book.
Other than those, another favorite is the Ultimate Baseball Book edited by Robert Creamer, and of course if you can get the Ken Burns series it never gets old to watch.
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We have always been at war with Eastasia. |
04-28-2008, 09:45 PM | #5 |
College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Kansas
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I'm too lazy for fancy formatting.
My baseball library is pretty slim, but the books not mentioned that stand out to me are Leigh Montville's biography of Ted Williams, and the Ty Cobb one by Al Stump which was one of my favorite biographies of anyone. I really enjoyed Fantasyland by Sam Walker for a fun book, and right now am reading the Baseball Economist for a more stat-centric book and really enjoying it. Next up for me is The Last Best League(I think), a book following the Cape Cod League for a season, which looks pretty good. I've had my eye on Crazy '08 for a while now. Anyone read that? I'd like a book focused on a season or portion of a season like that from the turn of the century. I'm intrigued by that If I Never Get Back book. I'm going to have to look into buying that one. |
04-28-2008, 10:23 PM | #6 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Decatur, GA
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One of the best books providing easily accessible and entertaining information on the vast field of sabermetrics research is:
Baseball Between the Numbers by the Baseball Prospectus team http://www.amazon.com/Baseball-Betwe...439308&sr=8-10
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"A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages" -Tennessee Williams |
04-28-2008, 10:25 PM | #7 | |
FOBL Commish
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Team Radii
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Quote:
Likewise one of my favorite books (in any genre) for many years. (I'm pretty sure you and I have had this exchange here before. ) A couple of years ago, I finally got around to buying Brock's followup title, Havana Heat ... although I got it in audiobook format (for ipod). Like If I Never Get Back, it's a really nice blend of historical fact and fiction, as the story revolves around the '11 Giants' barnstorming tour of Cuba. The narrator for the audiobook is especially good -- a prefect voice for the time period -- and I'd highly recommend it if you like that sort of thing, but I'm sure it's worth picking up in paperback, too. http://www.amazon.com/Havana-Heat-No...9439222&sr=8-1 Last edited by Simms : 04-28-2008 at 10:27 PM. |
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04-28-2008, 10:31 PM | #8 |
Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Green Bay, WI
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I've read a few good biographies of Sandy Koufax, but my favorite is Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy.
There's one I read in the 4th grade that was about the Dodgers in general, that got me into reading about baseball history. All I remember about it was that it had a yellow and black cover, and it was in paperback. Wish I could remember the name of it so I could try and track it down. |
04-29-2008, 01:12 AM | #9 |
High School Varsity
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Daegu, Korea
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David Halberstam's October 1964, covering the Yankees-Cardinals series, is one of my favorite books ever. It's well worth the read.
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04-29-2008, 09:06 AM | #10 |
College Starter
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Burlington, VT USA
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Koufax, as mentioned above.
Steven King's Faithful is pretty good as well. |
04-29-2008, 09:22 AM | #11 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
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The Southpaw
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04-29-2008, 09:30 AM | #12 |
Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Colorado Springs
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For more lighthearted stuff..
Jay Johnstone's books are fun reads, as is, if you can find it anymore, Baseball Confidential. |
04-29-2008, 10:27 AM | #13 | |
College Prospect
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Ponchatoula, LA
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Quote:
Ahhh, I loved Baseball Confidential. I wish there were an updated version. |
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04-29-2008, 10:45 AM | #14 |
Stadium Announcer
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Burke, VA
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I haven't read Havana Heat, but as I understand it it's not a sequel to "If I Never Get Back".
The sequel is called "Two in the Field", and while I didn't like it as much as the first book, it's still a good read. http://www.amazon.com/Two-Field-Nove...9483886&sr=8-2
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I don't want the world. I just want your half. |
04-29-2008, 11:13 AM | #15 | |
FOBL Commish
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Team Radii
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Quote:
Sorry ... I didn't mean to imply it was a sequel, just that it was his *next* book. I honestly didn't even know there *was* a sequel to If I Never Get Back until just now. |
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04-29-2008, 11:45 AM | #16 | |
Stadium Announcer
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Burke, VA
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Quote:
And after I went back and re-read what you actually wrote, I'm the dumbass. Sorry 'bout that.
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I don't want the world. I just want your half. |
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04-29-2008, 11:52 AM | #17 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: The Great Northwest
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Fantasyland was a great easy read. http://www.amazon.com/Fantasyland-Se...9487867&sr=1-1
You Gotta Have Wa is pretty cool if you'd like to learn the history of baseball in Japan. http://www.amazon.com/You-Gotta-Have.../dp/067972947X And I'm still a big fan of Moneyball, but I'm sure it's mentioned somewhere here. |
04-29-2008, 11:53 AM | #18 | |
Coordinator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Keene, NH
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Quote:
I concur that Cam is the dumbass. I've always liked George Will's Men At Work for the way it explored all of the subtelties and nuances of the the game.
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Mile High Hockey |
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04-29-2008, 11:53 AM | #19 | |
Pro Rookie
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Prairie du Sac, WI
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Quote:
I'll second that one. First I read the autobiography which Stump ghostwrote, I believe. Then I read the biography for a little bit more of an unbiased view of things. It's telling when an autobiography's ghost writer goes back and writes a biography. Cobb certainly wasn't going to make himself look bad in his autobiography, but it was still a good read. You get a bit of an idea what was going through his head. |
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04-29-2008, 06:02 PM | #20 |
Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Colorado
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Simms/Cam, I had not heard of Brock's other books since quite a bit of time had passed. I did see 'Two in the Field' when I was searching for my link and saw that it really nothing to do with the original, despite being a sequel with Sam Fowler. Apparently, he had to write another sequel to get it right?
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04-29-2008, 06:50 PM | #21 | |
Stadium Announcer
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Burke, VA
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Quote:
I don't know who said it has nothing to do with the original, but it does. It's a little less baseball oriented, but it (without getting too spoiler heavy) involves Sam going back to try and find his love interest from the first book (I think her name was Cate?).
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I don't want the world. I just want your half. |
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04-29-2008, 10:11 PM | #22 |
College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Ball Four
Wrigleyville |
08-21-2008, 07:26 PM | #23 |
Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Colorado
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Cam/Simms, I found Two in the Field in SF while I was on vacation and absolutely loved it. While it did not have as much baseball, I thought it had more suspense. I loved how it picked up where the first book left off, but not in the way one would think.
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08-21-2008, 08:02 PM | #24 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: The State of Insanity
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Ball Four - Jim Bouton
Crazy '08 - (the story of the 1908 season) The Wrong Stuff - Bill "Spaceman" Lee
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08-21-2008, 08:13 PM | #25 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Pacific
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Iowa Baseball Confederacy- WP Kinsella
The Bronx Zoo- Sparky Lyle I loved "If I Never Get Back". |
08-21-2008, 08:45 PM | #26 |
High School Varsity
Join Date: Jan 2007
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One I've been meaning to read:
Veeck--As In Wreck: The Autobiography of Bill Veeck You know Bill Veeck, even if you don't realize you do. |
08-21-2008, 09:33 PM | #27 | |
FOBL Commish
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Team Radii
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Quote:
Nice ... I'll try and pick it up. |
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08-21-2008, 09:36 PM | #28 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Where Hip Hop lives
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Glory Of Their Times
(pretty sure that's the title). Book that's been around and still a great read.
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08-21-2008, 09:41 PM | #29 |
College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Ball Four
Wrigleyville Glory of Thier Times. |
08-22-2008, 12:41 AM | #30 |
Mascot
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Moneyball!
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08-22-2008, 05:53 AM | #31 |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Bill James Historical Abstract
Ocboter 1964 Baseball and Other Matters in 1941 Glory of Their Times The Fay Vinent oral histories (there are two so far) are also pretty good...along the same lines as Glory of Their Times. Last edited by rowech : 08-22-2008 at 05:54 AM. |
08-22-2008, 08:21 AM | #32 |
H.S. Freshman Team
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: D/FW
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Summer of '49 by David Halberstam
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08-22-2008, 08:49 AM | #33 | |
Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Colorado
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Quote:
I picked up one of those earlier this summer - We Would Have Played For Nothing. It's pretty good, but I still like Angell's interviewing, reporting and musing style better. |
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10-02-2008, 12:08 AM | #34 |
Favored Bitch #1
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: homeless in NJ
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Ken Burns Baseball started tonight on the local PBS station here, I have never seen it and so far am really anjoying it
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10-02-2008, 12:09 AM | #35 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: The State of Insanity
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I want to watch that so much, but they charge over $100 for the DVD set.
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10-02-2008, 12:21 AM | #36 |
Favored Bitch #1
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: homeless in NJ
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check your PBS affiliate
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10-02-2008, 12:26 AM | #37 |
College Starter
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Houston, or there about
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I'm not much of a baseball nerd, but I'm a die-hard fan of the sad-sack Texas Rangers. I absolutely loved "Seasons in Hell: With Billy Martin, Whitey Herzog, and the worst baseball team in history" by Mike Shropshire. Very funny, and good behind the scenes stuff. A real easy read because the guy is a newspaper writer mainly.
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10-02-2008, 12:27 AM | #38 | |
High School JV
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Jersey
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Quote:
I netflixed it and then burned it. I watch it all the time. I usually don't go past the 50's, though. The series to me seems to lose a little nostalgia at that point for me.
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"If the Bible has taught us nothing else, and it hasn't, it's that girls should stick to girls sports, such as hot oil wrestling and foxy boxing and such and such." |
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