Baseball

by Dan Shaughnessy (Author)

In Senior Year, Dan Shaughnessy focuses his acclaimed sports writing talents on his son Sam's senior year of high school, a turning point in any young life and certainly in the relationship between father and son. Using that experience, Shaughnessy circles back to his own boyhood and calls on the many sports greats he's known over the years -- Ted Williams, Roger Clemens, Larry Bird -- to capture that uniquely American rite of passage that is sports.

Growing up, Dan Shaughnessy was so baseball-obsessed that he played games by himself and didn't even let himself win. His son, Sam Shaughnessy, came by his own love of sports naturally and was a natural hitter who quickly ascended the ranks of youth sports. Now nicknamed the 3-2 Kid for his astonishing ability to hover between success and failure in everything he does, Sam is finally a senior, and it's all on the line: what college to attend; how to keep his grades up and his head down until graduation; and whether his final high school baseball season, which features foul weather, a hitting slump, and a surprising clash with a longtime coach, will end in disappointment or triumph.

All along the way, Dad is there, chronicling that universal experience of putting your child out on the field -- and in the world -- and hoping for the best. With gleaming insight, wicked humor, and, at times, the searching soul of an unsure father, Shaughnessy illuminates how sports connect generations and how they help us grow up -- and let go.

It's more than just a season of baseball--it's a universal story of fatherhood, ambition, and the bittersweet pride of watching a child step up to the plate.

• A Father Son Story: Join acclaimed sportswriter Dan Shaughnessy as he navigates the foul lines of fatherhood, moving from the coach's seat to the spectator's bleachers for his son Sam's pivotal senior year.
• The Pressure of High School Sports: Feel the tension of every at-bat as Sam, the "3-2 Kid," faces a hitting slump, the hopes of his team, and the daunting challenge of the college recruiting process.
• Legendary Sports Insights: Shaughnessy draws on decades of covering sports icons like Ted Williams, Roger Clemens, and Larry Bird to explore how the games we play shape the people we become.
• A Memoir About Letting Go: Discover a funny, poignant, and deeply relatable account of the moment every parent faces--when it's time to let a child find their own way to win, on the field and in life.

by David King (Author)

Though Ross Youngs has been enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame since 1972, few have given his remarkable career its due. Born in Shiner and raised in San Antonio, Youngs played his first game as a professional at the age of sixteen, and just three years later, his contract was purchased by the New York Giants, one of baseball's elite teams in the early twentieth century. Tragically, his promising career ended when he died from an illness at age thirty in 1927. Join author David King in a journey to discover the amazing Youngs as he was and the incredible legacy he left behind.

by David L. Fleitz (Author)

In an era of rowdy teams, the Cleveland Spiders (1887-1899) were baseball's rowdiest. Managed by Oliver "Patsy" Tebeau, a quick-tempered infielder, the Spiders seemed to heap abuse of one kind or another on everyone--umpires, opposing teams, even the fans. Their aggression never brought home the pennant, but Cleveland's battles with the league's top clubs, including an 1895 Temple Cup victory over the Baltimore Orioles, are now legendary.

Yet the story of the Spiders amounts to more than a 12 year free-for-all. There were top-flight players like Ed McKean, George Davis, Jesse Burkett, and Cy Young. There was the racially progressive signing of Holy Cross star Louis Sockalexis, the first American Indian in the major leagues. And then there was the team's final season, 1899, when a club ravaged by syndicalism set the standard for baseball futility.

Author Biography

David L. Fleitz is a web developer and baseball writer from Troy, Michigan. A longtime SABR member, he has written twelve books on baseball history, including biographies of Napoleon Lajoie, Louis Sockalexis, and Cap Anson.

by Jamie Selko (Author)

Anyone who has collected baseball cards understands the thrill of completing a set. And part of the fun is filling in the gaps along the way, one wax pack at a time, over months or even years. Or sometimes, as in Jamie Selko's case, decades.

This memoir recounts the author's love affair with Topps' 1961 baseball card set and his quest to acquire a complete autographed collection--an effort that took almost 40 years and still is one card short, #555 Sam "Toothpick" Jones. The author describes growing up in the early 1960s and details the backstory behind his mission, from the first autograph he got--Joe DiMaggio's, in an officer's club in Mannheim, Germany--to how he decided, 15 years later, to get signatures on each of the '61s. He also comments on each card in the set and on each player's finest game in the season.

Author Biography

A member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), Jamie Selko lives in Eugene, Oregon.

by Larry Hausner (Author)

Major League Baseball has been in crisis in recent years. Game attendance is down by millions and fan interest is in free fall. The future of the game is in jeopardy. While the League acknowledges the issues, many are stumped as to how to address them. This book explores in detail the critical challenges facing MLB, and their ramifications, along with some potential solutions. Interviews with baseball insiders, players to executives, give a perspective on baseball's struggle to reinvent itself for future generations.

Author Biography

Larry Hausner is a former sportscaster turned educator. He was the host and producer for Sports Spotlight, a weekly television show on SportsChannel, and is a former radio play-by-play announcer for numerous minor league teams. He is an associate professor of education at the University of Southern California.

by Dennis Goodman (Author), Sean Perdue (Illustrator), Alan Knight (Designed by)

RuleGraphics is a new and much simpler way to learn baseball rules. It is a primer and reference for professional baseball rules. RuleGraphics organizes rules by part of the game. In addition, each rule is boiled down to one page. Each page contains the rule book definition, key points, sample plays and a picture where appropriate. This book is a great tool for people who want to quickly get grounded in the rules.

The second edition contains references in the new format of the official baseball rules. In addition, tables in the back cross reference rules across formats and give major differences in rules between professional, high school and college rules.

by Cordelia Chávez Candelaria (Author)

In this comprehensive study of baseball in American literature, Candelaria looks primarily at novels to explore how writers have used this quintessential American symbol and to examine what the metaphors and images of the fictional universe of baseball have to tell us about ourselves. Her analysis includes both juvenile and adult sports fiction and other types of literary works that draw significantly on baseball imagery. Candelaria offers a probing analysis of the progression from allegory and romanticism in the earliest baseball fiction to the realism, irony, and solipsism of contemporary narrative.

Author Biography

CORDELIA CANDELARIA is Associate Professor of English and Chicano Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Her publications include Chicano Poetry: A Critical Introduction (Greenwood Press, 1986), Multiethnic Literature of the United States: Critical Essays and Classroom Resource, a volume of poetry, and numerous articles on American and Chicano literature.

by Christopher J. Phillips (Author)

An in-depth look at the intersection of judgment and statistics in baseball

Author Biography

Christopher J. Phillips is associate professor of history at Carnegie Mellon University. He is the author of The New Math: A Political History. Twitter @cjphillips100

by Kim LeBlanc (Author), Afton Jane (Illustrator)

Saul the baseball in the big game is an action packed lyrical retelling of an important championship baseball game told by Saul, an animated baseball.

Join Saul as he narrates the play by play of the biggest most important game he and his cast of characters team has ever had the chance to play! With every line rhyming, and building to an exciting finish, this is an enchanting, enjoyable story of teamwork, endurance, hope and friendship.

A story that is sure to delight children of all ages.

by Bill Nowlin (Editor), Mark Armour (Editor), Scott Bush (Editor)

As SABR celebrates fifty years this collection gathers the organization's most notable research and baseball history for the serious baseball reader.

SABR 50 at 50 celebrates and highlights the Society for American Baseball Research's wide-ranging contributions to baseball history. Established in 1971 in Cooperstown, New York, SABR has sought to foster and disseminate the research of baseball--with groundbreaking work from statisticians, historians, and independent researchers--and has published dozens of articles with far-reaching and long-lasting impact on the game. Among its current membership are many Major and Minor League Baseball officials, broadcasters, and writers as well as numerous former players.

Author Biography

Bill Nowlin has served on the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) board of directors since 2004 and is one of the co-founders of Rounder Records. He has written or edited nearly one hundred books, including Ted Williams at War and Tom Yawkey: Patriarch of the Boston Red Sox (Nebraska, 2018). John Thorn is the official historian for Major League Baseball.

by Kim LeBlanc (Author), Afton Jane (Illustrator)

Saul the baseball in the big game is an action packed lyrical retelling of an important championship baseball game told by Saul, an animated baseball.

Join Saul as he narrates the play by play of the biggest most important game he and his cast of characters team has ever had the chance to play! With every line rhyming, and building to an exciting finish, this is an enchanting, enjoyable story of teamwork, endurance, hope and friendship.

A story that is sure to delight children of all ages.

by Barbara Gregorich (Author)

This eye-opening collection of original author research on women pioneers in sports - specifically baseball - excites fans and historians as well as English teachers and those interested in the spectacular days of barnstorming baseball teams and bloomer girl players.

Original newspaper and magazine articles are spiced with the delightful language of late 1800s journalism and bring to life many hard-fought games. Lop-sided ones, too.

Coast-to-coast train journeys with games scheduled at every whistle-stop town demonstrate the guts and grit of these early baseball players - who just happened to be women.

Fascinating baseball details from the past. Primary source materials for English teachers and all those interested in women in sports.

Author Biography

Barbara Gregorich's works include the novel She's on First as well as the nonfiction work, Women at Play: The Story of Women in Baseball, which won the SABR-Macmillan Award for Best Baseball Research of the Year. Her works for children include Waltur Buys a Pig in a Poke (chosen as a Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice) and Waltur Paints Himself into a Corner. Gregorich studied at Kent State University, the University of Wisconsin, and Harvard. She worked as an English instructor, a typesetter and a letter carrier. She lives in Chicago with her husband, Phil Passen.

by Brian Martin (Author)

Despite his outstanding pitching record, James Francis "Pud" Galvin (1856-1902) was largely forgotten after his premature death. During his 18-year career with Pittsburgh, Buffalo and St. Louis, he was one of the best-paid players in the game--but died penniless. The diminutive hurler was the first to reach 300 wins (and only four pitchers have amassed more). A determined researcher documented Galvin's record decades after his death and he was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1965 with 365 wins.

This book is the first comprehensive biography of Galvin and his use of a testosterone-based concoction--with eye-popping results--which earned him newfound attention as a pioneer of performance enhancing drugs.

Author Biography

Award-winning journalist Brian Martin lives in London, Ontario. He is a member of the selection committee of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and the Society for American Baseball Research.

by Steve Dunn (Author)

Baseball fans in general and Chicago Cub fans in particular will enjoy author Steve Dunn's account of the 116-year history of professional baseball in Des Moines, Iowa. 'Pug, ' 'Fireball, ' and Company: 116 Years of Professional Baseball in Des Moines, Iowa, describes the teams, players, managers, owners, ballparks, and events that have entertained millions of fans at nine locations since 1887. The long list of stars that have played or managed in Des Moines includes Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bob Feller, Satchel Paige, Red Faber, Buck O'Neil, Ryne Sandberg, Tony LaRussa, Charlie Grimm, and Stan Hack. "It's an incredible book with some world-class firsthand information on baseball," Sarah Roger has said.

by Junwei Yu (Author)

Despite the political instability characterizing twentieth-century Taiwan, the value of baseball in the lives of Taiwanese has been a constant since the game was introduced in 1895. The game first gained popularity on the island under the Japanese occupation, and that popularity continued after World War II despite the withdrawal of the Japanese and an official lack of support from the new state power, the Chinese Nationalist Party. The remarkable success of Taiwanese Little League teams in the 1970s and 1980s cemented Taiwan's relationship with the game. Taiwanese native Junwei Yu's Playing in Isolation presents a comprehensive account of that relationship. While giving due credit to the great successes in Taiwanese baseball, Yu also addresses the scandals and controversies that have plagued the sport, including game fixing, improper recruitment practices, and the age-deception fiasco that tainted Taiwan's seventeen Little League World Series wins. In addition Yu draws attention to the influence traditional culture exerts on parental support of sports versus education and more sedentary occupations. Drawing on detailed research and personal experience, Yu provides a rare, honest look at the reality of baseball in Taiwan and offers an insider's perspective on a unique part of baseball history.

Author Biography

Junwei Yu is an assistant professor in the Department of Recreation and Sport Management at Shu Te University in Taiwan. He has served as an official scorer in the International Baseball Association Under-16 Tournament and as an interpreter for the 2001 World Baseball Cup.

by Warren Jay Goldstein (Author)

In the late 1850s organized baseball was a club-based fraternal sport thriving in the cultures of respectable artisans, clerks and shopkeepers, and middle-class sportsmen. Two decades later it had become an entertainment business run by owners and managers, depending on gate receipts and the increasingly disciplined labor of skilled player-employees. Playing for Keeps is an insightful, in-depth account of the game that became America's premier spectator sport for nearly a century.

Reconstructing the culture and experience of early baseball through a careful reading of the sporting press, baseball guides, and the correspondence of the player-manager Harry Wright, Warren Goldstein discovers the origins of many modern controversies during the game's earliest decades.

The 20th Anniversary Edition of Goldstein's classic includes information about the changes that have occurred in the history of the sport since the 1980s and an account of his experience as a scholarly consultant during the production of Ken Burns's Baseball.

Author Biography

Warren Goldstein is Professor of History and Chair of the History Department in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Hartford. He is the author of William Sloane Coffin, Jr.: A Holy Impatience and coauthor (with Elliott Gorn) of A Brief History of American Sports.

by Bill Nowlin (Editor), Len Levin (Editor), Carl Riechers (Editor)

Baseball in Puerto Rico has a long history, dating back to the nineteenth century and now extending into the twenty-first. As of the end of 2016, there have been 323 players born in Puerto Rico or descended from Puerto Rican natives who have played in the major leagues. But there are thousands of Puerto Rican professional players who have played in the Caribbean and other professional leagues, including the minor leagues in the United States.

by Rick Harris (Author)

Woonsocket native Gabby Hartnett set the world record by catching a baseball thrown from a blimp eight hundred feet above him. Then he did it again. Rhode Island Baseball possesses the same knack for astonishing you time after time with stories of baseball legends you thought you knew (like Nap Lajoie) and teams you might never have heard of (like the OSRC: Orcutt's Sure Rheumatism Cure). As you slide back into an era when men and women played professional ball barehanded and a rabbit hole could change a game, you will discover how large a role America's smallest state played in the nation's favorite pastime.

by Dayn Perry (Author)

"Dayn Perry, a damn fine writer, brings an insightful, fresh analysis to the career of Mr. October."
--Peter Golenbock, author of George: The Poor Little Rich Boy Who Built the Yankee Empire

FoxSports.com baseball analyst and author of Winners: How Good Baseball Teams Become Great Ones, Dayn Perry brings us Reggie Jackson in all his glory--a thrilling, in-depth biography of the controversial New York Yankee slugger. A monumental sports story filled with such stellar baseball names as George Steinbrenner, Billy Martin, Jim "Catfish" Hunter, Thurman Munson, and Bucky Dent, Reggie Jackson is the first to cover the entire career of the colorful, outspoken athlete whom The Sporting News listed as one of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players of all time.

Back Jacket

An outspoken iconoclast whose disregard for convention made him as many enemies as friends among the colorful characters of the game, Reggie Jackson was a cantankerous upstart full of swagger with a fearsome talent to match. The Baseball Hall of Famer earned the name "Mr. October" for the crucial clutch hitting that led his teams to the World Series six times and won him two series MVP awards. But most people don't really know the man behind the bat--a great athlete struggling to find his place in the world, at home, and in the sport that made him a star.

Now, in the first biography of Reggie Jackson in more than twenty-five years--and the first to cover his entire career as a player--FOXSports.com columnist Dayn Perry provides an intimate, honest, and never-before-seen glimpse into the life and times of one of baseball's all-time greats.

by Robert P. Broadwater (Author)

Ralph Kiner (1922-2014) was one of the most feared power hitters of his era. Babe Ruth predicted Kiner would be the slugger most likely to break Ruth's single season home run record. While the left fielder from New Mexico missed that mark, he did break one of the Babe's records, leading his league in home runs for seven consecutive seasons--a record unbroken since.

Kiner set his records while playing for some of the worst teams ever to take the field. With little support in the Pittsburgh Pirates lineup, pitchers were often able to work around Kiner, walking him dozens of times per season. Despite this, Kiner made them pay for their mistakes, sending towering flies over the fences.

After just 10 years in the league, Kiner's career on the field was cut short by chronic back pain. At retirement, his 369 home runs placed him sixth on the all-time list. He didn't leave baseball, however, serving as general manager of a minor league team and later announcing for the newly formed New York Mets in 1962, where he would be the voice of the team for more than fifty years. This is his story.

Author Biography

The late Robert P. Broadwater wrote more than 35 books of military history and more than 100 magazine articles dealing with the American Civil War and the Revolutionary War. He lived in Pennsylvania.

by Barbara Gregorich (Author)

This eye-opening collection of original author research materials on women pioneers in sports excites baseball fans and historians as well as English teachers and fans interested in the brassy, sassy women who had the audacity to play on men's baseball teams rather than on bloomer girl teams. Among them:

- Alta Weiss, the Ohio-born future doctor whose father bought her a baseball team so she could pitch to her heart's content.

- Jackie Mitchell, the shy Southerner who struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in an exhibition game.

- Babe Didrikson, the not-at-all-shy Southerner who, after her Olympic Games wins, pitched batting practice for several Major League teams, then turned to barnstorming with the House of David Baseball Team.

Original newspaper and magazine articles sparkle with sports terms of the 1910s-

Fascinating baseball details from the past. Primary source materials for English teachers and all those interested in women in sports.

Author Biography

Barbara Gregorich's baseball writing started with the well-received novel, She's on First. This story of the first female major leaguer was praised by Publishers Weekly, which wrote that "all baseball fans will appreciate Gregorich's sure feel for the game . . . the baseball scenes are crackerjack, and readers should end up wondering, 'Why not?'" After writing the fictional version of women in baseball, Gregorich began the long job of researching the true story of women who played hardball. The result of that research was Women at Play: The Story of Women in Baseball, published by Harcourt, 1993. Women at Play won the SABR-Macmillan Award for Best Baseball Research of the Year. In 2013 Women at Play was included in Ron Kaplan's 501 Baseball Books Fans Must Read before They Die. The work that went into researching women who played baseball (from 1875 onward) was intense, and the accumulated articles filled several file boxes. In 2010 Gregorich published Research Notes for Women at Play: The Story of Women in Baseball, Volume I, offering the most important of the newspaper articles she had found - some in their entirety and some in summary. This, Volume II of Research Notes, brings the story of women in baseball into the early 20th century, featuring news-making heroes such as Alta Weiss, Jackie Mitchell, and Babe Didrikson. 
Gregorich studied at Kent State University, the University of Wisconsin, and Harvard. She worked as an English instructor, a typesetter and a letter carrier. She lives in Chicago with her husband, Phil Passen.

by Barbara Gregorich (Author)

This eye-opening collection of original author research materials on women pioneers in sports excites baseball fans and historians as well as English teachers and all those interested in the untold stories of women - in this case, of women who defied all odds, played baseball, and made history.

- Maud Nelson, the single most important person in the history of women in baseball, ended her 50-year career in 1934 - but not before finding

- Rose Gacioch, the 18-year-old pitcher/outfielder who hit inside-the-park home runs and then went on to join the Rockford Peaches of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League.

Through original newspaper and magazine articles as well as government reports, Volume 3 of Research Notes for Women at Play brings to life triumphs at home and tragedy abroad.

These fascinating baseball stories from the past are primary source materials for English teachers and all those interested in women in sports.

Author Biography

Barbara Gregorich's baseball writing started with the well-received novel She's on First. This story of the first female major leaguer was praised by Publishers Weekly, which wrote that "all baseball fans will appreciate Gregorich's sure feel for the game . . . the baseball scenes are crackerjack, and readers should end up wondering, 'Why not?'" After writing the fictional version of women in baseball, Gregorich began the long job of researching the true story of women who played hardball. The result of that research was Women at Play: The Story of Women in Baseball, published by Harcourt, 1993. Women at Play won the SABR-Macmillan Award for Best Baseball Research of the Year. In 2013 Women at Play was included in Ron Kaplan's 501 Baseball Books Fans Must Read before They Die. The work that went into researching women who played baseball (from 1875 onward) was intense, and the accumulated articles filled several file boxes. In 2010 Gregorich published Research Notes for Women at Play: The Story of Women in Baseball, Volume I, offering the most important of the newspaper articles she had found - some in their entirety and some in summary. Volume II followed in 2013 and Volume III in 2015, concluding the Research Notes series. In addition to writing about baseball, Gregorich has written the mystery novels Dirty Proof and Sound Proof. She has also written the well-received Guide to Writing the Mystery Novel: Lots of Examples, Plus Dead Bodies. 
Gregorich studied at Kent State University, the University of Wisconsin, and Harvard. She worked as an English instructor, a typesetter and a letter carrier. She lives in Chicago with her husband, Phil Passen.

by Chris Donnelly (Author)

Named a Best Baseball Book of 2023 by Sports Collectors Digest

Author Biography

Chris Donnelly is the author of Doc, Donnie, the Kid, and Billy Brawl: How the 1985 Mets and Yankees Fought for New York's Baseball Soul (Nebraska, 2019), How the Yankees Explain New York, and Baseball's Greatest Series: Yankees, Mariners, and the 1995 Matchup That Changed History.

by Rob Neyer (Author)

The latest and greatest in ESPN.com baseball guru Rob Neyer's Big Book series, Legends is a highly entertaining guide to baseball fables that have been handed down through generations.The well-told baseball story has long been a staple for baseball fans. In Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Legends, Neyer breathes new life into both classic and obscure stories throughout twentieth-century baseball--stories that, while engaging on their own, also tell us fascinating things about their main characters and about the sport's incredibly rich history. With his signature style, Rob gets to the heart of every anecdote, working through the particulars with careful research drawn from a variety of primary sources. For each story, he asks: Did this really happen? Did it happen, sort of? Or was the story simply the wild invention of someone's imagination? Among the scores of legends Neyer questions and investigates... -Did an errant Bob Feller pitch really destroy the career of a National League All-Star? -Did Greg Maddux mean to give up a long blast to Jeff Bagwell? -Was Fred Lynn the clutch player he thinks he was? -Did Tommy Lasorda have a direct line to God? -Did Negro Leaguer Gene Benson really knock Indians second baseman Johnny Berardino out of baseball and into General Hospital? -Did Billy Martin really outplay Jackie Robinson every time they met? -Oh, and what about Babe Ruth's "Called Shot"? Rob checks each story, separates the truths from the myths, and places their fascinating characters into the larger historical context. Filled with insider lore and Neyer's sharp wit and insights, this is an exciting addition to a superb series and an essential read for true fans of our national pastime.

Author Biography

Rob Neyer has written about baseball for ESPN.com since 1996 and appears regularly on ESPNews. He has written four baseball books, including The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers (with Bill James) and Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Lineups. His website, RobNeyer.com, contains additional material related to these and his other books.

by Kevin Reavy (Author), Jack Fritz (Author), Scott Franzke (Foreword by)

Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said, "It's not the destination, it's the journey."

Author Biography

Kevin Reavy, a Chester County native and lifelong Philadelphia sports fan, is the co-author of Incredible Baseball Stats (with Ryan Spaeder) and This Day in Philadelphia Sports (with Brian Startare). His writing and media credits include contributions to Fusion magazine and CBS Local's Sports Verdict.

by Ed Nielsen (Author), Larry Gabe (Author)

If you are coaching youngsters and are looking for fundamental baseball or softball drills that teach every position and skill set, this is the book. It has everything you need in a single volume. Practicing for Perfection has a minimum of two fundamental drills for each position and skill set to increase your teaching ability as a coach. There are fundamentals of the game that, when taught and implemented, make the difference between winning and losing. Read the chapter Little Things Analytics, a first for baseball and softball, which tells you why teams who do the little things best win the games. The book even includes a practice planner that should be used to preplan every practice. Just playing the game will improve a player's performance, but it will take a long time to reach any level of proficiency. Meanwhile, the player's team probably will not be too successful. This book will shorten the learning curve dramatically, from years to just weeks. Players who practice these drills diligently will maximize their natural athletic abilities and have an advantage over nearly every opponent they face. The narrative is written clearly and concisely, amplified with over 60 photographs that demonstrate exactly what the narrative says. A player, coach, or parent can read AND see exactly what needs to be done. You might need to buy quite a few books to get all the information contained in just this volume, but you don't need 10-12 different books. Practicing for Perfection is one-stop shopping at its best.

by Gabriel B. Costa (Author), Michael R. Huber (Author), John T. Saccoman (Author)

The past 30 years have seen an explosion in the number and variety of baseball books and articles. Following the lead of pioneers Bill James, John Thorn, and Pete Palmer, researchers have steadily challenged the ways we think about player and team performance--and along the way revised what we thought we knew of baseball history.

This book by the authors of Understanding Sabermetrics (2008) goes beyond the explanation of new statistics to demonstrate their use in solving some of the more familiar problems of baseball research, such as how to compare players across generations; how to account for the effects of ballparks and rules changes; and how to measure the effectiveness of the sacrifice bunt or the range of the Gold Glove-winning shortstop.

Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Author Biography

SABR member Gabriel B. Costa is a catholic priest and a professor of mathematical sciences at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Michael R. Huber is a retired professor of mathematics at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He has been studying sabermetrics for more than 20 years and is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research. John T. Saccoman is a professor in the department of mathematics and computer science at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey.

by Scott D. Peterson (Author)

When the members of the first baseball players' union formed their own league in open revolt against the reserve clause and other restrictive practices of the National League, baseball journalism became less of a "curiosity shop" phenomenon and moved into the mainstream. Baseball writers Henry Chadwick, T.H. Murnane, and Ella Black covered the labor struggle on the field and in the front offices--and took sides: one as a mouthpiece for the capitalist owners, one as a supporter of the cooperatively operated Players' League, and one as a voice for female journalists. Through a close examination of their work, this book charts the rise of sports journalism in response to the famed Brotherhood War of 1890.

Author Biography

Scott D. Peterson is an associate professor in the Department of English at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis. The author of several articles on baseball literature and culture published in Nine, he is also the fiction editor for Aethlon, the journal of the Sport Literature Association. He lives in Saint Louis, Missouri.

by Jack Heyde (Author)

Pop Flies and Line Drives recounts highlights of the author's personal visits with former professional baseball players who played in the 1940s and '50s when he was growing up.

by Keith Hernandez (Author)

Former All-Star Keith Hernandez teaches even the most learned fan a thing or two about baseball with his unparalleled insight into all aspects of the game, from the action in the bullpen to the positioning on the field to the plays at the plate.

"We have never seen the game scrutinized with such care and detail. Hernandez provides commentary on two ball games in the 1993 season: a Phillies-Braves match-up and an extra innings battle between the Tigers and the Yankees. [He] examines the overall strategies of the game and offers good analyses of fielding techniques, base stealing, lineups, umpiring etiquette, double-steal rundowns, hit-and-runs, signals, infield shifts and more. His most intense and incisive analysis, however, is saved for the psychology of the pitcher-hitter duels. No matter where you are watching, you will never again see the game in the same way." --Playboy

by Steven R. Bullock (Author)

Just two months after the magical baseball season of 1941, the United States entered World War II, and baseball, like other American institutions, was called upon to sacrifice and serve in the war effort. Utilizing personal accounts, military documents, and newspaper sources, Playing for Their Nation provides the first in-depth analysis of the development of military baseball during the Second World War.

Steven R. Bullock describes how virtually every significant American military installation around the world boasted formal baseball teams and leagues designed to soothe the anxieties of combatants and prepare them physically for battle. Officials also sponsored hundreds of exhibition contests involving military and civilian teams and tours by major league stars to entertain servicemen and elevate their spirits.

Fund-raising by the Major Leagues proved remarkably successful in the encouragement of war bond sales and in donations of equipment for military teams. By the end of the war, more than ninety percent of the players on prewar Major League rosters served in the armed forces, and Bullock relates the wartime experiences of the players, such as Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. Also provided is the statistical analysis of the negative impact of the war on the careers of Major League players in terms of their reduced productivity and shortened careers.

Proving itself to be much more than a game, baseball offered comfort and pride to a military, and a nation, gripped by war.

Author Biography

Steven R. Bullock is an assistant professor of history at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

by Mark L. Armour (Editor)

This is a collection of more than 170 photos and two dozen essays and which tell the 120-year history of baseball in the Pacific Northwest. The stories range chronologically from the origins of the professional game in the region in the 1890s through the account of the 2001 season of the Seattle Mariners and focus on baseball in Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Tacoma, and Vancouver, British Columbia.

by Babe Ruth (Author), William R. Cobb (Editor), Paul Dickson (Introduction by)

The Sultan of Swat's breezy memoirs, rich with recollections of his childhood, his transition from pitcher to outfielder, and the blockbuster trade that sent him from the Red Sox to the Yankees.

Author Biography

George Herman Ruth, Jr., (February 6, 1895-August 16, 1948) was perhaps the most popular baseball player of all time. The Babe won seven World Series with the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. Ruth's 714 career home runs stood as a record for 39 years, and he was one of the first five players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

by Pete Rose (Author)

A New York Times Bestseller

Author Biography

Pete Rose grew up in Cincinnati and went on to star for the hometown Reds and later the Philadelphia Phillies. He holds the all-time baseball records for most hits in a career (4,256), most singles (3,215), most games played (3,562), most at-bats (14,053), and most outs (10,328). Rose made his major-league debut for the Reds in April 1963, a week before his twenty-second birthday, and he was forty-five when he made his last major-league appearance in August 1986, also for the Reds. He appeared in seventeen different All-Star Games, and played on three teams that won the World Series.

by Marc MacYoung (Author)

Growing up in the streets of Los Angeles Marc "Animal" MacYoung learned a harsh - and usually ignored - reality about weapons. That is: you're more likely to be attacked by one than you are to attack with one. Being attacked by an improvised weapon is a game changer. It's not all about offense, you have stop the incoming attack, or you'll never get the chance to stop the attacker. This also means the mechanics of defense change drastically. An empty handed block against a tire iron will shatter your arm. You need an item to take that force instead of you.Pool Cues, Beer Bottles, and Baseball Bats is about how to use what's in your environment to defend yourself when you are attacked with a weapon.

by Rob Neyer (Author)

You love to argue about the game and its players, delving into baseball history and lore in search of support for your points of view. You'll find plenty of food for thought -- and argument! -- in Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Lineups.
- All-time Red Sox starting pitcher -- Pedro or the Rocket?
- Gold Glovers -- who looked like one, who was one, and who ought to have been one?
- Lopsided trades that'll sting forever, and phenoms who seemed so real
- Classic nicknames -- from "Charlie Hustle" to "Big Hurt" to "The Mad Hungarian"
Neyer presents a series of lineups for each franchise -- from the All-Time and the All-Rookie to the All-Bust and the Traded Away. In notes, sidebars, and essays, he explores the careers of players both famous and obscure. The book includes information on all thirty current teams, as well as a special section covering legendary clubs like the Brooklyn Dodgers and Washington Senators. Neyer's Big Book is an unparalleled reference for settling the debates that arise every day in the lives of baseball fans.

Author Biography

Rob Neyer has written about baseball for ESPN.com since 1996 and appears regularly on ESPNews. He has written four baseball books, including The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers (with Bill James) and Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Lineups. His website, RobNeyer.com, contains additional material related to these and his other books.

by Harvey Frommer (Author), Monte Irvin (Foreword by)

Blending exclusive rare interviews with Rachel Robinson (Jackie's widow), Mack Robinson (Jackie's brother), Hall of Famers Monte Irvin, Duke Snider, Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella, Ralph Kiner, and others, celebrated author Harvey Frommer evokes the lives of general manager Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson by describing how they worked together to shatter baseball's color line. Rickey and Robinson is a dual biography tracing the convergence of the lives of two of baseball's most influential individuals in a marker moment in sports and cultural history.

Author Biography

Harvey Frommer is a noted sports author and oral historian. He has written more than forty-two sports books, including Remembering Yankee Stadium and Remembering Fenway Park, and was coauthor of the autobiographies of Red Holzman, Nolan Ryan, and Tony Dorsett. Cited in the Congressional Record and by the New York State Legislature as a sports historian and journalist, Dr. Frommer is a professor in the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Program at Dartmouth College. He lives in Lyme, New Hampshire, with his wife, Myrna.

by Don Bolden (Author)

Remembering Alamance County is a collection of historical stories that takes readers on a delightful journey through the years to meet a variety of interesting people and revisit some of the fascinating events that have helped to shape the story of this beloved county in the Tar Heel State.

As history has progressed, so has Alamance County, and its citizens have witnessed scores of changes. Time has seen the county evolve from a quaint railroad community into a major textile center, with horse-drawn buggies giving way to streetcars, which all but disappeared with the advent of automobiles. Readers of this collection can turn back the clock and visit C.F. Pete Neese, the first child born in Burlington; Dr. Floyd Scott, who helped to bring the modern world to his country practice; Tom Zachary, who threw the pitch that put Babe Ruth in the record books and presidential candidate Lyndon B. Johnson, who rolled through Alamance County on the campaign trail.

Some of the stories reflect major events in not only in the county s history, but in the nation s history as well. And tucked between the big names and big to-dos are some little-known tales that have contributed to make Alamance County the place it is today. Remembering Alamance County is a fond look at the history of a unique section of the North Carolina piedmont, sure to please old-timers and newcomers alike."

by Tom Thress (Author)

Baseball analysts often criticize pitcher win-loss records as a poor measure of pitcher performance, as wins are the product of team performance. Fans criticize WAR (Wins Above Replacement) because it takes in theoretical rather than actual wins.

Player won-lost records bridge the gap between these two schools of thought, giving credit to all players for what they do--without credit or blame for teammates' performance--and measuring contributions to actual team wins and losses. The result is a statistic of player value that quantifies all aspects of individual performance, allowing for robust comparisons between players across different positions and different seasons. Using play-by-play data, this book examines players' won-lost records in Major League Baseball from 1930 through 2015.

Author Biography

Economist Tom Thress, has been a SABR member since 2003 and has had research published in By the Numbers and the Baseball Research Journal. He lives in Portland, Maine.

by Tim O'Brien (Author), John Graziano (Illustrator)

It's like deja vu all over again! Just in time for the 2016 Baseball Season!

Baseball is a sport that naturally lends itself to oddities, rituals, superstitions, and unique happenings. It's a long season and a lot can happen!

Here's a sampling of what you'll find in this unique book of obscure oddities:

* A foul ball crashed into a fan's face. As she was being carried out on a stretcher, she was hit by another ball hit by the same batter!

* One Major League player sleeps with his bats.

* Hear about the error-prone outfielder who received a standing ovation for catching a hotdog wrapper on the fly.

* No fans were allowed to attend a 2015 Major League game due to local safety concerns, and the game went on in front of 46,000 empty seats!

* There was a four-day period when every American League game was rained out.

* A player pitches a perfect game and goes home to find that his wife filed divorce papers while he was making baseball history.

* The MLB team with the highest payroll pays out $57 million more than three of its league's teams - combined.

* In a special "Bat" section, we learn that each team orders 150 bats a year for each of its hitters.

In all, this new volume of Baseball Oddities & Trivia presents more than 350 fun, all new, weird and strange Believe It or Nots! plus more than 50 illlustrations drawn by John Graziano, Ripley's official cartoonist.

Tim O'Brien and Ripley's take readers on another journey down the offbeat and bizarre, but 100% factual road through the world of baseball players, coaches, owners, teams, stadiums and fans! No one does the odd and trivial better than Ripley!

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Baseball Oddities & Trivia - Ball Two! is far from a conventional trivia book. It's an oddities publication with the spirit of a traditional Ripley book throughout! With a whole lot of totally unbelievable and mind-boggling facts, this Believe It or Not! book stands out from the rest in sports publishing.

While best known for his artistic endeavors and the coining of the popular Believe It or Not! phrase, Robert Ripley's move to New York City in early 1914 marked his determination to play professional baseball. His career with the New York Giants in 1914 ended abruptly in his very first game when a hard-hit line drive smashed his pitching arm. With his baseball career apparently over, he landed an illustrators job at the New York Globe in the sports department where he was soon combining his passion for sports with his love for the odd and unusual.

This entire book is dedicated to the bizarre, colorful and entertaining universe of baseball oddities and trivia.

by John Brocato (Author)

From the trips as a small child to visit his grandparents in Minnesota and Arkansas, John developed an interest in discovering places along the way. Later on, John combined his fandom for the Kansas City Royals with his love for travel and began exploring the different baseball stadiums and many places along the way. This book takes readers through some of John's most memorable baseball games, many involving the Royals. Of course, John has visited sports attractions such as the Baseball and Pro Football Halls of Fame-and the National Ballpark Museum in Denver. Unexpected things, some good and some bad, usually happen along the way. Through his travels, John shares experiences from major cities like New York, Chicago, and Toronto, and small towns located well off the interstate. Recollections include the best-known landmarks like Independence Hall and Space Needle and lesser-known wonders like the American Gothic Home and National Presidents Hall of Fame. Readers will discover a Michigan city with a unique name and the world's largest version of a familiar household item. Road Trips, Routes, and Royals will make readers want to plan a trip and watch some baseball.

by Jupiter Kids (Author)

Take the excitement of the baseball field and trap it in the pages of this wonderful coloring book. Coloring is a rewarding activity that helps you learn the values of patience, control and self-confidence too. It also improves hand and eye coordination as well as fine motor and communication skills. Secure a copy of this coloring book today!

by Tim O'Brien (Author), John Graziano (Illustrator)

"Ripley's Believe it or Not! and Tim O'Brien offer an offbeat and bizarre, but 100% factual journey through the world of baseball players, coaches, owners, teams, stadiums and fans! For the first time ever, Ripley has dedicated a book specifically to one of Robert Ripley's favorite subjects - baseball. Not falling into the category of a conventional trivia book, this one has the spirit of a traditional Ripley book throughout! No one does the odd and trivial better than Ripley! With a whole lot of totally unbelievable and mind-boggling facts, this Believe It or Not! book is a first of its kind in sports publishing. While best known for his artistic endeavors and the coining of the popular Believe It or Not! phrase, Robert Ripley's move to New York City in early 1914 marked his determination to play professional baseball. He tried out for the New York Giants in 1914 and made the team but had his pitching arm shattered by a line drive in his very first appearance. With his baseball career apparently over, he landed an illustrator's job at the New York Globe in the sports department where he soon was combining his passion for sports with his love for the odd and unusual. With more than 350 Believe It or Nots! and original illustrations by Ripley's official cartoonist John Graziano, the entire book is dedicated to the bizarre, colorful and entertaining universe of baseball oddities and trivia."

by Carroll Conklin (Author)

These were the heroes who owned the summers of the 1960s. Bob Purkey and Frank Robinson. Johnny Edwards and Jim Maloney. Joey Jay and Vada Pinson. Pete Rose and Tony Perez.During the summers of the 1960s, the heroes of Cincinnati wore Reds uniforms. On their best days (which were, admittedly, too few after 1961), they were entertaining and inspiring. They smote hated rivals and sent their best to the All-Star game, in the decade when that mid-summer classic moved under the lights ... and into prime time.On their worst days, these Reds heroes broke our hearts, squandering late-inning leads and pre-season hopes ... but they never lost our devotion.They were the heroes of our youth. Now their stories are collected in Reds Heroes: Remembering the Cincinnati Reds Who Helped Make the 1960s Baseball's Real Golden Age. The book profiles the best (and a few of the worst) of the Cincinnati Reds of the 1960s. In all, there are 74 profiles of the infielders, outfielders, catchers and pitchers who played for the Reds in the 1960s.Do you remember ...The right-handed fireballer who pitched a pair of no-hitters plus a 10-inning hitless game that he lost 1-0 in the eleventh? (page 96)The All-Star center fielder who led the major leagues in triples twice? (page 43)The knuckle-baller who won 23 games in 1963? (page 116)The 150-pound, four-time All-Star shortstop who batted in 81 runs in 1966? (page 9)The pitcher who notched the Reds' only victory in the 1961 World Series? (page 91)The switch-hitter who won a pair of National League batting titles in the 1960s? (page 24)The relief pitcher who was also a best-selling author? (page 77)The All-Star catcher who won a Gold Glove his rookie season? (page 66)The slugging first baseman who, according to Pete Rose, was the hardest hitter in baseball? (page 15)The Hall of Fame slugger who hit 316 home runs during the 1960s ... 190 with the Reds? (page 49)Their stories are here. Enjoy the memories.

by Rob Neyer (Author)

BLOOPER: BALL SQUIRTS THROUGH BILLY BUCKNER'S LEGS.
BLUNDER: BILLY BUCKNER'S MANAGER LEFT HIM IN THE GAME.

Author Biography

Rob Neyer has written about baseball for ESPN.com since 1996 and appears regularly on ESPNews. He has written four baseball books, including The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers (with Bill James) and Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Lineups. His website, RobNeyer.com, contains additional material related to these and his other books.

by Gabriel B. Costa (Author), Michael R. Huber (Author), John T. Saccoman (Author)

Sabermetrics, the specialized analysis of baseball through empirical evidence, provides an impartial perspective from which to explore the game. In this work, the third in a series, three mathematicians employ statistical science in an attempt to answer some of baseball's toughest questions. For instance, how good were the 1961 New York Yankees? How bad were the 1962 Mets? Which team was the best of the Deadball Era? They also strive to determine baseball's greatest player at various positions. Throughout, the objective evidence allows for debate devoid of emotion and personal biases, providing a fresh, balanced evaluation of these and many other challenging questions.

Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Author Biography

SABR member Gabriel B. Costa is a catholic priest and a professor of mathematical sciences at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Michael R. Huber is a retired professor of mathematics at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He has been studying sabermetrics for more than 20 years and is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research. John T. Saccoman is a professor in the department of mathematics and computer science at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey.

by John Kocsis (Author)

For the reader interested in learning more about working in sports--or the fan that wants a look at what those inside the radio booth go through day-to-day--this book contains the secrets and successes of minor league baseball broadcasters with a combined century of experience telling the story of America's pastime. A host of decorated industry veterans discuss their careers, sharing tales of baseball greats from before they were famous, players who didn't make it past Class-A, the zaniest promotional exercises to hit the market, some of small-town America's greatest cuisine, the highs of winning a championship and the lows of being stranded on the highway for hours.

Author Biography

John Kocsis, Jr., is a baseball broadcaster with experience covering the West Virginia Power, Hagerstown Suns, and Columbia Fireflies. He lives in Columbia, South Carolina.

by Steve Dunn (Author)

Baseball fans in general and Chicago Cub fans in particular will enjoy author Steve Dunn's account of the 116-year history of professional baseball in Des Moines, Iowa. 'Pug, ' 'Fireball, ' and Company: 116 Years of Professional Baseball in Des Moines, Iowa, describes the teams, players, managers, owners, ballparks, and events that have entertained millions of fans at nine locations since 1887. The long list of stars that have played or managed in Des Moines includes Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bob Feller, Satchel Paige, Red Faber, Buck O'Neil, Ryne Sandberg, Tony LaRussa, Charlie Grimm, and Stan Hack. "It's an incredible book with some world-class firsthand information on baseball," Sarah Roger has said.

by Carroll Conklin (Author)

These were the heroes who owned the summers of the 1960s. Brooks Robinson and Dave McNally. Boog Powell and Hoyt Wilhelm. Milt Pappas and Frank Robinson. Luis Aparicio and Steve Barber.During the summers of the 1960s, the heroes of Baltimore wore Orioles uniforms. On their best days (which, except for 1966, were admittedly too few), they were entertaining and inspiring. They smote hated rivals and sent their best to the All-Star game, in the decade when that mid-summer classic moved under the lights ... and into prime time.On their worst days, these Orioles heroes broke our hearts, squandering late-inning leads and pre-season hopes ... but they never lost our devotion.They were the heroes of our youth. Now their stories are collected in Orioles Heroes: Remembering the Baltimore Orioles Who Helped Make the 1960s Baseball's Real Golden Age. The book profiles the best (and a few of the worst) of the Baltimore Orioles of the 1960s. In all, there are 66 profiles of the infielders, outfielders, catchers and pitchers who played for the Baltimore Orioles in the 1960s.Do you remember ...The hard-throwing right-hander who led the American League in wins in 1960? (page 78)The Gold Glove third baseman who was a 15-time All-Star and 1964 Most Valuable Player? (page 21)The shortstop who led the league in stolen bases 9 times and earned 9 Gold Gloves (2 in Baltimore)? (page 10)The All-Star outfielder who led the American League in RBIs (and a couple other categories) in 1966? (page 44)The hard-luck right-hander who had his only winning season (1960) with the Orioles ... despite a 4.06 career ERA? (page 96)The slugging first baseman who hit 4 home runs in one game in 1962? (page 12)The bullpen ace who won 17 games in 3 seasons as a reliever for the Orioles, and won 26 games in 2 seasons as a starter ... including a no-hitter? (page 113)The hard-hitting first baseman who was a 4-time All-Star and hit 303 home runs for the Orioles? (page 19)The right-hander who won 110 games for the Orioles and then was traded for a future Triple Crown winner? (page 102)The veteran pitcher who set a record striking out 6 consecutive batters in relief during the 1966 World Series? (page 78)Their stories are here. Enjoy the memories.

Author Biography

Carroll Conklin combines a life-long passion for baseball with a three-decade career as a professional writer. A graduate of Ashland University and Bowling Green State University, Carroll has spent more than 20 years as an advertising copywriter and marketing strategist. He has taught copywriting and brand theory at The Ohio State University and the Columbus College of Art & Design. A prolific author, Carroll has also written books on topics ranging from marketing management to fear elimination. He preaches the "gospel" of the 1960s as baseball's real golden age at www.1960sBaseball.com.

by Eddie Frierson (Editor), Christy Mathewson (Author)

Christy Mathewson's famous book of "Baseball From the Inside," originally published in 1912, now presented in a brand new edition by historian, actor, writer and biographer Eddie Frierson with additional writings by Matty never before published in book form. This is a grand piece of history experienced by one of the greatest ballplayers that has ever lived. Christy Mathewson was more than baseball during his lifetime. He was the most recognizable American across the globe (along with Teddy Roosevelt) during the first two decades of the 20th Century. His insights on life and the lessons he taught continue to inspire those who discover him today. The Mathewson Foundation brings you this all new edition (commemorating the 100th anniversary of Matty's passing on October 7, 1925) and hopes to introduce you, the reader, to a new friend and fascinating man.