Baseball

by S. A. Kramer (Author)

This Step into Reading Step 5 Sports Reader profiles the greatest hitters in baseball: Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron. Now updated to include Miguel Cabrera, who made baseball history by achieving the Triple Crown in 2012, and up-and-comer Mike Trout. This star-studded survey remains contemporary by addressing the use of performance-enhancing drugs by some of baseball's top stars.

Author Biography

S. A. KRAMER is the author of many nonfiction early readers on topics as varied as submarines and the first summit of Mount Everest. She has written many sports readers, including the recently revised edition of Basketball's Greatest Players. Kramer lives in Brooklyn, New York.

by Jules Tygiel (Author)

In this gripping account of one of the most important steps in the history of American desegregation, Jules Tygiel tells the story of Jackie Robinson's crossing of baseball's color line. Examining the social and historical context of Robinson's introduction into white organized baseball, both on and off the field, Tygiel also tells the often neglected stories of other African-American players--such as Satchel Paige, Roy Campanella, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron--who helped transform our national pastime into an integrated game. Drawing on dozens of interviews with players and front office executives, contemporary newspaper accounts, and personal papers, Tygiel provides the most telling and insightful account of Jackie Robinson's influence on American baseball and society. The anniversary issue features a new foreword by the author.

Author Biography

Jules Tygiel, a native of Brooklyn, is Professor of History at San Francisco State University and founder of the Pacific Ghost League. He is the author of The Great Los Angeles Swindle: Oil, Stocks, and Scandal During the Roaring Twenties.

by Eddie Mitchell (Author)

During the 19th century, baseball was a game with few rules, many rowdy players and just one umpire. Dirty tricks were simply part of a winning strategy--spiking, body-blocking, cutting bases short or hiding an extra ball to be used when needed were all OK. Deliberately failing to catch a fly in order to have the game called due to darkness was also acceptable. And drinking before a game was perhaps expected. Providing brief bios of dozens of players, managers, umpires and owners, this book chronicles some of the flamboyant, unruly and occasionally criminal behavior of baseball's early years.

Author Biography

Eddie Mitchell has been a baseball fan for 63 years. Upon retirement he took up his passion by being an assistant high school coach for 12 years, helping to win four state championships. He lives in Suffolk, Virginia.

by Society for American Baseball Research ( (Author)

Babe Ruth continues to interest and fascinate us over 100 years after his fateful trade from Boston to New York. As Michael Haupert writes in "The Business of Being the Babe," "Babe Ruth is frequently lauded as the greatest player in Major League Baseball history, and arguably the first true superstar athlete. Ruth transcended the game of baseball, and with the aid of agent Christy Walsh, he profited tremendously from that transcendence. Whether barnstorming, making movies, or modeling underwear, Ruth had a Midas touch that allowed his income to exceed even his famously outsized spending habits."

by Society for American Baseball Research ( (Author)

Harvey Haddix pitched one of the most notable "near perfect" games in professional baseball history when he completed 12 perfect innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 26, 1959. Unfortuantely, Haddix lost the perfecto and the Pirates lost the game in the 13th inning. Although Major League Baseball decreed that such performances be removed from the "official" no-hitters list, those games make for an intriguing list of their own. Haddix's career was not without other highlights. A three-time All-Star, and three-time Gold Glove winner, he was also the winning pitcher of Game Seven of the 1960 World Series.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

"The Death and Rebirth of the Home Team Batting First" by Gary Belleville

In the early days of baseball, it was common for a home-team captain to choose to bat first, rather than last. Games could be played with a single ball, and so being the first team to take swings at a new sphere was believed to be advantageous. However, in the late 1880s Henry Chadwick was a strong proponent of batting last. He passionately advocated his position in print several times in 1888. In the August 8 edition of Sporting Life, he wrote, "Will the League captains kindly... point out wherein going to the bat first in a match equals the desirable advantage of having a chance for a winning rally which going to the bat last gives a team?"

"Trades from Hell: A Tale of Two Cities" by William Shkurti

The major league baseball clubs of Cleveland and Cincinnati have much in common. In the 1960s both teams traded away popular homegrown slugging outfielders. The Indians traded away Rocky Colavito, and the Reds traded away Frank Robinson. In both cases the fan base reacted negatively. Both players thrived for their new teams while their old teams continued to struggle. And both trades are still ubiquitous today on lists of "worst trades of all time." Yet within a short period of time, the fate of these two clubs diverged. The Cincinnati Reds bounced back to enjoy a dominant decade of success as the Big Red Machine. The Cleveland Indians descended into a pattern of futility that lasted 35 years.

"Quantifying the Effect of Offseason Contract Extensions on Short-Term Player Performance" by Muyuan Li, Greg Plithides, and Max Plithides

Sabermetricians have studied the effects of free agency and long-term contracts on player performance, but they have spent far less time studying the effect of big offseason contract extensions on performance the following season. This line of inquiry has become increasingly important, as more contract extensions are being made and increasing amounts of money are being dedicated to them. In the 2019-20 offseason alone, pre-free agency player extensions amounted to $1.7 billion. Since 2020, many young stars including Wander Franco (21), Fernando Tatis Jr. (22), and Francisco Lindor (27) have foregone free agency to sign long-term deals with their clubs in excess of $200 million.

by Society for American Baseball Research ( (Author)

In this issue our cover story looks at the history of "Greenberg Gardens." After playing his whole career in Detroit, in 1947 Hank Greenberg was sold to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates installed an inner fence in a portion of Forbes Field, reducing the distance down the left field line of the ballpark by 30 feet, with intention of helping Greenberg to hit more home runs. The area between the new fence and the outer wall became known as Greenberg Gardens, and local newspapers kept a tally of how many Garden homers were hit. Greenberg retired after the 1947 season, but the Gardens remained through 1953.

by Ken Mochizuki (Author), Dom Lee (Illustrator)

Twenty-five years ago, Baseball Saved Us changed the picture-book landscape with its honest story of a Japanese American boy in a concentration camp during World War II. This anniversary edition will introduce new readers to this modern-day classic.

One day my dad looked out at the endless desert and decided then and there to build a baseball field.

"Shorty" and his family, along with thousands of other Japanese Americans, have been forced to relocate from their homes to a "camp" after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Fighting the heat, dust, and freezing cold nights of the desert, Shorty and the others at the camp need something to look forward to, even if only for nine innings. So they build a playing field, and in this unlikely place, a baseball league is formed. Surrounded by barbed-wire fences and guards in towers, Shorty soon finds that he is playing not only to win, but to gain dignity and self-respect as well.

Inspired by actual events, this moving story of hope and courage in a Japanese American internment camp during World War II reveals a long-hidden and ugly part of the American past. This 25th Anniversary Edition features a revised cover and a new introduction from the author and illustrator.

Author Biography

Ken Mochizuki is a writer, journalist, and former actor who made his picture-book debut with Baseball Saved Us. He is also the author of several other award-winning picture books published by Lee & Low, including Passage to Freedom and Heroes. Mochizuki lives in Maple Valley, Washington. His website is kenmochizuki.com.

Dom Lee made his picture-book debut with Baseball Saved Us. He grew up in Seoul, South Korea, and went on to illustrate books in both the United States and Korea. His titles for Lee & Low include Passage to Freedom and Heroes, as well as the award-winning Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds. Lee's unique illustration style involves applying encaustic beeswax on paper, then scratching out images, and finally coloring the images with oil paint. Lee and his wife live in Hollis, New York.

by Socute Planners- (Author)

This Baseball Score Book has many spaces on which you can record: *Hits*Runs*various plays of both the home and visiting teams. *Diamond shapes to note bases.* Pitchers, Catchers, can be written in, or, in the case. Journal features include:100 white pagesCover has a matte finishReliable binding

by Francis Faria (Author)

Basic baseball scorebook with pitch count and stats including at bats, hits, walks, RBIs, and runs scored. Space for 15 batters and a sub for each batter in the lineup.

by C. Gibbs (Author)

Baseball Short Stories For Kids

Are you in search of the perfect book to captivate and inspire your young baseball enthusiast?

Do you desire a book that not only engages your child's imagination but also imparts valuable life lessons?

Look no further! "Baseball Short Stories For Kids" is the ultimate treasure trove of heartwarming and motivational short stories, tailor-made for young baseball lovers. Within its pages, your child will discover gripping tales of triumph, perseverance, and teamwork that will leave a lasting impact.

You'll also encounter an extraordinary journey of an abundance of wacky, funny, and unbelievably interesting stories that will leave your kids in awe.

This Extraordinary Book Features:

• 20 captivating short stories exclusively centered around baseball
• Exquisite illustrations that bring each story to life, sparking your child's imagination
• Fascinating insights and untold anecdotes that shed new light on your child's favorite players
• A celebration of baseball's rich history, igniting a passion for the game and its timeless values
• Strange yet amusing stories that will leave your kids in delightful disbelief, wondering just how on earth these incredible moments came to be!

This book is the perfect gift for your young baseball aficionado, designed to inspire them both on and off the diamond. With every turn of the page, they will not only be entertained but also encouraged to embrace the power of determination, resilience, and teamwork.

Don't miss this opportunity to shape their love for the game and fuel their dreams. It's a must-have addition to every young fan's bookshelf.

Purchase your very own copy today and watch your child's love for baseball soar to new heights!

by Stephen Bratkovich (Author)

Fun-filled book for active puzzlers and baseball fans! From Word Finds and Crosswords to Baseball Rules and Trivia there is something for EVERYONE. With the questions in "Baseball Puzzles" divided into 'difficulty levels, ' a beginning rookie or a seasoned baseball fan will be entertained. And, all book profits will be donated to neurological diseases.

by Francis Faria (Author)

Basic baseball scorebook with pitch count and stats including at bats, hits, walks, RBIs, and runs scored. Space for 15 batters and a sub for each batter in the lineup.

by Cecilia Smith (Author)

by Terry Puhl (Author)

The colored version of the baseball swing through the eyes of 15 year Major League Baseball player Terry Puhl. His 10 year Head Coach University of Houston Victoria and Team Canada Head Coach have been a major influence in the book. This is a simplistic approach to hitting that a young baseball hitter will truly benefit from.

by Kevin Sutton (Author)

Witty, irreverent, entertaining, and teeming with unbridled passion for the Texas Rangers, "Baseball Town: The Fall and Rise of the Texas Rangers" is the Rangers' compelling worst-to-first story as told through the hilarious daily blogs of RangersRounding3rd.com. A must-read for every baseball fan.

Author Biography

Kevin Sutton lives in Dallas, Texas, and writes RangersRounding3rd.com, a witty, irreverent, daily blog about the Texas Rangers that forms the basis for his book, "Baseball Town: The Fall and Rise of the Texas Rangers." He is also the author of the Amazon.com best-selling humor memoir, "Dear Midol: Essays from Estrogen Hell" about living in captivity with his wife and five daughters.

by Jack Rydell (Author)

They say that baseball is "as American as apple pie," and in a way, that's true. Once you've played a few innings of baseball, you will understand for yourself. There's something about the crack of the ball against the bat, stealing those bases, hitting your first home run, and the good times that you'll have working together with your new best friends-your teammates. In BASEBALL SKILLS FOR KIDS, we've put together a collection of drills, practice tips, and stories that will help you take your game to the next level.

Are you ready to learn...

The history of baseball.A breakdown of the rules.Tips to improve hand/eye coordination at bat.How to deal with curveballs, sliders, and screwballs.Strategies for fielding grounders and catching fly balls.Pitching grips for changeups, curveballs, and more.Tips for stealing bases and nailing perfect slides.How to read pitchers and fielders like Ty Cobbs.Where to find free equipment if your team needs it.

Whether you have dreams of going pro or simply love playing the game and spending time with your friends, the tips and tricks in this book will help you get stronger and better, so you'll be able to enjoy baseball even more.

by Amy Newton (Author)

This Baseball score book is a great way to keep track of the scoring and stats at games. Perfect for the scorekeeper. Each scorecard page includes sections to log & record:

• Home & Visitor
• Date, Start Time, End Time
• Scorer, Weather, Time Of Game
• Runs By Inning (1-10)
• Players Lineup And Position
• Runs, Hits, At Bat, Runs Batted In, Left On Base
• Opposing Team's Pitchers Stats
• Catchers Passed Ball
• Umpires
• Notes

Makes scorekeeping easy. Can be great gifts for your coach or any sport lovers. Also can be used for softball. Scoresheet journals can help with letting you know what skills your team needs to work on. This journal is designed for the baseball lover. Size is 8.5x11 inch, 100 pages, soft matte finish cover, paperback.

by Charles F. Faber (Author)

In this third edition of Baseball Ratings, author Charles Faber combines the second edition ("great fodder for arguments"--Booklist) with his book on 19th-century greats, Baseball Pioneers ("very impressive"--Reference and User Services Quarterly; "a notable and ... worthwhile addition"--ARBA), updating the ratings and expanding the commentary in each. The result, Baseball Ratings: The All-Time Best Players at Each Position, 1876 to the Present, is that rarest of rankings books--a time-tested, comprehensive reference work that invites reading.

Batters, fielders and pitchers from all major leagues since 1876 are ranked by position and, for pitchers, according to role (e.g., starter, middle reliever, closer) according to career, peak, and per-season achievement. All big league players with at least five years of eligibility are rated, and appendices identify underrated and overrated players, rate multiposition players, and sort the great by handedness.

Author Biography

The late Charles F. Faber wrote numerous books on educational administration, school law, baseball and other topics. He was a retired university professor and lived in Lexington, Kentucky.

by Richard B. Foster (Author), R. J. Foster (Author)

If you love baseball and large print word searches, then this is the book for you! R.J. Foster and Richard B. Foster have taken the names of baseball stars and created word search puzzles from them. This book has over 245 search words, and 25 different puzzles. These word searches are on thicker, stronger pages than most puzzle books. There is even a blank Notes Page to the left of each puzzle in case you would like to take notes to help solve the puzzle or simply write notes regarding any words that interest you. Enjoy!

by Society for American Baseball Research ( (Author)

The flagship publication of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), the Baseball Research Journal is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed publication presenting the best in SABR member research on baseball. History, biography, economics, physics, psychology, game theory, sociology and culture, records, and many other disciplines are represented to expand our knowledge of baseball as it is, was, and could be played.

by Busy Playing Sports Journals (Author)

Want to connect to your favorite team? Why not track a full 162 regular game season with your very own baseball scorebook. Each sheet provides ample space to enter a lineup and track plays in diamond format.

As an extra bonus, 18 extra score cards have been provided in this handy notebook to track playoffs, spring training, or to span across multiple seasons. Each page also includes a handy positional chart to use as a reference.

Features:

• 180 score cards
  
• 8.5" X 11" format
  
• Room for Pitchers, Catchers, and Umpires
  
• 10 inning score sheets
  
• Track Attendance, Weather, Game Time, and more!
  

Create a piece of history for your team this year!

by J. Thomas Hetrick (Author)

Baseball Stats and Stories: Confessions of a Tabletop Simulation Gamer documents over 50 years of playing and enjoying tabletop baseball simulation games. Beginning in the late sixties and continuing into the present day, the author participated in over 7,000 baseball games (and counting) and dozens of separate seasons. The results of that action are included herein, with numerous statistics and narratives built on that data. Also discussed is the appreciative fandom of the author and his endless fascination with the sport he loves. Baseball Stats and Stories is a must read for those immersed in the hobby. The 600 page book hopefully serves as inspiration for fellow gamers to document their own journeys in the world of cards and dice baseball games.

by Society for American Baseball Research ( (Author)

Volume 49, issue 2, of SABR's Baseball Research Journal, runs the gamut of research, from the nineteenth century to events that took place in 2020. The article that anchors this issue of the journal, appearing last, is Richard Hershberger's account of the "First Baseball War," in which the nineteenth-century clash between leagues contributed to the creation of the reserve system that suppressed free agency until the late twentieth, while Mary Hums and her team document MLB's decision to change the name of the "disabled list" to "injured list," including the advocacy and rationale behind the change, and an analysis of fan reactions to it.

As always, we have some articles that delve into stats to enhance our understanding of the game. Among them, Theo Tobel gives us a breakdown of brushback pitches: do they really intimidate batters and provide an advantage to the pitcher? Randy Robbins noticed a statistical quirk in the record of Warren Spahn and it prompted an examination of one of the game's pitching greats. Will Melville and Brinley Zabriskie undertake the task of trying to determine how much benefit, if any, the 2017 Astros derived from their cheating efforts, while Irwin Nahinsky analyzes the effects of luck and skill on team success.

Ron Backer looks at Lou Gehrig in a new light--klieg lights, in fact--in his article on Gehrig's Hollywood career, which like his life and playing career was cut short by ALS. Charlie Pavitt delves into the fact that a player's ethnicity can be a predictor for what position he plays in MLB. Howard M. Wasserman examines Jewish players through the lens of their performances on Yom Kippur, while Alan Cohen examines one of the great hitters of all time, Josh Gibson. Because of racial segregation, Gibson never had the opportunity to play in the major leagues, but because many Negro League teams did play games in major league ballparks, we can look at those performances to prove how prodigious he truly was. An image of Josh Gibson graces the cover of this issue, in a piece of original art by Gary Cieradkowski, the creator of the Infinite Baseball Card Set.

by Society for American Baseball Research ( (Author)

The flagship publication of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), the Baseball Research Journal is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed publication presenting the best in SABR member research on baseball. History, biography, economics, physics, psychology, game theory, sociology and culture, records, and many other disciplines are represented to expand our knowledge of baseball as it is, was, and could be played.

by Society for American Baseball Research ( (Author)

About half of this issue of the Baseball Research Journal is devoted to the topic of women in baseball, ranging from stories on the way newspapers covered "the lady baseballists" as early as 1865 through the pioneers of gender inclusivity in Little League in 1974. The cover features the impractical but unforgettable look of the uniforms worn in the mid-century women's league, the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, which remains the only organized, commercially successful women's baseball league in the United States to date. Featured articles include:

"Lizzie Murphy: An "All Star" at Fenway Park" by Bill Nowlin

To date, there has only been one woman who played baseball with a team of major leaguers in a big-league ballpark. Her name was Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" Murphy and she played for a team of "all-stars" against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The year was 1922, and the date August 14. The occasion was Tom McCarthy Day--an exhibition game played at Fenway Park. The game was scheduled to benefit ailing but very popular former ballplayer Tommy McCarthy. Lizzie Murphy's All-Stars beat the Red Sox that day, 3-2.

"Bernice Gera and the Trial of Being First" by Amanda Lane Cumming

On June 24, 1972, Bernice Gera became the first woman to umpire a professional baseball game. Immediately after the game ended, she quit. She fought baseball for five years for the chance to umpire a professional game. Why fight so long for an umpiring career, just to give it up after one game? As Gera was quoted as saying, "Wanting to belong is one of the most powerful things in the world. That's why sports are so popular. Just rooting for a team makes you feel part of it." We think of pioneers as being stoic, strong, and preternaturally gifted at the thing they are pursuing. Although she was the first woman umpire, Gera's story isn't really about her determination to become an umpire. She was just a woman standing in front of organized baseball, asking it to accept her.

"Black Women Playing Baseball: A Introduction," by Leslie Heaphy

The contributions of Black women in baseball have been largely overlooked and ignored. Few books or articles exist and those that do focus on the names of only a few owners and players such as Effa Manley, Olivia Taylor, Toni Stone, and Mamie Johnson. Their stories are important but are just the tip of the iceberg. What is presented here is an introduction to the incredible contributions made by many Black women as players, owners, coaches, and other baseball personnel. The primary focus centers on those most readers are not familiar with because of the lack of attention paid to these women. News coverage of women playing baseball has always been limited and often not complimentary in tone. For Black women, the press coverage has historically been even worse because they were up against issues due to sex and race.

by Peter Dreier (Author), Robert Elias (Author), Dave Zirin (Foreword by)

Finalist for the 2023 Seymour Medal
Foreword INDIES Finalist in History

Author Biography

Peter Dreier is E. P. Clapp Distinguished Professor of Politics and founding chair of the Urban and Environmental Policy Department at Occidental College. A former newspaper reporter, community organizer, and senior policy adviser to former Boston mayor Ray Flynn, he has authored or coauthored seven books, including The 100 Greatest Americans of the 20th Century: A Social Justice Hall of Fame. Robert Elias is a professor of politics and legal studies at the University of San Francisco. He is the author of several books, including Baseball and the American Dream: Race, Class, Gender, and the National Pastime. Dave Zirin is the author of several books, the sports editor for The Nation, and host of the weekly Edge of Sports podcast and radio show.

by Society for American Baseball Research ( (Author)

Ty Cobb has reigned over baseball history as a titan of the game, and according to quotes repeated by Cobb's biographers, he believed the name "Tyrus" to be unique to him. Was the name an invention of his father's, meant to be a historical or Biblical reference of some kind? In this issue, Dr. William "Ron" Cobb debunks the spurious explanations given by previous chroniclers as to the origin of the name, and offers insight into Cobb family history.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

"More Relief Pitchers Belong in the Hall of Fame: Which Ones?"

by Elaina and John Pakutka

Jane Forbes Clark, Chairman of the Board of Directors of The National Baseball Hall of Fame, reminds us each year on inudction day that the Hall contains the top 1% of major-league players. But that 1% is not evenly distributed across eras or positions. If the "best 1%" standard were applied to the subset of relief pitchers we study in this article, 20 to 30 of them would be in the Hall of Fame. Only nine have won induction. Relief pitchers generate about 10% of the total WAR each year, but constitute only 3% of Hall of Famers.

"Balancing Starter and Bullpen Workloads in a Seven-Game Postseason Series"

by David J. Gordon, MD, PhD

In general, the strategy of routinely removing a starting pitcher in the fifth or sixth inning when the batting order turns over for the third time may win some games by rescuing starters from the Third Time Through the Order Penalty (TTOP), but it leaves a shortfall of innings that must be covered in a seven-game series, leading to overexposure of a limited pool of relievers. The deleterious effect of repeatedly using relievers--an increase of as much as .076 in wOBA--substantially outweighs the effect the TTOP on starters (approximately a .030 increase in wOBA). Protecting starters from the significant but relatively small TTOP does no good if your best high-leverage relievers become fatigued and/or "old hat" to opposing hitters by the time they are needed in the deciding game of a seven-game series.

"Keith Hernandez and Cooperstown: A Data Synthesis and Visualization Project"

by Stephen D. Dertinger, PhD

Our player performance analyses provide interesting insights into Keith Hernandez's Hall of Fame case. A key component of the ToxPi methodology involves synthesizing multiple, carefully chosen performance metrics into composite scores. Player performances are distilled into single values, while the associated visuals provide a clear indication of where they excelled (and where they did not). Hernandez's ToxPi Profiles reveal defensive excellence both compared to his contemporaries and compared to Hall of Fame first basemen... [but also] make it clear that his offense also contributes to his Hall of Fame case. Whether considering traditional or advanced statistics, these analyses support the contention that Keith Hernandez belongs in Cooperstown.

by Andres Wirkmaa (Author)

Many fans enjoy keeping track of baseball action with easy abbreviations written on simple grids. Serious scorekeeping, however, is more complicated than just jotting down runs, outs, and the final score. Official scorekeeping requires a thorough knowledge of a large body of rules--many of which are confusing, and all of which must be followed carefully to ensure that the scorekeeper's data are valid.

With confidence and enthusiasm, Andres Wirkmaa leads the reader through the daunting maze of rules that govern official scorekeeping. Chapters explain and clarify the official scorer's duties, responsibilities and authority; the official scorer's reports; and all the game-to-game details such as player listings, substitute batters and runners, out-of-turn batters, called and forfeited games, runs batted in, base hits, stolen bases, sacrifices, putouts, assists, double and triple plays, errors (and instances when errors are not charged), wild pitches and passed balls, bases on balls, strikeouts, earned runs, winning and losing pitchers, and saves. Also covered are statistics, percentage records, minimum standards for individual championships, and consecutive hitting and playing streaks.

Author Biography

Wyckoff, New Jersey, attorney Andres Wirkmaa is a retired baseball coach, has served as official scorekeeper for amateur baseball leagues, has been featured on the radio and in MLB articles as a scorekeeping expert, and is a member of SABR.

by Scott Reister (Author)

On this diamond, the final out could cost you everything.

Get ready for an adrenaline-packed adventure with fourteen-year-old Zane Mitchell! After a tough game with his new baseball team, Zane returns home to find his mom gone and a mysterious Federal Agent at his door. That's just the beginning of this wild ride, though. One of his teammates is a rogue hacker on a mission to uncover an explosive government secret, and Zane is the only one who can stop them

The stakes are high as Zane races against time to find the traitor before they strike at Falcon Field, Zane's very own little league ground. Hidden devices, undercover agents, and a deadly game of cat and mouse await as he navigates the dangerous twists and turns of this spy game without tipping off his enemy.

Can Zane save his family and protect the nation's secrets? Or will he strike out and lose everything-including his life? Find out in this heart-pounding thriller where every pitch could be a game-changer!

by Society for American Baseball Research ( (Author)

In this issue, we remember the enormous contribution of Jim Bouton, pictured on the cover in a portrait by artist Gary Cieradkowski. Throughout baseball's hidebound history, rebels and mavericks have emerged to challenge the status quo in the sport and the wider society, none more so than Bouton. His book Ball Four ultimately changed baseball, the sports media, and American literature. During his playing days, Bouton spoke out against the Vietnam War, South African apartheid, the exploitation of players by greedy owners, and the casual racism of the teams and his fellow players. When his baseball career ended, he continued to use his celebrity as a platform against social injustice. Fifty years after Ball Four's publication and now two years after Bouton's death, Robert Elias and Peter Dreier look back at the legacy.

by Na Sr (Author)

This Baseball Score Sheet card has many spaces on which to record the hits, runs, and various plays of both the home and visiting teams.
Diamond shapes are included to note bases. The names of pitchers, catchers, and umpires can be written in, or, in the case.

• 36 Charts per pack
• SIZE: 8.5x11 inches
• INTERIOR: 100 scoresheets
• COVER: Soft cover

by Na Sr (Author)

This Baseball Score Sheet card has many spaces on which to record the hits, runs, and various plays of both the home and visiting teams.
Diamond shapes are included to note bases. The names of pitchers, catchers, and umpires can be written in, or, in the case.

• 36 Charts per pack
• SIZE: 8.5x11 inches
• INTERIOR: 100 scoresheets
• COVER: Soft cover

by Na Sr (Author)

This Baseball Score Sheet card has many spaces on which to record the hits, runs, and various plays of both the home and visiting teams.
Diamond shapes are included to note bases. The names of pitchers, catchers, and umpires can be written in, or, in the case.

• 36 Charts per pack
• SIZE: 8.5x11 inches
• INTERIOR: 100 scoresheets
• COVER: Soft cover

by Society for American Baseball Research ( (Author)

The Fall 2024 issue of the Baseball Research Journal features thirteen articles on a wide range of topics, from the minor leagues to biomechanics, including how the game is changing, or has changed, from the effects of tinkering with the rules (both recent and not), to pioneering personnel. We also have the second half of three two-parters, Ed Denta continuing his look into streaks, Charlie Pavitt wraps up his investigation of why batting average has plummeted, and we finish Peter Dreier's opus on Jews and baseball.

ON THE COVER:

Leroy "Satchel" Paige was a living legend during his career, but his election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown was far from assured, given that many of his best years were spent in the Negro Leagues and were unrecognized by the baseball establishment for quite some time. In this issue, Mark Armour delves into the movement to get Paige into the Hall of Fame and the various obstacles to be overcome.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

"Rachel Balkovec: A Comprehensive Profile"

by Barrett Snyder

Rachel Balkovec's résumé includes several firsts: the first woman to serve as a strength and conditioning coordinator in affiliated baseball; the first woman to do so for a major-league team in Latin American baseball; the first woman hitting coach and All-Star Futures Game coach; and the first woman to manage an affiliated team. In 2022-2023 she served as field manager of the New York Yankees' affiliate, the Tampa Tarpons. Today, she is the director of player development for the Miami Marlins. Based on extensive research and personal interviews, Barrett Snyder presents a detailed picture of this pioneer.

"The Pitcher's Cycle: Definitions and Achievers (1893-2023)"

by Herm Krabbenhoft

The goal of this article is to create a "pitcher's cycle" that would be as rare but achievable as the batter's cycle, and then to examine pitchers who have accomplished the feat. I wanted to adhere to the basic definition of a cycle, "a sequence of a recurring succession of events or phenomena," and create an equivalent to the batter's cycle: a series of pitching achievements commensurate to a batter collecting the series of all four types of safe hit. A batter's primary objective is to get on base, which he can achieve entirely by himself by getting a safe hit. A pitcher's primary objective is to retire the batter, which he can do entirely by himself by striking out the batter. Since there are nine different players in the batting lineup, a reasonable cycle would be for the pitcher to strike out an opposing batter from each slot in the batting order at least once in a game.

"Ghost Stories and Zombie Invasions Testing the Myths of Extra-Inning Outcomes"

by Connelly Doan, MA

The decision to introduce "ghosts" and "zombies" to MLB prompts two main questions "Does departing from the tradition of the game actually lead to shorter games?" and "Is the strategy of extra-inning games simplified to sacrifice-bunting the automatic runner to third and hitting a sacrifice fly or a single to score, thus making the game even less exciting?" This paper will present data from extra-inning games from 2018 through 2022 to try to answer these questions. We will look at average innings per extra-inning game, average extra-inning runs scored per game, frequency of extra-inning bunt attempts, bunt success rate, and the game situations when bunt attempts occurred.

by Na Sr (Author)

This Baseball Score Sheet card has many spaces on which to record the hits, runs, and various plays of both the home and visiting teams.
Diamond shapes are included to note bases. The names of pitchers, catchers, and umpires can be written in, or, in the case.

• 36 Charts per pack
• SIZE: 8.5x11 inches
• INTERIOR: 100 scoresheets
• COVER: Soft cover

by Na Sr (Author)

This Baseball Score Sheet card has many spaces on which to record the hits, runs, and various plays of both the home and visiting teams.
Diamond shapes are included to note bases. The names of pitchers, catchers, and umpires can be written in, or, in the case.

• 36 Charts per pack
• SIZE: 8.5x11 inches
• INTERIOR: 100 scoresheets
• COVER: Soft cover

by Chris Epting (Author)

Organized baseball in Orange County began in the late 1880s when community teams began forming among oil well workers. Around 1900, a farm boy from Kansas named Walter Johnson arrived with his family. Soon, the flame-throwing future hall-of-fame pitcher would be dominating games throughout the county as a star for Fullerton Union High School. As the popularity of baseball grew, more teams and leagues formed in Santa Ana, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, and other cities. Connie Mack brought the Philadelphia Athletics to spring train in Orange County in the 1940s. Joe DiMaggio played for his Santa Ana Air Base team after joining the Army. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, and many other legends visited Orange County over the years. Dozens of well-known players grew up here, and many are laid to rest here. In 1966, the California Angels played their first game in Orange County, where they remain today as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The baseball history in Orange County is rich--and surprising.

by Dan Crowley (Author)

From the first organized game in 1865 on the fields owned by sea captain Edward Nichols along School Street in Sandwich, the game of baseball has prospered among the dunes and beaches of Cape Cod. Today, it is home to the country's premier collegiate summer league. Located in one of the most beautiful spots on the East Coast, Cape Cod has always attracted visitors in the summer, and along with sunshine and salty air, baseball has been there for more than one hundred years. The Cape Cod Baseball League is now a steppingstone to the major leagues, with some former players enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Baseball on Cape Cod chronicles through pictures the rich heritage and tradition of the game from its earliest organized beginnings to today's high-profile players. Every summer, fans from across the country flock to the Cape for some of the finest amateur baseball in the nation.

by The National Baseball Hall of Fame and M (Editor)

Discover What Made Baseball America's Pastime

#1 New Release in Baseball Statistics

Baseball Memories & Dreams celebrates the iconic moments, heroes, and trends that define baseball for its millions of fans

This compendium of baseball writing covers it all--recollections of Hall of Famers and narratives from top baseball writers; stories on the rich iconography and history of the game across the full diversity of players, teams, and leagues; and reflections on the way America's pastime has shaped our culture. Selected from the Baseball Hall of Fame's member magazine, Baseball Memories & Dreams brings to life the best of baseball.

More than just a baseball history book. Revel in America's pastime and explore baseball history in articles written by notable sports writers, Hall of Famers, media personalities, and the Hall's own expert historians. Baseball Memories & Dreams showcases the best of baseball facts, baseball biographies, and baseball media personalities into a robust catalogue of known and unknown information.

Get the inside scoop into the lives of baseball giants like Johnny Bench, Peter Gammons, John Grisham, Tim Kurkjian, Ichiro Suzuki, Joe Torre, and more. From their stories, gain insight into each individual life to see just what trials and hardships made these men into the best baseball players in history. With Baseball Memories & Dreams in hand, you'll see America's pastime in a new light.

Inside, you'll find over 70 articles on America's pastime, highlighting:

• Baseball facts, baseball biographies, stats, and artifacts--and the history and lore behind them
• Coverage of Black, Hispanic, and woman players
• Stories about baseball's great players, teams, and rivalries, as well as the moments that trace the game's wide-ranging history

If you enjoy baseball books--best sellers like The Baseball 100, Cloudbuster Nine, or Talking to GOATS--you'll love Baseball Memories & Dreams.

by Alejandro M. Jr. de Quesada (Author)

Tampa Bay's interest in baseball spans from the sport's earliest days to the region's win of a national league franchise in the last decade of the 20th century. Hosting more major league spring training games than any other region inthe United States, Tampa has been home to a number of spring
training camps, for teams including the Chicago Cubs and the Washington Senators. St. Petersburg has played host for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Baltimore Orioles, among others. Not only does this region have a rich professional baseball history, but a thriving Little League and recreational league
tradition. Stars, both young and old, have played for these teams and have brought glory to their hometown. Both St. Petersburg and Tampa formed their own local teams when the minor league was created in 1919, but Tampa Bay's dream for a major league team of its own finally came true in 1995, when, at a meeting of baseball owners in West Palm Beach, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays became the thirteenth expansion
team in major league history.

by Jae W. Lee (Author)

Swing for the fences as you learn Python programming in a fun and engaging way. Our book covers essential topics such as Python basics, variables, data types, loops, conditionals, functions, file handling, and libraries. We'll also dive into more advanced subjects like web scraping and data visualization. With a focus on real-world examples, our tutorials use baseball terminology and concepts to make learning Python more enjoyable and relatable. Whether you're a rookie or an experienced programmer, join us on this journey to become a Python MVP and hit your coding skills out of the park!

by Charles Puccia (Author), Way Ben (Editor), Howe Ian (Editor)

A Hot Mystery with strong language, mature content, and intense sex scenes.

Generosity has limits. Neighbors have boundaries. Ignoring both has fatal consequences.

Vinnie Briggs is in the crosshairs of a NY mobster since his testimony could put the boss behind bars. He does what any sensible person would do and runs three-thousand-miles, leaving behind his bodybuilder husband and their life.

A homeless, gay ballplayer and a precocious Boston terrier aren't enough to ease Vinnie's miserable exile in San Francisco. Serendipity brings new next-door neighbors: two women and one's pregnant.

Vinnie's good with kids and looks forward to helping the struggling couple. All's well until the pregnant woman confides that she was raped, yet refuses to reveal the rapist. Vinnie misconstrues her reticence, believing if he identifies the man it helps both neighbors.

Applying amateur sleuthing skills, Vinnie inadvertently reveals the woman's secret to the wrong people, leading to murder. When a second corpse shows up, he becomes the prime suspect. To exonerate himself, he must find the actual murderer. He didn't kill anyone but wishes he had.

The body count mounts. Vinnie must prevent more murders to have any chance of returning to his former life.

The second in the HOT series but can be read as a standalone.

by Scott Pitoniak (Author)

Few cities can boast of a longer or richer baseball tradition than Rochester, New York. The game's roots in the Flower City can be traced to the early nineteenth century, when a primitive form of baseball was being played on Mumford's Meadow near the Genesee River. Since that time, some of the greatest names in baseball history, including Stan Musial and Cal Ripken Jr., have honed their skills in Rochester. Their exploits, along with those of numerous others, are documented with rare photographs in Baseball in Rochester. Through the years, nineteen people with local ties have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The Red Wings have won ten Governors' Cups-more than any other International League team-and Rochester has been designated Baseball City, U.S.A., by Baseball America magazine. Baseball in Rochester chronicles not only the superstars but also the quirky characters and moments that make the minor leagues so appealing.

by Charlie Laduca (Author)

"Baseball Is Life Is Baseball" was inspired by a magical high school baseball season culminating in a State Championship. The lessons learned along the way serve as a recipe for success both on and off the field. The author uses his vast experience as teacher, coach, and player to list the ingredients and proper blending of them necessary to guarantee success. This is not a book of baseball fundamentals. It is about the many qualities other than fundamentals needed to take your team or personal life to the next level. Interwoven with detailed practical information are stories and experiences bringing these qualities to life. You will find yourself laughing and perhaps crying at times as you take this journey designed to lift you up and bring out your best.

by Steve Adler (Author)

America's past time, Baseball! Do you want to learn how to play baseball the right way? Are you a coach and want to teach your students how to play baseball? Do you want to pitch in the Major Leagues? Pitching a baseball takes a great deal of concentration and repetition and that's why I've put together a short guide detailing the fundamentals and drills necessary to "Pitch Strikes." These are time tested drills that have been tried, proven and used over the past 40 years to develop pitchers that have won championships and made it to the Big Leagues. These techniques are not hard to do but are essential fundamentals that all pitchers must learn if they are to throw strikes and control the game. This book was written for coaches but kids who want to learn to be the best will find it a guide book that they will use throughout their career as a baseball pitcher.

by Scott Brown (Author)

The Western Gate to the Sunshine State boasts an epic history of hardball, dating back nearly to the beginning of the sport. Sunshine, loyal fans and pristine beaches have attracted baseball's best athletes to Pensacola--from stars like Babe Ruth and Ted Williams to the Blue Wahoos, modern-day affiliate for the Cincinnati Reds. The city is home to major-league teams during spring training, minor-league teams during the season and baseball fanatics year-round. Whether it's following big-league icons or cheering high school future stars, Pensacola's love affair with baseball runs deep. Team up with local author Scott Brown as he details the area's greatest moments in America's oldest pastime.

by Clay Shampoe (Author), Thomas Garrett (Author), Garrett Thomas (Joint Author)

Pictured is the legendary Myers Field c. 1950, where Norfolk ballplayers, visiting major league stars, and Piedmont League opponents once dueled upon its dirt and grass. The story of baseball in Norfolk, Virginia is as fascinating and enduring as the game itself. Christy Mathewson, Phil Rizzuto, Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra, and a myriad of other charismatic players from the game spent time developing their raw and untested skills on the diamonds of Norfolk. Military stars of the powerful World War II Navy teams and legends of the Negro Leagues performed to the delight and fascination of local fans. Over the years, the mighty New York Yankees with Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio showcased their mythical talents during scheduled exhibitions, as did dozens of other big league teams and their stars.

The images depicted within this pictorial feature only a fragment of the vast chronology of the game of baseball as it was played in Norfolk over the years. They allow the reader to revisit the past, examine the present, and ponder the future of baseball in the city of Norfolk. All photographs were painstakingly selected by the authors for their dynamic visual appeal and historical impact to accurately reflect the story of baseball in Norfolk.

by Bob Burke (Author)

Oklahoma City is completing its first century of minor league baseball. Since 1904, organized professional teams called the Mets, Indians, Senators, Boosters, 89ers, and now the RedHawks have thrilled fans of all ages. Several fan-favorites who have graced the diamond for Oklahoma City have gone on to stardom in "The Big Show," including major league all-stars Lonnie Smith and Juan Gonzales. Legendary names like Rogers Hornsby and Bill Veeck have also played a part in Oklahoma City's baseball history. As the second century of baseball in Oklahoma City begins, the Oklahoma RedHawks continue the tradition of playing superb baseball in the "The Little Show," with perhaps another future major league all-star or two honing his skills before a capacity crowd at the Brick.

by Charles J. Adams (Author), Charles J. III Adams (Author)

On a crisp April evening or a sizzling August afternoon, before a handful of friends or a throng of thousands, on a playground sandlot or in one of America's storied minor-league stadiums-whenever and wherever baseball is played in Reading, Pennsylvania, it is played with passion.

Baseball in Reading captures for the first time the images of the teams, players, and ballparks that have made the city one of minor-league baseball's true legends. Claiming the title Baseballtown in 2002, Reading has a baseball legacy that dates back to the late 1800s. Only three other minor-league teams have remained in the same location for a longer period of time. Players such as Charlie Wagner, Roger Maris, and Rico Petrocelli have contributed to the rich history that unfolds in Baseball in Reading.

by Brad Phillips (Author)

This is a baseball instructional playbook for players and coaches from youth to the college level. It provides a series of checklists to insure all fundamentals are taught and mastered, easy to follow coaching drills, and a description of the best drills by position to maximize improvement.

Author Biography

Growing up in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in a little town called Quinnesec and playing baseball had its drawbacks. The UP has a limited baseball season in the spring/summer and some high school baseball. This put me at a disadvantage from the start and not many players pursue college baseball because no college in Upper Michigan has a team. So with no baseball option after high school in 1978 at age 17, I enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard. After being honorably discharged in the spring of 1982, I found one option to play college baseball at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. It was a longshot. The coach never seen me play, I had not played in 4 years, it was July and school started in August. Well, after an 8 hour drive and a long workout the coach gave me a chance. I have to thank my first college baseball coach, Jon Gambee, who gambled on me and I will be forever grateful. Jon not only gave me a scholarship to play at KVCC, but drove me 1200 miles in December of 1981 to the Florida Professional Baseball School, currently called the Doyle Baseball Academy, in Winter Haven, Florida, where I met the Doyle brothers. The 3 brothers, Brian, Blake and Denny, all played professional baseball but more importantly all played middle infield positions. I learned more in one week than I learned the previous 21 years. At this camp is where I also met the head coach of Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky, Coach Steve Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton is a former major league pitcher and Detroit Tiger's pitching coach. As my luck continued, Morehead's second baseman had been drafted after my sophomore season at KVCC and Mr. Hamilton offered me a scholarship to play my remaining 2 years of college baseball at Division I, Morehead State University. Upon completion of my playing days at Morehead in 1987, Mr. Hamilton offered me a graduate assistant coaching position which I accepted and that started my baseball coaching career. I have coached high school 10 years in Michigan, 2 years at Alcona and 8 years at Holt. I have conducted baseball camps for players 5-18 years old during those years and continued to develop the best teaching techniques, drills, and a baseball playbook to help players and coaches. As I start my 28 year of teaching high school Geometry, I wanted to provide this instructional baseball playbook to players and coaches who may have the desire to improve their skills needed to compete in the great game of baseball.