Baseball

by Jim Lebuffe (Author)

by Stephanie Verni (Author)

Francesca Milli's father passes away when she's a freshman in college and nineteen years old; she is devastated and copes with his death by securing a job working for the Bay City Blackbirds, a big-league team, as she attempts to carry on their traditions and mutual love for the game of baseball. The residual effect of loving and losing her dad has made her cautious, until two men enter her life: a ballplayer and a sports writer. With the support of her mother and two friends, she begins to work through her grief. A dedicated employee, she successfully navigates her career, and becomes a director in the team's organization. However, Francesca realizes that she can't partition herself off from the world, and in time, understands that sometimes love does involve taking a risk.

Author Biography

STEPHANIE VERNI is the author of Beneath the Mimosa Tree. She is Professor of Business Communication at Stevenson University where she instructs writing and communication courses. Prior to working in academia, she spent thirteen years with the Baltimore Orioles. She resides in Severna Park, Maryland, with her husband and two children. Visit her blog at www.stephsscribe.com.

by Johanna Hurwitz (Author)

Ezra Feldman, almost ten, likes baseball more than anything else in the world. But his father cannot understand why his son would rather rot his brains watching men swinging big wooden sticks than read a book or play chess. Can an unwanted car trip, a grumpy old professor, and a surprising chess victory help father and son find a little common ground--and convince Ezra's dad that cheering for the national pastime isn't completely off base?Ezra Feldman, almost ten, likes baseball more than anything else in the world. But his father cannot understand why his son would rather rot his brains watching men swinging big wooden sticks than read a book or play chess. Can an unwanted car trip, a grumpy old professor, and a surprising chess victory help father and son find a little common ground--and convince Ezra's dad that cheering for the national pastime isn't completely off base?

Back Jacket

Ezra Feldman, almost ten, likes baseball more than anything else in the world. But his father cannot understand why his son would rather rot his brains watching men swinging big wooden sticks than read a book or play chess. Can an unwanted car trip, a grumpy old professor, and a surprising chess victory help father and son find a little common ground--and convince Ezra's dad that cheering for the national pastime isn't completely off base?Ezra Feldman, almost ten, likes baseball more than anything else in the world. But his father cannot understand why his son would rather rot his brains watching men swinging big wooden sticks than read a book or play chess. Can an unwanted car trip, a grumpy old professor, and a surprising chess victory help father and son find a little common ground--and convince Ezra's dad that cheering for the national pastime isn't completely off base?

by Joe Morgan (Author), Richard Lally (Author)

Learn the basics of baseball as a player, spectator, or coach

Baseball For Dummies gets you started learning about this popular sport. You can improve your fundamentals as a player, inspire your team as a coach, or enjoy watching baseball as a superfan. The book includes helpful illustrations and diagrams that make it easy to understand the rules. You'll learn about offensive and defensive strategies, hitting and pitching techniques, the roles of each player on the team, what managers and coaches do, and how to understand baseball statistics. In beginner-friendly terms, this guide also covers the differences between the Minor and Major Leagues, T-Ball, college baseball, and leagues around the world. Batter up!

• Get a handle on the basic rules, strategies, and skills of baseball
• Learn about the different baseball leagues--including recent changes to the rules--so you can have fun following the sport
• Improve your technique with tips on pitching, hitting, and fielding
• Delve into statistics and advanced concepts that will help you understand pro play

This book is for baseball fans of every level, from beginners to loyal fans who want to know even more. Players and coaches will also love this book's advice on how to sharpen their skills.

Back Jacket

All the baseball basics players and fans need

Was that a pop fly or a fly ball? With Baseball For Dummies, you'll master all the terminology of the game, along with the rules and strategies that make baseball so intriguing. Learn the ins and outs of baseball leagues, including the latest changes to the world of Major League Baseball. You'll find exclusive insights on how to play the game from baseball legend and coauthor Joe Morgan. If you want to follow baseball and sharpen your knowledge as a spectator or on the field, this Dummies guide knocks it out of the park.

Inside...

• Baseball equipment and gear
• Official rules of the game
• Batting tips and techniques
• Pitching and defensive plays
• T-ball and minor league ball
• What coaches and managers do
• Playing fantasy baseball
• Glossary of baseball terms

Author Biography

Joe Morgan played on two -Cincinnati Reds World Series ^-championship teams and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1990.

Richard Lally has written numerous popular books on baseball and other subjects, including the best-selling The Wrong Stuff -(coauthored with former major league pitcher Bill Lee), which was adapted to the screen for the movie, "Spaceman."

by Rob Neyer (Author), Eddie Epstein (Author)

It's a debate nearly as old as the sport itself. Sure, there have been plenty of great baseball teams--but which was the best ever? While it seems like an unwinnable argument, the authors of Baseball Dynasties have risen to the challenge. They took the top fifteen teams of the twentieth century, ran them through rigorous statistical analysis, and threw in some good old-fashioned opinion in their quest to determine, definitively, who was the greatest team in the history of baseball. Looking at continued brilliance over time (no one-season wonders allowed), Hall of Famers on the roster, offensive and defensive production, performance in the postseason, and numerous other tangibles and intangibles, Eddie Epstein and Rob Neyer put each team under the microscope--and picked a winner. Who will come out on top? Was it the 1927 Yankees, the legendary squad blessed with both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig? Or how about Earl Weaver's 1970 Orioles, who over a three-year span dominated their opponents at a higher level than any other team this century? Full of anecdotes, intriguing facts, and scores of statistics, Baseball Dynasties is a fascinating look at baseball history certain to provoke, entertain, and edify baseball fans of all ages.

by Tim Green (Author)

From New York Times bestselling author and former NFL player Tim Green comes a baseball book pulsing with action. Baseball Great offers a baseball story attuned to today's headlines, a totally involving, character-driven, sports-centered thriller. Perfect for fans of Mike Lupica. As a young reviewer on Brightly.com said: "Great book with many exciting, surprising events that make you want to keep reading."

When the school paper calls him "Grant Middle's best hope for its first-ever city-wide championship," Josh feels like he's starting to get noticed--in good and bad ways. Seeing Josh's talent, his father drags him out of the school baseball tryouts and gets him in the running for the Titans, the local youth championship team coached by Rocky Valentine.

All Josh really wants to do is play ball, but now Rocky wants him to gulp down protein shakes and other supplements. Suspicious, Josh and his new friend, Jaden, uncover a dangerous secret--and catch the attention of one man who will do anything to keep them from exposing it.

Front Jacket

When the school paper calls him Grant Middle's best hope for its first-ever city-wide championship, Josh feels like he's starting to get noticed--in good and bad ways. Seeing Josh's talent, his father drags him out of the school baseball tryouts and gets him in the running for the Titans, the local youth championship team coached by Rocky Valentine.

All Josh really wants to do is play ball, but now Rocky wants him to gulp down protein shakes and other supplements. Suspicious, Josh and his new friend, Jaden, uncover a dangerous secret--and catch the attention of one man who will do anything to keep them from exposing it.

Back Jacket

When the school paper calls him "Grant Middle's best hope for its first-ever city-wide championship," Josh feels like he's starting to get noticed--in good and bad ways. Seeing Josh's talent, his father drags him out of the school baseball tryouts and gets him in the running for the Titans, the local youth championship team coached by Rocky Valentine.

All Josh really wants to do is play ball, but now Rocky wants him to gulp down protein shakes and other supplements. Suspicious, Josh and his new friend, Jaden, uncover a dangerous secret--and catch the attention of one man who will do anything to keep them from exposing it.

by Bruce Berglund (Author)

How do you pick baseball's GOATs? Is Sandy Koufax the greatest pitcher to take the mound? Is Ted Williams the greatest pure hitter the game has seen? It comes down to stats, history, and hunches. Read more about some of the legends of baseball and see if you agree that they're the greatest of all time.

by Ed Randall (Author)

Play Ball!
Everything baseball--from the popular Utterly Confused Series

What's a foul ball?
Or a swinging third strike?
New fans, parents, and first-time coaches need no longer be Utterly Confused about baseball, as the popular series introduces the basics of the sport in a fun and easy-to-follow guide.

Peppered with big league interviews and examples, Baseball for the Utterly Confused cuts through the jargon and history to deliver a complete guide to everything baseball. From little league to the majors, this informative guide brings the most casual fan up to speed on what's going on on the field and off of it.

• Provides a foundation for understanding the game through strategy, rules and scoring, statistics, major league players and more
• Includes easy-to-reference icons throughout the book that walk you through the basics and highlight key situations
• Features interviews with major league notables and a special chapter on baseball history: The Golden Age, Divisional Baseball, The Dead Ball Era and more

From the intricacies of the game, its rules, rivalries, strategies, and standings, those new to the game won't feel like they're in over their heads. This book will break it all down.

Author Biography

Ed Randall is the host of "Talking Baseball" each Sunday morning on WFAN and is the author of More Tales From the Yankee Dugout.

by Joseph Adler (Author)

Baseball Hacks isn't your typical baseball book--it's a book about how to watch, research, and understand baseball. It's an instruction manual for the free baseball databases. It's a cookbook for baseball research. Every part of this book is designed to teach baseball fans how to do something. In short, it's a how-to book--one that will increase your enjoyment and knowledge of the game.

So much of the way baseball is played today hinges upon interpreting statistical data. Players are acquired based on their performance in statistical categories that ownership deems most important. Managers make in-game decisions based not on instincts, but on probability - how a particular batter might fare against left-handed pitching, for instance.

The goal of this unique book is to show fans all the baseball-related stuff that they can do for free (or close to free). Just as open source projects have made great software freely available, collaborative projects such as Retrosheet and Baseball DataBank have made great data freely available. You can use these data sources to research your favorite players, win your fantasy league, or appreciate the game of baseball even more than you do now.

Baseball Hacks shows how easy it is to get data, process it, and use it to truly understand baseball. The book lists a number of sources for current and historical baseball data, and explains how to load it into a database for analysis. It then introduces several powerful statistical tools for understanding data and forecasting results.

For the uninitiated baseball fan, author Joseph Adler walks readers through the core statistical categories for hitters (batting average, on-base percentage, etc.), pitchers (earned run average, strikeout-to-walk ratio, etc.), and fielders (putouts, errors, etc.). He then extrapolates upon these numbers to examine more advanced data groups like career averages, team stats, season-by-season comparisons, and more. Whether you're a mathematician, scientist, or season-ticket holder to your favorite team, Baseball Hacks is sure to have something for you.

Advance praise for Baseball Hacks:

-- Ari Kaplan, database consultant to the Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres, and Baltimore Orioles

"The game was born in the 19th century, but the passion for its analysis continues to grow into the 21st. In Baseball Hacks, Joe Adler not only demonstrates that the latest data-mining technologies have useful application to the study of baseball statistics, he also teaches the reader how to do the analysis himself, arming the dedicated baseball fan with tools to take his understanding of the game to a higher level."

-- Mark E. Johnson, Ph.D., Founder, SportMetrika, Inc. and Baseball Analyst for the 2004 St. Louis Cardinals

Author Biography

Joseph Adler has years of experience working with lots of popular data mining packages, including databases (including Oracle, PostgreSQL, and MS Access), statistical analysis tools (SAS, SPSS, S-Plus, and R), and data mining tools (SAS Enterprise Miner, Insightful Miner, Oracle Data Mining, Weka, and SPSS Clementine). He is currently leading a project at Verisign to pick a data mining package for enterprise deployment.

by Baseball Coloring Book For Publishing (Author)

Gorgeous coloring book for any Baseball Fan. A Unique Collection of 40 Baseball Coloring Pages and activities For Kids and Adults.

Baseball Coloring Book contains cute and awsome 40 Baseball Things to color. This coloring book incorporates a variety of adorable designs and creates hours of coloring fun for kids! This coloring book is sure to please anyone who loves Baseball .Lovely for anyone who loves Baseball either older children or adults as the intricacy of the pictures increases through the book so it is perfect for improving coloring skills. Coloring is wonderful relaxation and stress relief through creative expression to color than beautiful Baseball . 40 Baseball pictures to color in. The pictures are ordered in increasing intricacy and complexity so this book is brilliant for all levels, abilities and moods.

You will Love Baseball Coloring Book. It offers:

• A Beautiful Premium cover design, Perfect for gift
• Beautiful Artwork and Designs. Well-crafted illustrations and designs that lay the groundwork for you to create your own frame-worthy masterpieces.
• High Resolution Printing. Each image is printed in high resolution to offer crisp, sharp designs that enable trouble free coloring and high-quality display.
• Single-sided Pages. Every image is printed on a single-sided page, so that you can use a broad variety of coloring choices without fearing bleed through. Moreover, single-side pages can be framed to display your masterpieces.
• Professional design. Premium glossy cover design, large 8 "x 10" format.
• A Great Gift. Coloring books make a wonderful gifted item.

by Frank McClure (Author)

Born into a sharecropping family during the Jim Crow South, this book chronicles a powerful journey of resilience and faith. Inspired by the legacy of Negro League and its players such as Jackie Robinson and Willie Mayes, a fellow barrier-breaker, the author shares a story of overcoming a significant personal hardship (details revealed within). Faith served as a guiding light from a young age, leading the author to become a Deacon and dedicated community leader. Highlighting the struggles of the past, the book emphasizes the importance of understanding history and the sacrifices made by previous generations. Drawing strength from Joshua 1:7-9, it encourages readers to be strong and courageous in their own pursuits. This is a compelling story for anyone seeking inspiration, a testament to the enduring power of faith and the human spirit in the face of adversity. For we walk by Faith, not by sight. 2: Corinthians 5:7.

by New Gen Sports Academy (Author)

Get your artistic children or grandchildren interested in sports with this 8.5x11 coloring book. Let them work through pages full of sports-themed coloring, tracing, and puzzle-solving activities that they will indeed find lively and engaging. Surprise them with a copy of this coloring book today.

by Dirk Baker (Author)

Written for coaches, this book--in its expanded third edition--presents more than 200 baseball and softball games and activities for preschoolers through college age, focusing on teaching, improvement of skills and enjoyment. Games emphasizing base running, bunting, catching, fielding, hitting, throwing and pitching are covered. Each section reviews fundamentals, introduces creative skills and drills for group practice, and details the age group, objective, equipment and rules for each activity.

Front Jacket

Written for coaches, this book--in its expanded third edition--presents more than 200 baseball and softball games and activities for preschoolers through college age, focusing on teaching, improvement of skills and enjoyment. Games emphasizing base running, bunting, catching, fielding, hitting, throwing and pitching are covered. Each section reviews fundamentals, introduces creative skills and drills for group practice, and details the age group, objective, equipment and rules for each activity.

Author Biography

Worcester State University head baseball coach Dirk Baker was an adjunct professor at the university for 15 years. He previously coached at Harvard and Boston University as well as in the Cape Cod Baseball League. He lives in Worcester, Massachusetts.

by Marvin Cohen (Author), Jim Bouton (Introduction by), Rick Schober (Cover Design by)

"Cohen is a superfan, and he has written an intellectual manual for his co-religionists. They know who they are and they will cherish this manual. But anyone who has spent a soft, green afternoon, his shirt open at the throat to the sun, the whistles and chatter of the infield drifting up to the edge of his mind, watching, absorbing, taking in a baseball game, will cherish it."
-- From the introduction by Jim Bouton, former Major League pitcher and author of the 1970 controversial bestseller Ball Four.

Originally published in 1974 as Baseball the Beautiful: Decoding the Diamond, this new paperback edition has been completely reformatted and contains the full text of the original version. According to the bio that Marvin Cohen, now 86, wrote for his website, the original publisher took the liberty of changing the book's now restored title "for commercial feasibility and to bring in the lumbering lowbrow audience."

This new edition also contains a later essay that did not appear in the original, and the author has also written a new foreword.

by James C. Puhalla (Author), Jeffrey V. Krans (Author), J. Michael Goatley (Author)

Create the flawless playing field your team and its fans deserve. This book covers it all, from stadium and field design to fences and drainage to amenities for spectators. In practical, non-technical language, the authors outline the most common problems you?re likely to encounter and provide solutions for each, including special considerations for all major North American climate zones. With contributions from Major League groundskeepers who share their experiences in managing state-of-the-art facilities, this guide is your ticket to a truly gorgeous field.

Back Jacket

Complete guidelines and specifications for designing, building, and maintaining baseball and softball fields

Baseball and Softball Fields is a hands-on tool for everyone responsible for the maintenance and management of baseball and softball facilities, including new construction and reconstruction projects. Packed with in-depth material on the design, construction, and maintenance of baseball and softball fields, this practical resource offers real-world knowledge from industry experts, including Major League groundskeepers. Other useful information includes guidelines, specifications, and tips for keeping playing fields in top-notch condition.

Leading professionals demonstrate the proven techniques and best practices they use year after year to overcome common problems, from cosmetic fixes for damaged turfgrass to spot drainage systems for wet spots on a field. Written in nontechnical language that professionals can quickly understand, the step-by-step guidelines in this book can be swiftly implemented without any background in field design, turfgrass management, or soil science. From recreational fields to state-of-the-art stadiums, coverage addresses a variety of useful topics for a broad range of ballparks, including:

• Stadium and field design
• Fences, dugouts, and bullpens
• Drainage and irrigation
• Soil selection
• Turf management
• Field aesthetics
• Renovation
• Skinned-area maintenance

With material addressing all three growing zones in North America-the warm season, the transitional, and the cool season-Baseball and Softball Fields is a potent resource for builders, managers, and groundskeepers of all types of baseball and softball fields.

Author Biography

JIM PUHALLA is President of Sportscape International, Inc., a firm specializing in the design, construction, renovation, and maintenance of sports fields and related facilities. He has contributed numerous articles to Sports Turf magazine and received the magazine's "Baseball Diamond of the Year" award in 1995 for reconstructing Boardman High School's field in Ohio.

JEFF KRANS is Professor of Agronomy in the Golf and Sports Turf Management program at Mississippi State University. He has conducted extensive turfgrass research, as well as developed, patented, and commercialized four turf-type bermudagrass cultivars.

MIKE GOATLEY is Professor of Agronomy in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Mississippi State University. He has conducted turfgrass research in the areas of plant nutrition, plant growth regulation, and soil modification.

by Coloring Book Edition (Author)

This Coloring Book has Cute Baseball drawings featuring for kids or Kindergarten students, 13 beautiful illustrated Baseball Designs to solve for hours of Coloring, Fun Fun.....! for Girls, Boys and Kids who Love Baseball !! KidsWill Enjoy using this Book at Home or at School.Features: Large 8.5 x 11" format with professional-quality designsBeautiful designs appropriate for all ages.-13 Cute pages drawings of Baseball.-Makes a great gift for any special occasion!-Hours upon hours of coloring enjoyment-No repeat Images in this book!-Perfect for gel pens, ink or pencils, Crayons, Colored pencils.Put a Smile on your Child's face-- Get Your Copy Now !!Thank You ( _ ).

by Jerry Weinstein (Author), Tom Alston (Author)

Here is a comprehensive, practical resource that makes building a successful baseball program considerably easier for both the new and the experienced coach. Included are proven techniques and ready-to-use materials for virtually every aspect of the coach s job, from recruiting to training talent for each position.

Back Jacket

Here is a comprehensive, practical resource that makes building a successful baseball program considerably easier for both the new and the experienced coach. Included are proven techniques and ready-to-use materials for virtually every aspect of the coach's job, from recruiting to training talent for each position.

For easy use, the Guide is organized into 15 sections focusing on 15 different coaching concerns:

1. Getting Started
2. Recruiting and Tryouts
3. Game Control From Start to Finish
4. Pitching
5. The Pitches
6. Catching
7. General Infield Play
8. Outfield Play
9. Defensive Strategy and Positioning
10. Team Defense
11. Hitting
12. The Short Game
13. Base Running
14. Offensive Strategy and Techniques
15. Scholarships and Professional Baseball

Each section is packed with inside tips, drills for skill development, and winning strategies for a variety of game situations and for dealing effectively with a wide range of problems. Here are just a few examples of the ready-to-use help you'll find:

• Guidelines for setting team goals, establishing standards, and marinating positive relationships with players and parents
• Pitching mechanics and skills including the pitching sequence form starting position to landing, special issues with right and left handers, and insights into various pitches
• Tested ways to prevent and treat arm soreness
• 39 defensive play diagrams for cutoffs and relays, bunt defense, first and third defense, and more
• Techniques and drills to help players improve their hitting in all situations
• Guidelines for stealing against left- and right-handed pitchers
• Tips for helping outfielders establish the proper psyche, state of readiness, and way to react to the ball

And that's not all! Baseball Coach's Survival Guide includes nearly 140 photos showing stance, position, and technique ... plus 85 reproducible forms, checklists, and charts for recording progress and performance that can be photocopied for immediate use to help even the most veteran coach save time!

Author Biography

Jerry Weinstein has won 15 league championships or co-championships in 19 years at Sacramento City college (CA) with 232 drafted players and 119 pro signers, 15 of those in the Big leagues. He also serves as assistant coach for the USA Baseball Teams in 1996 and 192 and as a scout for several pro ball teams.

Tom Alston is a successful high school varsity and JV coach with extensive youth league experience as a coach and as clinic director for Babe Ruth, Pony, Little League, and Bambino. He is the author of Winning Pitch, a regular column in Collegiate Baseball, and his articles have appeared in various publications.

by P. J. Dragseth (Author)

House of David barnstorming baseball (1915-1957) was played without pre-determined schedules, leagues, player statistics or standings. The Davids quickly gained popularity for their hirsute appearance and flashy, fast-paced style of play. During their 200 seasons, they travelled as many as 30,000 miles, criss-crossing the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Benton Harbor teams invented the pepper game and were winners year after year, becoming legends in barnstorming baseball.

Initially a loose affiliation of players, the Davids expanded to three teams--Western, Central and Eastern--as their reputation grew, and hired outsiders to fill the rosters. Prominent among them were pitchers Grover Cleveland Alexander and Charlie "Chief" Bender, both player managers in the early 1930s. They resisted the color barrier, eagerly facing Negro League teams everywhere. In 1934, before their largest crowd to date, they defeated the first Negro team invited to the famed Denver Post Tournament, the great Kansas City Monarchs, for the championship.

Author Biography

P.J. Dragseth is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), a former secondary school teacher, and writer for a small local newspaper. She lives in Rogue River, Oregon.

by George Gmelch (Editor), Daniel A. Nathan (Editor)

Baseball Beyond Our Borders celebrates the globalization of the game while highlighting the different histories and cultures of the nations in which the sport is played.

Author Biography

George Gmelch is a professor of anthropology at the University of San Francisco and Union College in upstate New York. He is the author or editor of thirteen books, including Playing with Tigers: A Minor League Chronicle of the Sixties (Nebraska, 2016). Daniel A. Nathan is a professor and chair of American studies at Skidmore College. He is the editor of Rooting for the Home Team: Sport, Community, and Identity and past president of the North American Society for Sport History.

by Coloring Place (Author)

Baseball coloring book to give your kid the best adventure.
This Baseball Sports coloring book includes large 8.5 x 11-inch pages, 30 single side coloring pages.
This Amazing Baseball theme coloring book for Kids has unique coloring pictures of Baseball, And this coloring book is a great activity to stimulate a child's creativity and imagination.
It makes a perfect gift!

by Chris Brown (Illustrator), Ryan Lavarnway (Author)

Ryan is more than a baseball player
As a child Ryan Lavarnway's confidence soared when he had a glove and ball in his hand. Off the field, he struggled to find where he belonged. When Team Israel called, Ryan was thrilled to play baseball for a new kind of team.

by Donald Honig (Author)

From Simon & Schuster comes Donald Honig's Baseball America where he shares the stories of the heroes of the beloved game of baseball and the times of their glory.

Author Biography

Donald Honig is a novelist, historian, and editor known most for his baseball writing. He has written over forty books on baseball including Baseball When the Grass Was Real and Baseball Between the Lines. Don lives and writes in Cromwell, Connecticut, near his daughter Cathy and her family.

by Gregory Ramshaw (Editor), Sean Gammon (Editor)

The influence of baseball heritage in society and culture 

Baseball's past has been lauded, romanticized, and idealized, and much has been written about both the sport and its history. This is the first volume to explore the understudied side of baseball--how its heritage is understood, interpreted, commodified, and performed for various purposes today.



These essays reveal how baseball's heritage can be a source of great enjoyment and inspiration, tracing its influence on constructed environments, such as stadiums and monuments, and food and popular culture. The contributors discuss how its heritage can be used to address social, political, and economic aims and agendas and can reveal tensions about whose past is remembered and whose is laid aside. Contributors address race and racism in the sport, representations of women in baseball, ballparks as repositories for baseball's heritage, and the role of museums in generating the game's heritage narrative.



Providing perspectives on the social impact and influence of baseball in the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, the Caribbean, and the United Kingdom, Baseball and Cultural Heritage shows how the performance of baseball heritage can reflect the culture and heritage of a nation.



A volume in the series Cultural Heritage Studies, edited by Paul A. Shackel

Author Biography

Gregory Ramshaw, professor of
parks, recreation, and tourism management at Clemson University, is the author
of Heritage and Sport: An Introduction.

by Alisscia B (Author)

Baseball Coloring Book for Kids

- Number of pages: 32 pages

- Premium cover design

- White paper sheet

- Sized: 8.5 x 11 inches

by David Block (Author), Tim Wiles (Foreword by)

It may be America's game, but no one seems to know how or when baseball really started. Theories abound, myths proliferate, but reliable information has been in short supply--until now, when Baseball before We Knew It brings fresh new evidence of baseball's origins into play. David Block looks into the early history of the game and of the 150-year-old debate about its beginnings. He tackles one stubborn misconception after another, debunking the enduring belief that baseball descended from the English game of rounders and revealing a surprising new explanation for the most notorious myth of all--the Abner Doubleday-Cooperstown story.
Block's book takes readers on an exhilarating journey through the centuries in search of clues to the evolution of our modern National Pastime. Among his startling discoveries is a set of long-forgotten baseball rules from the 1700s. Block evaluates the originality and historical significance of the Knickerbocker rules of 1845, revisits European studies on the ancestry of baseball which indicate that the game dates back hundreds, if not thousands of years, and assembles a detailed history of games and pastimes from the Middle Ages onward that contributed to baseball's development. In its thoroughness and reach, and its extensive descriptive bibliography of early baseball sources, this book is a unique and invaluable resource--a comprehensive, reliable, and readable account of baseball before it was America's game.

Author Biography

David Block is a long-time collector of early baseball books and memorabilia, and is a passionate, lifelong fan of the game and its history.

by Jake Maddox (Author), Eva Morales (Illustrator)

Malcolm loves two things--baseball and science. He's always studying the stats and coming up with ideas to help his team gain an advantage over the competition. But when Malcolm's homemade glove oil causes a major blowup with his teammates, he must find a way to win back their trust. Leaning into science and statistics, he decides to try a new type of pitch to keep batters off balance during his next start. Will Malcolm's secret pitch prove to be a game winner or just another failed experiment? Find out in this exciting, easy-to-read chapter book by Jake Maddox!

by Starshine (Author)

Let's play ball!

Boys who love baseball will be keen to get their hands on this book. There are 36 unique baseball designs ready to color.

This coloring book features:

★ 54 pages.

★ There are 36 unique designs to color.

★ Each image is on single sided pages to prevent bleed-through.

★ A premium glossy cover.

★ Flexible paperback design.

★ Conveniently sized at 8.5 inches x 11 inches.

This book contains an awesome collection of baseball coloring designs that your son, brother or nephew will be delighted to receive.

Scroll to the top of the page and click the "Add to Cart" button now.

by Dean Burrell (Author)

Get to know the game with inspiring baseball biographies for ages 8 to 12!

It's the bottom of the ninth, bases are loaded, and your team is down by three--who do you want coming up to bat? Discover the most talented players in every position on the field with Baseball Biographies for Kids! This lineup shows you what it takes to be a real MVP, with a run-down of stories, stats, and achievements of the best players in baseball, from the 1960s through today.

Legends of the league -- Get inspired by the players who defined the game, like Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax, and Ichiro Suzuki.

Key career stats -- Each biography in this baseball history book includes the player's life story, as well as their major statistics like games played, ERA, hits, and more.

Draft your own all-star team -- Fill out the included starting lineup sheet with your favorite picks for each position!

Whether you're an aspiring athlete or just a big fan, this book of baseball stories for kids is sure to give you a greater love of the game!

Author Biography

DEAN BURRELL is a decades-long baseball fan who learned the game by watching the greats at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Living in the Bay Area, Dean is fortunate enough to have access to two local major league teams.

by Frank McClure (Author)

Born into a sharecropping family during the Jim Crow South, this book chronicles a powerful journey of resilience and faith. Inspired by the legacy of Negro League and its players such as Jackie Robinson and Willie Mayes, a fellow barrier-breaker, the author shares a story of overcoming a significant personal hardship (details revealed within). Faith served as a guiding light from a young age, leading the author to become a Deacon and dedicated community leader. Highlighting the struggles of the past, the book emphasizes the importance of understanding history and the sacrifices made by previous generations. Drawing strength from Joshua 1:7-9, it encourages readers to be strong and courageous in their own pursuits. This is a compelling story for anyone seeking inspiration, a testament to the enduring power of faith and the human spirit in the face of adversity. For we walk by Faith, not by sight. 2: Corinthians 5:7.

by Ricky Cano (Author), Loso Perez (Cover Design by), Haydee Disla (Editor)

Step into the world of "Baseball & A Girl," where the dreams of high school brothers Jonathan and Kelvin Machado collide with the realities of life and love. Jonathan, the All-American prodigy, and Kelvin, the underrated underdog, navigate the highs and lows of adolescence amidst the backdrop of America's favorite pastime. As their father, Sandy Machado, grapples with the ghosts of his own past, a sudden sickness threatens to derail the brothers' aspirations, forcing them to confront tough decisions and the fragility of their dreams. In this captivating young adult tale, the pulse of the baseball diamond meets the heartbeat of family, resilience, and the universal quest for identity. Will Jonathan and Kelvin strike out or hit a home run in the game of life? Dive into Baseball & A Girl to find out.

by Tim Rask (Author)

John O'Donnell Stadium is one picturesque ballpark. With Centennial Bridge crossing the Mississippi River down the first base line and the Davenport skyline overlooking left center field, it is a minor league baseball landmark. John O'Donnell Stadium has been home to Quad Cities baseball since 1931-never mind the occasional flood. And though the teams have come and gone-the Blue Sox, Cubs, Quads, Angels, River Bandits-one constant has been the embrace of baseball itself by the local fans. Old-timers will remember cheering on Jim Bunning of the 1951 Quad Cities Tigers, the first Q.C. ballplayer to make it to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Since 1960, when Quad Cities joined the Midwest League, Q.C. baseball fans have seen dozens of young players like Dante Bichette, Carney Lansford, and Billy Wagner pass through John O'Donnell Stadium en route to the Big Leagues. And, if they didn't blink, they might have witnessed Chuck Finley pitch 12 scoreless innings in 1986 before being hurried up to the California Angels.

by Jasmine Taylor (Author)

This coloring book is ideal for kids of any age who love the wonderful sport and pastime of baseball. Enjoy baseball players in action while catching grounders and high fly balls, making outs, sliding into home plate, batting and much more. These detailed ready-to-color illustrations have plenty of white space giving you room to sketch, draw, doodle and add your own unique artistic personality to each colored scene for hours of creative fun! Benefits - Make your work look great using colored pencils, pens, markers or crayons - Illustrations on separate pages to protect your colorful masterpiece - Artist name & date box on back of each illustration - Share and give your colored art work to friends, family and loved ones as gifts or precious keepsake - Full color image examples on back cover - Enjoy therapeutic, stress relieving effect coloring can bring - Relax, unwind and spend time together Makes a great gift for any baseball enthusiast, Hit the buy button and start your coloring journey!

by S. Derby Gisclair (Author)

On a brisk January morning in 1888, nine young men from Tulane University faced off against nine young men from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge to play base ball. Tulane won 22 to 8 in what was Louisiana's first intercollegiate sporting event, and thus began one of the great sports rivalries in the state's history, a tradition that continues more than a century later. As baseball's popularity grew across America, the game thrived at Tulane, which produced numerous conference champions, scores of professional players, and one president of the American League. Experiencing increased national prominence, the university has announced plans for a major expansion of Turchin Stadium, which is sure to make Tulane's one of the premiere baseball facilities and programs in the country.

by Eric Bronson (Editor), Bill Littlefield (Foreword by), William Irwin (Editor)

William Irwin has taken philosophy out of the academy and put it on the bestseller list. The series has been featured in The New York Times and People, and on NPR's All Things Considered. Now philosophy finds its real home -- in the dugout. In Baseball and Philosophy, 18 professors -- some from the new field devoted to the philosophy of sport, others unapologetic baseball fans -- explore the sport's deeper aspects. How can Zen be applied to hitting? Do you play to win or play by the rules? Is it ethical to employ deception in sports? Can a game be defined by its written rules or are there also other constraints? What can the U.S. Supreme Court learn from umpiring? Why should baseball be the only industry exempt from antitrust laws? These are some of the questions addressed in this witty, provocative blend of two major American pastimes: watching baseball and thinking about it.

by Rich Adler (Author)

Baseball at the University of Michigan has had a long and rich tradition. Base ball, to use the contemporary vernacular, began as a club sport during the 1860s. By the dawn of the 20th century, the sport had evolved into the most popular spring leisure event in which students participated. Crowds of greater than 500 were not unusual, at a time when enrollment at the university was approximately 2500 students. Each class and college fielded a team. Prominent names in UM baseball history include the legendary Walker brothers, the first African Americans to play major league baseball, and Branch Rickey, who developed the powerful Dodger teams of the 1940s and integrated baseball with the signing of Jackie Robinson. George Sisler, among the greatest in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, began his career as a Michigan pitcher. And of course there was Ray Fisher, who coached Michigan for 38 years. The end of the century was marked by scandal, but it also brought major league stars such as Hal Morris, Jim Abbot and Barry Larkin, as well as David Parrish and Jake Fox, potential stars of the future.

In the shadow of UM football and basketball, baseball is sometimes considered the "other" sport. But in terms of excitement and accessibility to the students, it is still "Number One."

by Ricky Cano (Author), Loso Perez (Cover Design by)

Step into the world of "Baseball & A Girl," where the dreams of high school brothers Jonathan and Kelvin Machado collide with the realities of life and love. Jonathan, the All-American prodigy, and Kelvin, the underrated underdog, navigate the highs and lows of adolescence amidst the backdrop of America's favorite pastime. As their father, Sandy Machado, grapples with the ghosts of his own past, a sudden sickness threatens to derail the brothers' aspirations, forcing them to confront tough decisions and the fragility of their dreams. In this captivating young adult tale, the pulse of the baseball diamond meets the heartbeat of family, resilience, and the universal quest for identity. Will Jonathan and Kelvin strike out or hit a home run in the game of life? Dive into Baseball & A Girl to find out.

by Diane Adams (Author), Charlene Chua (Illustrator)

This original board book series, which begins with America's favorite pasttime--baseball--is sure to be a homerun with the youngest of readers and the sports-loving grown-ups in their lives.

Author Biography

Diane Adams enjoys playing golf and watching baseball, among other sports. She's the author of successful picture books such as Love Is, Two Hands to Love You, I Can Do It Myself!, and I Want to Help!. She holds her master's degree in English literature from California State University, San Bernardino, where she teaches children's literature and humanities. Diane spends much of her time writing, visiting schools, and speaking at conferences.

by Robert W. Creamer (Author)

"This is a baseball book, but whether Creamer intended it or not, it's much, much more."-Sports Illustrated. "[Creamer] recalls this momentous year in baseball and world history. He reprises Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak, Ted Williams's .406 batting average, Hank Greenberg and the draft, the furious Dodgers-Cardinals pennant fight, and the ensuing World Series. All this is portrayed against the looming U.S. entry into World War II."-Library Journal. Robert W. Creamer, one of the best and most perceptive writers on baseball, remembers the baseball-and other matters-of 1941 in a tribute to the game that is also part memoir. Creamer was a long-time writer and editor at Sports Illustrated. He is the author or coauthor of numerous books, including the following Bison Books: Stengel: His Life and Times, Rhubarb in the Catbird Seat, Jocko, and The Quality of Courage.

Author Biography

Robert W. Creamer, one of the best and most perceptive writers on baseball, remembers the baseball--and other matters--of 1941 in a tribute to the game that is also part memoir. Creamer was a long-time writer and editor at Sports Illustrated. He is the author or coauthor of numerous books, including the following Bison Books: Stengel: His Life and Times, Rhubarb in the Catbird Seat, Jocko, and The Quality of Courage.

by Jim Yeager (Author)

Arkansas' Fields of Dreams...
Travel down almost any backroad in Arkansas and you will pass a relic of Arkansas' baseball history. The dilapidated back stops and the remains of long-neglected dugouts are a disappearing visual image of a rural sports history long forgotten.
In the first half of the 20th century, baseball was the chosen sport of farmers, coal miners, timber cutters, and even sharecroppers. No educational affiliation was required, and elementary school drop-outs were welcome. If someone could buy a ball, or even make one, and procure a bat or two, the game was on. The three acres or so needed to play were readily available, as was the creek for the after-game bath.
These are rural Arkansas' Fields of Dreams. Stop the car, get out, and walk out to the forgotten ball field. Sit in the rickety dugout and look out at the field. See the game? The players of your imagination are an important part of our heritage. This book is an attempt to keep the stories of these rural baseball players alive.

by Frank Garland (Author)

Bursting onto the scene as a 20-year-old rookie, Arky Vaughan quickly established himself as the next great Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop. In 1935 his .385 batting average eclipsed even that of the immortal Honus Wagner, who was a steadying influence for Vaughan during his 10 seasons with the Pirates. Vaughan never hit under .300 with Pittsburgh and his versatility later made him an asset to the Brooklyn Dodgers. One of the quietest men in baseball, the nine-time All-Star eschewed the limelight but received plenty of attention for his on-field performance, for his one-man mutiny against Brooklyn manager Leo Durocher, and for walking away from the game to take care of his family and his beloved ranch during World War II. Drawing on dozens of articles, personal writings, recorded interviews and his daughter's unpublished biography, this book covers the life and career of an often overlooked Hall of Famer who died in a tragic boating accident at age 40.

Author Biography

Frank Garland, a native of Pittsburgh, worked for more than 25 years as a reporter at several northern California newspapers and is now a journalism communications program director at Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania.

by Eric C. Gray (Author)

"What is your favorite memory connected to baseball?" is the simple question asked by author Eric Gray that launched the book Bases to Bleachers, a collection of personal memories. With over 1250 tales collected from around the world, it became evident that one volume of stories would not be enough. And they kept coming.

Backyards to Ballparks: More Personal Baseball Stories from the Stands and Beyond is the second volume. The stories are all different...but the heart and soul of the book are the same. They all have in common that tribute to why baseball remains the American pastime, how it connects friends, families, communities. These memories, often more human interest than play-of-game in nature, all have baseball as a setting, but speak to how baseball provides joy and anguish, nourishes family traditions, creates friendships and can profoundly affect you.

Whether the stories are about befriending Hank Aaron because of a mixed music tape, catching or not catching that prized ball, re-telling the memory your grandpa passed down to you, or finding out some life-changing news while at a game, these are stories that will make you laugh, or tear up, and allow you to remember similar events in your life. If you like baseball - great. If you don't, it doesn't matter. You will love these stories. Little Leagues to the Big Leagues, you will find them all in Backyards to Ballparks.

by Charles River (Author)

*Includes pictures
*Includes a bibliography for further reading
"I only have one superstition: I make sure to touch all the bases when I hit a home run." - Babe Ruth
As one of America's oldest and most beloved sports, baseball has long been touted as the national pastime, but of all the millions of people who have played it over the last few centuries, the first name that many associate with Major League Baseball is Babe Ruth, whose career spanned over 20 years on the way to becoming the sport's biggest legend. The Bambino came onto the scene as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, only to be infamously sold to the rival New York Yankees, where he went on to set records for most home runs (714), runs batted in (2,213), walks (2,062), slugging percentage (.690), and on-base plus slugging (1.164). The Sultan of Swat's records would take decades to be surpassed, but he also managed to win more than 20 games as a pitcher for Boston, along with three World Series before heading to New York. Boston wouldn't win another championship for over 80 years after Ruth's departure, a drought famously referred to as "The Curse of the Bambino."
As if he wasn't accomplished enough in Boston, Ruth went on to become a pop culture fixture in New York while playing 15 years for the Yankees on some of the sport's most legendary teams. In addition to leading the Bronx Bombers to four World Series during his time there, Ruth set several single season and career records, elevating the team and MLB itself in ways that athletes could hardly dream of today. Ruth's impact could be keenly felt in a 1922 article authored by Heywood Broun, "Cutting the Heart of the Plate," which said of him, "No one ever requires more than one glance to identify Babe Ruth. Even a wholly ignorant person who had never heard of him would probably stop in wonder at the sight of Babe waddling by. It must be clear to all beholders that here is some great, primitive force harking back to the dim days of the race. William Jennings Bryan might well look upon the Babe and recant. To be sure, a certain ingenuity was required to fit just the proper name upon this personality. As George Herman Ruth he might have gone far but he could hardly have reached the heights. The man who made him by the gift of 'Babe' ought to draw a substantial royalty from Ruth's mighty income. But probably no single individual hit upon the happy thought. Undoubtably a mass movement was required. Babe Ruth has all the vigor and vitality of a piece of folk literature."
Over a century after his MLB debut, Ruth remains as well known as ever, and people continue to discuss his exploits both on and off the field. Ruth used to wink at his reputation, joking, "I learned early to drink beer, wine and whiskey. And I think I was about 5 when I first chewed tobacco." Biographer Leigh Montville described a typical scene after a game: "The outrageous life fascinated [pitcher Waite] Hoyt, the...freedom of it, the nonstop, pell-mell charge into excess. How did a man drink so much and never get drunk? ... The puzzle of Babe Ruth never was dull, no matter how many times Hoyt picked up the pieces and stared at them. After games he would follow the crowd to the Babe's suite. No matter what the town, the beer would be iced and the bottles would fill the bathtub."
Given the passage of time, people tend to debate how good Ruth would be today, including most recently a current MLB reliever, Adam Ottavino, who claimed he would strike out Ruth every time. That claim became even more controversial when Ottavino joined none other than the Yankees ahead of the 2019 season, which led to the reliever walking back some of the comments. But even as far back as 1929, Bucky Harris may have foreseen debates of this kind by pointing out, "These other home run hitters are neck and neck. When the Babe was doing his stuff, he was miles ahead of his field."

by Carroll Conklin (Author)

These were the heroes who owned the summers of the 1960s. Dean Chance and Leon Wagner. Buck Rodgers and Andy Messersmith. Bo Belinsky and Jim Fregosi. Bobby Knoop and Albie Pearson. During the summers of the 1960s, the heroes of Orange County wore Angels uniforms. On their best days (which 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 Angels 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 Angels Heroes: Remembering the California Angels Who Helped Make the 1960s Baseball's Real Golden Age. The book profiles the best (and a few of the worst) of the Los Angeles and California Angels of the 1960s. In all, there are 68 profiles of the infielders, outfielders, catchers and pitchers who played for the Angels in the 1960s. Do you remember ... The right-handed fireballer who pitched 11 shutouts for the Angels in 1964, winning six of them by 1-0 scores? (page 83) The 140-pound All-Star center fielder who led the American League with 115 runs scored in 1962? (page 56) The playboy southpaw who tossed a no-hitter as a rookie? (page 76) The six-time All-Star shortstop who was traded for the game's greatest strikeout pitcher? (page 12) The hard-luck left-hander who led the American League in losses in 1968 ... despite a 2.86 earned run average? (page 79) The switch-hitter who caught 894 games for the Angels in the 1960s? (page 72) The pitcher who started his career with the Angels (winning 59 games in 5 years) and became one of baseball's first free agents? (page 105) The Gold Glove second baseman with a .236 career batting average who led the Angels in RBIs in 1966? (page 17) The "Daddy" who led the Angels in home runs from 1961 through 1963? (page 60) The Hall of Fame pitcher who hit a home run in his first major league at-bat and pitched a no-hitter in his first major league start? (page 116) 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 John J. Rust (Author)

They are all-stars, world champions and hall-of-famers. They are some of the best baseball players to set foot on the diamond, and they have one thing in common. They all hail from Arizona. Writer and life-long baseball fan John J. Rust pulls together an all-time 25-man roster of players from the Grand Canyon State.

1. Who makes the starting line-up?
2. Who toes the rubber?
3. Who comes off the bench, and who leads this team from the dugout?

"Arizona's All-Time Baseball Team" showcases the best players to ever come out of the state. Read about their journeys from high school to the national stage, and how many left an indelible mark on the game. Through simulated games, this squad faces its ultimate test as they take on some of the best teams in baseball history.

Author Biography

John J. Rust was born in Hamilton Township, NJ, where he graduated from Nottingham High School and Mercer County Community College. After receiving a communications degree from the College of Mt. St. Vincent in Riverdale, NY, he worked for New Jersey 101.5 FM before moving to Arizona to become a radio sports reporter and play-by-play announcer. Rust is the author of the sci-fi books "Sea Raptor" and "Dark Wings" and the baseball-themed book "The Best Phillies Team Ever." He has also written several sci-fi short stories.

by Alan Schuarz (Author)

We've selected the cream of the crop at every position from each league, American and National, to offer up two sensational All-Star squads. You'll learn about the A.L.'s ace starter Pedro Martinez and its fireballing closer, Mariano Rivera. Can they stop the big bats of the N.L.'s Mike Piazza and Sammy Sosa? Step up to the plate and find out plenty about these super All-Stars.

by Evan James (Author)

Get ready for an exciting journey into the world of baseball with this awesome activity book. It's designed for young baseball enthusiasts aged 8-10 and would make the perfect gift. It has both engaging and educational activities that will give hours of entertainment, whilst also honing essential skills.

Key features include:

• Word Searches
• Exciting Mazes
• Anagram Challenges
• Coloring Pages
• Jokes
• Design Your Own Team
• And much more!

by Zags Puzzles (Author)

Do your kids love Baseball? would you like to keep your kids entertained?

This Activity Book is designed for boys and girls who love baseball and are ready to spend hours of fun engaging with richly themed activities

What's Inside?

• coloring pages for your kid to enjoy - Single-sided (markers will not bleed).
• word search puzzles inspired by baseball terminology.
• baseball mandala silhouettes to color.
• word scrambles that are baseball-themed
• odd one out puzzles
• connect the dots challenges

.This activity book makes an excellent gift idea for birthdays, Christmas, and any special occasion.

Scroll up and click on "Add to cart'' to Buy Now!

by Bill Nowlin (Editor), Mike Gibbons (Foreword by)

"The history of baseball in Baltimore is as deep-rooted and tradition-rich as anywhere in America. If you are a fan of our national pastime, I am certain you will enjoy scrolling through this compelling chronicle of what makes Baltimore baseball unique. From Ruth to Ripken, from the Elite Giants to our Baltimore Orioles, there's nothing quite as intriguing as these tales of our orange and black." -Mike Gibbons, Director Emeritus, Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation

Baltimore Baseball touches on some of the rich history of baseball in the Baltimore area, through recounts of 84 games from 1876 through 2019.

The bulk of the games feature the Baltimore Orioles--the current franchise from 1954 to the present-but we also have games from the nineteenth century, the early twentieth century, and the Negro Leagues. Some of the most memorable games in Baltimore history are included, along with some unique contests, and Hall of Fame players featured throughout.

Also included are "ballpark biographies" of seven Baltimore ballparks-Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Memorial Stadium, Union Park, American League Park, Bugle Field, Terrapin Park, and Maryland Park, and an essay on other early ballparks.

Fifty-four members of the Society for American Baseball Research and SABR's Babe Ruth Chapter contributed their talents as researchers, writers, and editors to create this look at Baltimore Baseball, an ideal keepsake for diehard O's fans and an apt introduction for those coming to Charm City for the first time.

by Jeff Polman (Author)

BALL NUTS traces the daily fortunes of six baseball-crazy inmates who escape from a Squallpocket, Maine hospital via a mysterious time warp to experience a wild, funkified, and re-imagined 1977 baseball season. Red Sox fanatic Carlton "Buzz" Gip shares the narrative duties with Mikey from Philly, Dodgers old-timer Sherman Wayman, Reds groupie Crazy Amy Gulliver, Bronx brother Friendly Fred and midwest schizophrenic Lester Creech (who roots for four teams at once). Meanwhile, Dr. Sheila Grossinger and Seamus Headley, the ward's cryptic "sweeper", are hot on their trail...* * *Carlton "Buzz" Gip is just an ordinary divorced father, living out his early middle age watching Red Sox baseball games in his Maine trailer-until he realizes he is actually a mental patient at a nearby hospital. He swears that two strange "men in black" visited him with a mission to replay the 1977 season using a set of custom time-transporting Strat-O-Matic dice, but was it all in his head?Sharing the possible delusion are his five equally odd, baseball junkie ward-mates. Needless to say, "rolling rights" to the games are soon debated. In a nasty, multi-patient wrestling match over the dice one day, all six patients are accidentally zapped back to 1977, leaving psychiatrist Sheila Grossinger and corporate spook Seamus Headley to join forces, transport themselves back to the same year using newer, more powerful dice, and retrieve the patients.Our odd gang beams around to various ballgames in the first few months, even taking in the premiere of "Star Wars". Surly Phillies phanatic Mikey accidentally drowns in the Royals Stadium fountain, creating some tension, but for the most part they stay as sane as possible, even befriending a semi-retired Texas sportswriter named "Peachy" Calhoun to help them get around.When "Dr. Sheila" and Seamus appear outside the Indians' ballpark, though, the patients panic and flee in all directions. With Seamus recovering from a severe concussion in a Cleveland hospital, Buzz and the doctor hit the road to track the others down. They scoop up the five-year-old Buzz from the bowels of Fenway Park, where he was apparently abandoned back in '77, and take the unaware boy west in search of Dodger fanatic Sherman Wayman, who has a dark past of his own. Meanwhile, Crazy Amy escapes to Memphis to "rescue" Elvis Presley, Buzz and Fred make a side trip to Manhattan to try and do the same with John Lennon. Will time run out on the season? Will they each "evaporate" when their teams get eliminated, as Seamus has warned? Who will survive to actually see the World Series? It's a wild and crazy race to the finish...

Author Biography

JEFF POLMAN is a journalist, screenwriter, and blogger who just can't stop writing about baseball. "Ball Nuts" was adapted from the second of his five fictional replay blogs, which include "The Bragging Rights League", "Mysteryball '58" and his latest creation "Dear Hank." His first published replay novel, "1924 and You Are there!" was based on the blog of the same name. After getting his start writing freelance articles for the Advocate newspapers and Boston Phoenix, he was Arts Editor of the Vermont Vanguard Press for its first five years before moving out west. His Web writing has appeared on The Huffington Post, ChicagoSide Sports, Baseball Prospectus, The Hardball Times, New England Baseball Journal, and Seamheads. He is a lifelong Red Sox fan and resides with his wife and son in Culver City, CA.

by Charles River (Author)

*Includes pictures
*Includes a bibliography for further reading
"I only have one superstition: I make sure to touch all the bases when I hit a home run." - Babe Ruth
As one of America's oldest and most beloved sports, baseball has long been touted as the national pastime, but of all the millions of people who have played it over the last few centuries, the first name that many associate with Major League Baseball is Babe Ruth, whose career spanned over 20 years on the way to becoming the sport's biggest legend. The Bambino came onto the scene as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, only to be infamously sold to the rival New York Yankees, where he went on to set records for most home runs (714), runs batted in (2,213), walks (2,062), slugging percentage (.690), and on-base plus slugging (1.164). The Sultan of Swat's records would take decades to be surpassed, but he also managed to win more than 20 games as a pitcher for Boston, along with three World Series before heading to New York. Boston wouldn't win another championship for over 80 years after Ruth's departure, a drought famously referred to as "The Curse of the Bambino."
As if he wasn't accomplished enough in Boston, Ruth went on to become a pop culture fixture in New York while playing 15 years for the Yankees on some of the sport's most legendary teams. In addition to leading the Bronx Bombers to four World Series during his time there, Ruth set several single season and career records, elevating the team and MLB itself in ways that athletes could hardly dream of today. Ruth's impact could be keenly felt in a 1922 article authored by Heywood Broun, "Cutting the Heart of the Plate," which said of him, "No one ever requires more than one glance to identify Babe Ruth. Even a wholly ignorant person who had never heard of him would probably stop in wonder at the sight of Babe waddling by. It must be clear to all beholders that here is some great, primitive force harking back to the dim days of the race. William Jennings Bryan might well look upon the Babe and recant. To be sure, a certain ingenuity was required to fit just the proper name upon this personality. As George Herman Ruth he might have gone far but he could hardly have reached the heights. The man who made him by the gift of 'Babe' ought to draw a substantial royalty from Ruth's mighty income. But probably no single individual hit upon the happy thought. Undoubtably a mass movement was required. Babe Ruth has all the vigor and vitality of a piece of folk literature."
Over a century after his MLB debut, Ruth remains as well known as ever, and people continue to discuss his exploits both on and off the field. Ruth used to wink at his reputation, joking, "I learned early to drink beer, wine and whiskey. And I think I was about 5 when I first chewed tobacco." Biographer Leigh Montville described a typical scene after a game: "The outrageous life fascinated [pitcher Waite] Hoyt, the...freedom of it, the nonstop, pell-mell charge into excess. How did a man drink so much and never get drunk? ... The puzzle of Babe Ruth never was dull, no matter how many times Hoyt picked up the pieces and stared at them. After games he would follow the crowd to the Babe's suite. No matter what the town, the beer would be iced and the bottles would fill the bathtub."
Given the passage of time, people tend to debate how good Ruth would be today, including most recently a current MLB reliever, Adam Ottavino, who claimed he would strike out Ruth every time. That claim became even more controversial when Ottavino joined none other than the Yankees ahead of the 2019 season, which led to the reliever walking back some of the comments. But even as far back as 1929, Bucky Harris may have foreseen debates of this kind by pointing out, "These other home run hitters are neck and neck. When the Babe was doing his stuff, he was miles ahead of his field."