What's the best baseball book that you've read?

Answer 1

Here are my top 5, in order. Sorry if it's a little long:

1) The Pitch that Killed, by Mike Sowell - This is the story of Ray Chapman and Carl Mays, and the infamous 1920 beaning that led to Chapman's death. A great historical backdrop and fantastic writing.

2) Lords of the Realm, by John Helyar - Although it’s now 10 years old, this is still probably the best examination of the history of player/owner relations. Helyar does a great job of showing the brilliance of Marvin Miller, contrasted against the greed and stupidity of the baseball owners. Lots of information about the union, past commissioners, and how the game changed since its inception.

3) Glory of their Times, by Lawrence Ritter - I think this is one you’ll find on the top-10 lists of almost any baseball fan. Ritter was fortunate enough to interview players from the early-20th century, and it’s amazing to hear guys like Rube Marquard, Joe Wood, and Sam Crawford talk about their playing days. There aren’t many first-person accounts like this one, and it’s an extraordinary work. This should be required reading.

4) Veeck, as in Wreck, by Bill Veeck - How can anyone not love a book by an owner who bypassed the owners’ box so that he could sit with the fans? Like Charles Finley, Veeck was ahead of his time, which means that we of course labeled an outcast by baseball insiders. He was the first to really push promotional nights, and he talked about interleague play over 45 years ago. A great, funny baseball lifer.

5) Eight men Out, by Eliot Asinof - The story is familiar to anyone who knows anything about baseball, but this book is still required reading for any fan. The portrayals of Comiskey, along with Joe Jackson and his fellow cheaters, are classic. It’s tough to read about the players’ downfall, but it’s a seminal moment in the game’s history. At least one ex-player, Christy Mathewson, comes off as having tried to do the right thing in expressing his skepticism over the series’ outcome.

I've got a whole list that I keep and constantly update. Again, sorry for the long answer.

Answer 2

Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. This is a great read about the summer of 2002 and Billy Beane's magical touch in this sport we all love. A quick read but it really makes you think. The answer to running a successful baseball organization? Hitters should be signed based on On Base Percentage. Pitchers should be signed based on Strikeouts, Home Runs allowed, Walks and groundballs. It's that simple. A challenge to conventional thinking.

Answer 3

From Suntimes and Ebert and Roeper, Richard Roeper wrote "Sox and the City - A fan's love affair with the White Sox from the Heartbreak of 67 to the Wizards of Oz".
The best book about Chicago baseball ever written. Funny, touching, and a must read for any fan of baseball.

Answer 4

The Code: Baseball's Unwritten rules and its forget approximately-at-Your-very own-threat Code of habit via Ross Bernstein. It discusses the "code" of baseball going over bean balls, charging the mound, breaking double performs, the guidelines on bunting...and so on. Its very interesting and we could the avid baseball fan in on baseball the way gamers see it. additionally Rob Neyer's enormous e book of Baseball blunders: an entire instruction manual to the Worst judgements and Stupidest Moments in Baseball history. i'm exceptionally confident the identify says all of it!

Answer 5

Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn. A great book about the 1950's Brooklyn Dodgers and also discusses a lot about Jackie Robinson in the 1940's.

Answer 6

Bill James' Historical Baseball Abstract (1984 and 2001 eds.)

Answer 7

I don't think I can name a single best baseball book. But my list would definitely include George Wills' "Men at Work", anything by Tom Boswell or Roger Angell, Bill James "Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame" and anything on the business of baseball., including "Moneyball".

Answer 8

The best baseball book I have ever read was Ball Four by Jim Bouton.

Answer 9

The Natural

Answer 10

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