OT: Read any good books lately?
 

Well its that time of year again when my extended family wonder what to get me for Christmas. For the last few years I have asked on Net54 for any book suggestions. I always get some insight and pass the list along and inevitably end up with a good supply of baseball reading for the next year.

Instead of listing what I already have I will just leave it open for any and all suggestions as this might help benefit other reader on the boards as well. I'll add in a good list in a future post of what I have read and liked once we get this thread rolling.

Interests would be anything on vintage card collecting, baseball history but I usually stay away from biographies unless there is one you just have to tell about, also love the growth and expansion era of baseball (1940's through the 1970's) so anything relating to that, Brooklyn Dodgers and so on.

Let me know your thought and please feel free to share as much info to try and spread the love of a good book.

Drew

Operation Bullpen, by Kevin Nelson
http://www.operationbullpen.com/

A few years old now, but a fascinating book. If you read it, you'll never, ever buy a Mickey Mantle autographed anything!

For baseball history, you couldn't go wrong with the following:

Lords of the Realm - John Helyar
Raceball - Rob Ruck
Playing America's Game - Adrian Burgos

One of my favorites, "The Last Best League." Great book about young, amateur players trying to get into the big leagues. http://www.amazon.com/The-Last-Best-League-Summer/dp/0306814188

If you have yet to read a Ruth biography, I'd strongly recommend one. This one, http://www.amazon.com/Babe-Legend-Co...ruth+biography, doesn't deviate much into anything but his life- no Black Sox, Gehrig, or much else- but no such deviation is really needed; Ruth's entertaining enough.

Just bought "Operation Bullpen" on Amazon for Kindle. It should help curb my appetite for going after HOF autographs.

+1 for not spending serious money on any type of sports memorabilia.

Book
 

I am reading Babe: The Legend Comes to Life by Robert Creamer. About 80%done. An interesting account of his life, the good with the bad. From what I understand this is the most accurate account of his life in print. He was an incredible human being. I would recommend if you would like to learn more about his life.

Creamer was an amazing writer! I have also read his book on the '41 season. It may be the best book I have ever read. Not only does he detail the '41 season and all its excitement but he also chronicles what is happening simultaneously in the second World War as it approaches and how it effects the U.S. and the players in MLB. Awesome pennant race that year!

Mint Condition: some good down and dirty stuff about cards.

Undisputed Truth: Mike Tyson no holds barred autobiography

Vertical: the sequel to Sideways

A Fighter's Heart: Sam Sheridan's exploration behind the scenes of various pro fighting leagues.

I am new to the board and this is my first post. I enjoy reading the various posts on this board. I am a Baltimore Orioles and Brooklyn Dodgers fan

My recommendations would be:

1) Gil Hodges The Brooklyn Bums, the Miracle Mets, and the Extraordinary Life of a Baseball Legend.

Great book about a great player but more importantly a great human being.

He should be in the Hall(in my humble opinion) and hopefully he gets there soon.

2) Wait 'til Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Duane Clark

Another plug for "Summer of 41"...read it about a month ago, a great read. Neutralized some of who I thought were hero's, and brought light to some there WERE hero's. Great read, and yes, the fact it simultaneously gave a working history about WW2 was fascinating and how it effected MLB.

I love reading biography's...in the last year I have read Lou Gehrigs, Jackie Robinson, two on the Mick, Bobby Richardson's, and a really fun book written by Rico Petrocelli on the Red Sox of 1967. Great book...

Best baseball card book of all times

I agree with you, I think Mr. Creamer's book is the best one about the Babe. In the picture section, did you happen to see Babe standing with his father in the bar? I can't believe how much they look like twins rather than father and son.

Brian B. (southeast Iowa's larges Yankee fan)

I just finished 'Chasing Moonlight' - it was pretty good - he was an interesting man.

I'm also currently reading 'The Pride of the Yankees' about the making of that movie and 'Roger Maris: Baseball's Reluctant Hero'.


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Currently listening to The Baseball 100 on Audible. Pretty interesting personal information mixed with the numbers. It's also something like 30 hours so good bang for the buck. Scott

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

I know you said no biographies but I still have to recommend Cobra. It’s a great unvarnished read.

I'm also reading 'Loserville' and 'Team of Rivals' simultaneously with the others...read a chapter in one, then move to the next one. (keeps me from getting bogged down with one)


'Loserville' describes the build up of Atlanta and how luring major league sports teams effected that progression.

'Team of Rivals' is subititled 'The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln' - it is fascinating...amazing parallels to many political issues of today.

I'm currently listening (audiobook addict) to 59 in '84 and the Summer of Beer and Whiskey by Edward Achorn.

They are narrated very well and go over Old Hoss Radbourn in 1884 and the St. Louis Browns in 1883 respectively.