OT: Any Suggestions on Good Baseball Book to ask For

[almostdone]

I already posted this elsewhere but thought I would put it here as well.
Every year I get asked the same question of "What would you like for Christmas?". I have long given up on asking for additions to my collection form those who don't know anything about it, so I usually ask for some different books to read. Especially about the games history but not nessesarily biographies of single players. I have a few already but thought I would get some imput here to see what others might think.
Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Drew

[deebro041]

Great read, But Didn't We Have Fun by Peter Morris! I like anything written by Peter Morris, he is a great historian!!

[Gr8Beldini]

If you're looking for history of the game, I would stay away from most biographies. I would recommend:

1. Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract (People think of Bill James as nothing but a stats guy but he is a great writer)
2. The Era by Roger Kahn (Baseball in New York 1947 - 1956; one of the great underrated sports books of all-time)
3. Lords of the Realm (history of Baseball labor relations - very interesting).
4. Whatever Happened to the Baseball Hall of Fame by Bill James (also known as the Politics of Glory).

[bigtrain]

All great suggestions by GR8, Politics of Glory is one of my favorites. There is a quote early in the book about the guy who came up with the idea for a baseball museum suggesting in his proposal that it might draw hundreds of people to the Cooperstown area.

[rnisly]

Cubs on Catalina: A Scrapbookful of Memories about a 30-Year Love Affair Between One of Baseball's Classic Team & California's Most Fanc

http://www.amazon.com/Cubs-Catalina-...=cubs+catalina

I got this as a gift a couple of years ago and really enjoed it.

Roger

[insidethewrapper]

-Catcher by Pete Morris ( history of catching from 19th century +)
-The Card by Michael O'Keeffe ( history of the T206 Wagner Card bought by Wayne Gretsky)
-Miracle Ball by Brian Biegel (The search for the Bobby Thomson Home Run Ball)

[ChrisH]

The Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn is a great read. That's one I'd recommend.

[Tomman1961]

Al Stump wrote 2 books on Cobb. Firts one he followed Cobb around as Cobb told stories of his carreer and life and famous events (fights). But Cobb reminded Stump that Cobb had all editing rights, therefor it is a very "cleaned-up: version. Years after Cobb died, Stumb re-wrote the book and tells the "truth". I suggest reading them in order and back-to-back. Interesting take o comparing what Cobb said and what he told Stump to write, the Stump wrote basically the same thing but a little more truthful. You can still find the 1960's Book quite easily.