Both Peter Morris'
The Catcher and
Spalding's World Tour are in my on-deck circle. Have heard that they are great reads.
A couple of indispensable books are the SABR Deadball Players of the AL and NL volumes. They offer mini-bios (typically two or three pages) of the players who grace our vintage cards. Definitely desert island caliber. Similar territory and similarly wonderful would be
They Played the Game: The Story of Baseball Greats by Harry Grayson (1945), copies to be had on Alibris.
Fleming's
The Unforgettable Season is on my top shelf of baseball books. I disagree with Frank that it is better than
Crazy '08. It is just different. Both are equally excellent and you will not be able to put either one down once you've started reading. You'll only regret that every baseball season didn't get the same treatment.
Baseball's Golden Age: The Photographs of Charles M. Conlon by Neal McCabe. Better than porn. 'Nuf ced.
