What's the best Baseball Book Fiction and Non you have read?

[bobbvc]

"Ball Four" needs to be mentioned. Loved "Glory of their Times" also, but that's 2 Non-fiction.

[obcbobd]

Non-Fiction. So many. Babe, The Legend Comes to Life.

Fiction. Bang the Drum Slowly

[joeadcock]

Originally Posted by bobbvc

"Ball Four" needs to be mentioned. Loved "Glory of their Times" also, but that's 2 Non-fiction.

Agree on the BALL FOUR

[LKeeler]

My favorite non-fiction baseball book, and one of my favorite books ever read, is "The Ticket Out: Darryl Strawberry and The Boys of Crenshaw" by Michael Sokolove. Extremely poignant story about the lives of youngsters growing up in South Central LA and their love for the game.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by joeadcock

Agree on the BALL FOUR

I am re-reading Ball Four after having read it about 20 years ago....the new Netflix documentary on the Portland Mavericks inspired me to dig it out.

[VintageBall]

Our very own Hank Thomas wrote a GREAT bio about his grandfather, entitled Walter Johnson: Baseball's Big Train.

He had great material to draw from

And the writing is terrific.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by VintageBall

Our very own Hank Thomas wrote a GREAT bio about his grandfather, entitled Walter Johnson: Baseball's Big Train.

He had great material to draw from

And the writing is terrific.

Yes! I highly recommend this one as well. Really, really great book.

[Wildfireschulte]

Great post - I agree that all the books named are worth a read. My picks:
Fiction: The Celebrant is hands down the best - the discussion is really about 2nd best. My pick is Eliot Asinof's (of Eight Men Out fame) "Man on Spikes" - will tug the heart strings like Mark Harris' series - Ring Lardner's "You Know me Al" is right behind - hilarious book.

Non-Fiction: The list of great ones is vast - anything from Joe Durso (Stengal and McGraw books come to mind) is outstanding, but I'll go with James T. Farrell's "My Baseball Diary". All of his fictional books have some baseball content including Studs Lonigan, another great read.

[irishdenny]

Very Surprised that No One's Mentioned(at lest I didn't See it mentioned in the thread!?)
"The Old Ball Game", it's about How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball!
I thought it to be a Very Enjoyable Easy Read!
Frank Deford did a Wonderful Job Characterizing Matty & McGraw...
I Highly Recommend it!!!

[cubsguy1969]

I don't think anyone mentioned this for fiction. Tom DeLillo's novel "Underworld," which isn't really a baseball book, opens with a novella he wrote called "Pafko at the Wall" about "The Shot Heard Round the World." It's an amazing piece of writing. The opening is about a young boy who catches the homerun ball, and the ball is referenced continually through the book, which is a larger story.
Great novel, though it's been years since I read it. need to dig it out and read it again.
Rob

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Yes! I highly recommend this one as well. Really, really great book.

Thanks so much, guys. Made my day!

[GehrigFan]

One I am reading now is a very early book by Cap Anson. It is "A Ball Player's Career Being the Personal Experiences and Reminiscensces of Adrian C. Anson." Seach amazon under "adrian anson" and it will come up. Right now, it is available as a free Kindle download. You don't need a kindle to read it. Android, iPhone and tablet/pad users can download a Kindle app for free off amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Players-Career...s=adrian+anson


I also have been reading some of the earlier biographies on Lou Gehrig, my personal favorite. They were simple, and written more for young boys probably, but I love the innocence of the books and the stories about Lou's early life.

[JakeStahl'sGloveSHows]

Originally Posted by bobbvc

"Ball Four" needs to be mentioned. Loved "Glory of their Times" also, but that's 2 Non-fiction.

Ahh Ball Four. Thanks for the reference. Many years since I read that but remember thoroughly enjoying it. Will need to re-read.

In 1972 I was 11 and in the hospital recovering from an emergency appendectomy. An Aunt gave me a copy of "This Great Game". It took my youthful love of baseball to another level. Hands down the most impactful baseball book for me. The photos were extraordinary, for that time. Here's a link to an article on it:
http://www.sportscollectorsdigest.co...-to-the-masses

Others I've enjoyed:
Moneyball (of course)
The Bronx Zoo
5 Seasons

[deadballfreaK]

As a deadball era fan The Glory of Their Times is far and away tops on my list, but I'll give an honorable mention to the late Jim Brosnan's The Long Season. Ball Four basically followed that book with a little more spice.

Haven't read much fiction. I'll take another book that has not been mentioned: The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant by Douglas Wallop. As a Yankee hater it had me from the title. I also like the movie Damn Yankees based off it, although it has a song or two that are clunkers.

[WhenItWasAHobby]

Originally Posted by bobbvc

"Ball Four" needs to be mentioned. Loved "Glory of their Times" also, but that's 2 Non-fiction.

I agree both are the best for each baseball era.

Best fiction I've read was Pete Rose's autobiography "My Story" where he adamantly denies gambling on baseball. (Of course he admitted he did gamble on games several years later).

[clydepepper]

The book that provided me with the most 'new' information at the time was the first Historical Abstract.

It was also broken up into bit-sized pieces for a ADD-type like myself: The ultimate easy read!

[tjv815]

For myself,being a Red Sox fan, it's Faithful by Stephen King and Stewart O'Nan. There are so many great books out there and I am with everyone giving a thumbs up on Glory of Their Times.
For fiction, I have to go with The Natural
This thread is great. I have been out for a while, recovering from a health related issue. I love to read, and being a teacher and a coach, and a married father of three, I don't have much free time. But I have done more reading this year than any I can recently remember. A lot of good next reads have been mentioned. I'm really leaning toward the Luckiest Man book as my next read.
TJ