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

[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.

[clydepepper]

Thanks to all for helping me (not) curb my addition to Baseball Books. I picked up 'The Celebrant', 'The Universal Baseball Association', and Henry Thomas's bio of his grandfather, Walter Johnson. I look forward to loosing myself in the pages of each.

I also came across and purchased what looks like a great read, 'Baseball in the Garden of Eden' 'The Secret History of the Early Game' - by John Thorn

I may have to miss a few Braves' games to get all this read. Maybe it's not too late for me to learn how to multi-task...oh well, we will see...