Good Baseball Books

[brian1961]

I was privileged to go to The Smithsonian Museum back in 1987. After my wife and I were done, I spent a few minutes browsing in their bookstore. Lo and behold, there was a Mickey Mantle book I'd never heard of, but had been just released that year. Entitled EXPLOSION!, by Paul Gallagher, it was a thorough, very well-researched treatment and analysis of each of Mickey Mantles home runs.

Gallagher did a fine job, and interviewed many of Mickey's teammates and pitchers he faced. In retrospect, his timing was pivotal, for many of them, including Mick, have now passed on. With Gallagher's enjoyable writing style, and all the pertinent aspects he covers, coupled with the kazillion memories from former players interviewed, Gallagher makes Mickey's home run action all come back fresh again. It became a very cherished read and a wonderful complement to my Mickey Mantle baseball card collection. I still enjoy it immensely whenever I pick it up.

---Brian Powell

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Just discovered Glory of Their Times. What a fantastic book with chapters told by Marquard, Leach, Davey Jones, Sam Crawford, George Gibson, Jimmy Austin, Fred Snodgrass, Joe Wood, Chief Meyers and many more. If you love pre-war baseball this is amazing!

[VoodooChild]

+1 on Gary's book. I very much enjoyed it.

And while it's not pre-war, I would recommend "Big Hair and Plastic Grass". It's a real fun book about baseball in the '70's.

[53Browns]

Best baseball book I've ever read (and am re-reading now yet again) is Frank Deford's "The Old Ball Game, How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball." An unlikely pair you will be hard pressed to find. An amazing read of how the 20th century game took shape, largely in part to the influence of these two gentlemen and the Giants.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

thanks Bill for sharing. Putting that on the list!

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by 53Browns

Best baseball book I've ever read (and am re-reading now yet again) is Frank Deford's "The Old Ball Game, How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball." An unlikely pair you will be hard pressed to find. An amazing read of how the 20th century game took shape, largely in part to the influence of these two gentlemen and the Giants.

Agreed. Outstanding book.

[tschock]

Some, if not all, already noted. But the more you see the names from more people, the more interest they might receive from those who haven't read them (sort of like HOF voting???). Just recent ones I've read that are worth keeping and/or re-reading.

Glory of Their Times (of course)
Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball
The Big Bam
Crazy '08
Harry Hooper - An Amazing Baseball Life
Blackball Stars
We Played the Game (I'm still working on this one)

And special mention to:
My Greatest Day In Baseball (c 1945) - As told by the players. This one for some of "greatest days" you might not expect, such as Satchel Paige's implication of having to win in San Domingo of face President Trujillo's wrath. Great little vignettes that aren't just distant memories for most of these players.

Special mention because the copy I have is weathered and has water damage, but I especially enjoy the inscription to the original owner (not me). "To Dad, From Jean, Merry Christmas 1945!... or ... To My Dad, May he not be so sarcastic, but sarcastic or not, my Dad Always!"

[jerseygary]

Originally Posted by VoodooChild

+1 on Gary's book. I very much enjoyed it.

Thanks and glad you liked it!

[53Browns]

One funny thing I just had to share while re-reading "The Old Ball Game, How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball" last night. At one point as Deford is describing the differences between Muggsy and Matty, he describes McGraw as looking like a leprechaun without a conscience. That one always gets a belly laugh from me.

[JollyElm]

After a late night Amazon binge, I happily ended up buying this trio of baseball books...

baseballbooks.jpg

Just started the first one and the author opens the book in fine fashion by discussing the 'new' designated hitter rule and how a misplayed ball by Reggie Smith prolonged the top of the first inning, allowing Ron Blomberg to famously become the major's first ever DH, instead of Orlando Cepeda for the Sox. So far so good!!