Good Baseball Books

[Wildfireschulte]

It's been about 20 years, but I really enjoyed Smeltzer's Life That Ruth Built. I was told that it is more realistic than Cramer's Babe, but I haven't read Babe. If you haven't read Celebrant (Greenberg), it's a must read even though it's fiction.

[Fred]

Ball 4

[Jobu]

I haven't read many, but I liked:

Walter Johnson: Baseball's Big Train by Hank Thomas (hi Hank)

The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood by Jane Leavy

[vthobby]

and:

Miracle Ball: My Hunt for the Shot Heard 'Round the World

and:

Praying for Gil Hodges

Awesome books!

Peace, Mike

[jerseygary]

I'll toot my own horn and recommend my book "The League of Outsider Baseball". I illustrated, wrote it and am proud as heck of it. Came out in May and received better reviews than I could have ever asked for, which you can read HERE. ESPN called it "The most beautiful baseball book of the summer" and I've gotten really great responses at all the book signings I've done this year. And I just found out it was selected as one of the nine best baseball books of the year nominated for the Casey Award...

[bobbvc]

Agree- Gary's book is Great. So is "Ball Four", "October 1964", and the oft mentioned classic "The Glory of Their Times". "Lords of the Realm" good as well as far as the Business of Baseball goes.

Originally Posted by jerseygary

I'll toot my own horn and recommend my book "The League of Outsider Baseball". I illustrated, wrote it and am proud as heck of it. Came out in May and received better reviews than I could have ever asked for, which you can read HERE. ESPN called it "The most beautiful baseball book of the summer" and I've gotten really great responses at all the book signings I've done this year. And I just found out it was selected as one of the nine best baseball books of the year nominated for the Casey Award...

[cool-vintage]

Not Ruth related but I would recommend Glory of Their Times. I recently picked up two baseball books, Eight Men Out and Turbulent Seasons.

[vthobby]

Originally Posted by jerseygary

I'll toot my own horn and recommend my book "The League of Outsider Baseball". I illustrated, wrote it and am proud as heck of it. Came out in May and received better reviews than I could have ever asked for, which you can read HERE. ESPN called it "The most beautiful baseball book of the summer" and I've gotten really great responses at all the book signings I've done this year. And I just found out it was selected as one of the nine best baseball books of the year nominated for the Casey Award...

Always looking for cool books. Just ordered this on Amazon! Thanks for the heads up!

Peace, Mike

[btcarfagno]

Ed Delahanty and the Emerald Age Of Baseball is a tremendous work. Also Color Blind. Story of interracial team from Bismarck ND (including Satchel Paige and Hilton Smith) playing in the first national semi-pro tournament.

Tom C

[Snapolit1]

Gary - I know it's a month after the fact, but I can't tell you how much I loved the book. The stories are incredible and the art work is really extraordinary. So much I learned. Some of the stories gave me the old proverbial lump in the throat. Moe Berg? Farmer Dean? You couldn't make these stories up. I plan to buy a bunch more on Amazon as gifts for family and friends. Thanks again.

[Snapolit1]

Gary - one complaint though. I grew up a Mets fan in the 70s too. How did you leave out George "The Stork" Theodore??????

[jerseygary]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Gary - I know it's a month after the fact, but I can't tell you how much I loved the book. The stories are incredible and the art work is really extraordinary. So much I learned. Some of the stories gave me the old proverbial lump in the throat. Moe Berg? Farmer Dean? You couldn't make these stories up. I plan to buy a bunch more on Amazon as gifts for family and friends. Thanks again.

Thanks Snapolit1! When I started working on it, my goal was to create the baseball book I always wanted to find in a book store. I am always hyper-critical of my work, thinking I could improve something. I thought it would be the same with my book, but it wasn't true. When I received the first copy from the publisher I sat down and read it cover-to-cover and realized that the book I had always wanted to find in book store I now held in hands. It was the most incredible feeling I'll never forget.

Hearing that others like the book means so much to me, and I am glad you are enjoying it. As for George "The Stork" Theodore - he may find himself in "The League of Outsider Baseball" Volume 2!