* Suggested reading: Sean Horgan

MyrtleBeachOnline’s sports columnist Sean Horgan offered a list of 20 great sports books, including the following baseball titles, listed in his order:

The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, (Bill James, 1986) This book changed the way many people looked at baseball, encompassing history, anecdotes and statistical analysis.

The Great American Novel (Philip Roth, 1973) Roth really brings it in this quirky, satire about a 1943 Patriot League team.

The Glory of Their Times (Lawrence Ritter, 1966) A moving oral history of the game of baseball by many of the players and managers of the game’s golden era.

Shoeless Joe (W.P. Kinsella, 1982) Kinsella’s wonderful novel lacked the flaws and overwhelming sentimentality of the movie it became, Field of Dreams.”

Veeck as in Wreck (Bill Veeck and Ed Linn, 1952) A wonderful account by one of baseball’s great innovators and visionaries. This should be on the reading list for any business school class on entrepreneurship.

Game of Shadows (Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, 2006) The book that ultimately blew the lid off baseball’s steroid scandal and Barry Bonds’ pre-eminent role at the center of the controversy.

The Natural (Bernard Malamud (1952) Another sports book that was better than the estimable movie it spawned.

The Science of Hitting (Ted Williams and John Underwood, 1970) I know professional hitting coaches that read this book at least once a year.

The Duke of Havana (Steve Fainaru and Ray Sanchez, 2001) Meticulously reported and wonderfully written, this book details the defection of Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez from Cuba to play baseball in the U.S. and the changes that wrought for major league baseball here and baseball in Cuba.

Curse of the Bambino (Dan Shaughnessy, 1990) The quintessential Red Sox fans-as-victims book that spawned a cult. It still holds up after two World Championships.

Why Time Begins on Opening Day (Thomas Boswell, 1984) You should read this book every March if you’re a baseball fan.

Fear Strikes Out: The Jim Piersall Story (Jim Piersall and Al Hirshberg, 1955) Piersall was a talented outfielder, but his battle with mental illness neartly derailed his career. It was later made into a movie with Anthony Hopkins, of “Psycho” fame, who had to bat and throw opposite his natural side to portray Piersall.