What’s cooking on the Hot Stove? The Baseball Bookshelf

December 29, 2015 · 2 comments

IMG_0398Several years ago — before I even conceived of doing my 501 book — I saw a program on the then-fledgling MLB Network featuring Zev Chafets talking about the new Hall of Fame elections. Chafets was on in his capacity as author of the book Cooperstown Confidential: Heroes, Rogues, and the Inside Story of the Baseball Hall of Fame. (Here’s my interview with Chafets.)

Shortly thereafter, I sent an email to the folks at the network suggesting that since baseball was so rich in literary and pop culture qualities, perhaps they should consider a regular show on the topics. I received a note saying it was a good idea and they would consider it.

Then

So once a year, around this time, I would send a note, asking if they’d given any thought to the matter. Each time I received a polite response agreeing it was a good idea followed by

IMG_0432That is until last Wednesday, when I received a note out of the blue, saying “The producers of Hot Stove are potentially interested in having you on for a segment” and asking if I could come to their studio in Secaucus, NJ, on the morning of Dec. 28.

I was speechless. So many questions. What was the subject? How long would the segment be? What should I wear?

Long story short (warning, NSFW), I went down yesterday and had a lovely few minutes (not the fifteen they always talk about) talking about books and Jewish sports (in my capacity as the host of a blog on the topic for the New Jersey Jewish News) with Fran Charles and Tom Verducci.

Since I got there early (lighter traffic than I expected from my home in nearby Montclair), I received the nickel tour from Marc Weiner, a producer at the Network, including the famous Studio 42, the high-tech main “newsroom,” and other points of interest.

IMG_0399

Here’s a wall of individually-pasted baseball cards. I pity the fool, er, poor intern who was assigned this task.

IMG_0435

Another wall was covered with signatures of ballplayers who had dropped by for a chat. Hall of Famers had their own section; Randy Johnson signed a higher spot.

IMG_0434

Since it’s the off-season, there was no one in a newsroom that would ordinarily be buzzing 24/7.

IMG_0400

IMG_0433It was soon time to meet Michelle, who did my make-up. (Shut up.) Then I sat in the green room (more like green closet), waiting for my close-up. Actually, I wasn’t expecting the shot they took of me just sitting there for the “up next” before going to the commercial break preceding the actual interview segment. Good thing I wore pants. I was fitted with a microphone and earpiece, the latter of which was a bit disconcerting. I have great admiration for those broadcasters who do their job with directors, etc. talking to them, giving instructions and updates.

It was also a good thing I brought along copies of 501 to give to the hosts. The original idea was to do a little “show-and-tell” with some of the more off-beat items in my library but since time was limited, I decided not to shlep those with me.

The segment went pretty quickly. I fear I was left to my own devices and prattled on, rather than giving Charles and Verducci time to ask more questions, but all in all, I think it went well.

Screenshot 2015-12-29 15.20.37

Screenshot 2015-12-29 15.24.40

Screenshot 2015-12-29 15.29.16

The feedback on social media has been a hoot, so thanks everybody. The Bookshelf received almost three times as many visitors as on a normal day and I gained another dozen followers on Twitter. Plus the book jumped in the Amazon rankings from 894,000 yesterday to 47,000 today. I know it won’t last, but it’s fun while does.

Here’s the segment in case you haven’t seen it.

Thanks, again, for your support, and remember: I’m available for men’s club meetings, weddings, and bar mitzvahs.

 

0Shares

{ 2 comments }

1 Dennis Anderson December 29, 2015 at 9:44 pm

You appeared like the expert you are. Nice work.

2 Ron Kaplan December 29, 2015 at 5:04 pm

Thank you, sir.

Comments on this entry are closed.

Previous post:

Next post:

script type="text/javascript"> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-5496371-4']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();