Bookshelf review: Baseball: How to Play the Game

Baseball: How To Play The Game: The Official Playing and Coaching Manual of Major League Baseball. Universe, 2011.

This colorful and informative book comes out just in time for spring training (although many schools have already started their season).

With text by Pete Williams, the large-format paperback covers all aspects of the game, from picking out equipment, to position-by-position instructions and tips, to rudimentary work-out routine. Some of the greats of the game — past and present — offer tips: Tony Gwynn on hitting approach, drills by Alex Rodriguez, choosing the right bat by Ryan Howard, catching fly balls by Bernie Williams, throwing from the outfield by Torii Hunter, etc.

Judging by some of the photos of younger amateurs, the book is primarily targeted at high school-aged players, with advice that is at once common sense and intricate. A section on rules includes some of the most misunderstood plays in the game, such as the infield fly, balk, catcher’s interference, and runners hit by batted balls. There’s even a nod to the umpires, suggesting that players treat them with respect and humanity.

Each position is given its own chapter, based on their unique requirements. The book concludes with a list of drills to practice the concepts enumerated.

Now the main question is: does the book achieve its goals? Is it written in a way that readers can put theory into practice? Is it too simplistic for advanced players and too advanced for those just coming to the game? That is a question that should be answered by professional teachers and coaches. For my part, I say forget the training and coaching aspects; the book is worth it just for the great photography. With the MLB imprimatur, you don’t have those images with the team logos airbrush out, like they used to do with baseball cards back in the sixties.