The Bookshelf Conversations #203: Robert Fitts

Rob Fitts Baseball Historian | Japanese baseball In the Japanese Ballpark: Behind the Scenes of Nippon Professional Baseball I always enjoy chatting with creative types about their various baseball projects, but this was was even more fun because I got to relive last year’s trip to Japan.

After reading Robert Fitts’ latest — In the Japanese Ballpark: Behind the Scenes of Nippon Professional Baseball — it reminded me of the excitement of being over there, even if I never had the chance to attend an actual game. (The Dodgers and Cubs opened the regular MLB season during our visit.)

I think too many believe baseball as played in the U.S. is the way the game is played and experienced around the world. That’s obviously not true. There are so many differences, subtle and not, from the Japanese model which makes his new offering such a fascinating read. A real cultural education.

This makes the third time I’ve had the chance to chat with Fitts. The first was for Wally Yonamine: The Man Who Changed Japanese Baseball and Banzai Babe Ruth: Baseball, Espionage, and Assassination during the 1934 Tour of Japan which won SABR’s Seymour Medal for Best Baseball Book of 2012. The next was for An Illustrated Introduction to Japanese Baseball Cards, a topic near and dear to my heart, especially lately.

Even though it was an expensive and tiring trip, after reading In the Japanese Ballpark I’m tempted to go back, just for the baseball this time.