Baseball Best-Sellers, April 26, 2019

Headnote: The Amazon rankings are updated every hour, so these lists might not be 100 percent accurate by the time you read them (or even by the time I finish writing one). But close enough for government work, as the saying goes.

In addition, occasionally the powers-that-be over there try to pull a fast one by including a book in a category to which it should not be listed (in my opinion). For example, a current title on the BBS list is The Book of Why: The New Science of Cause and Effect. “Why” is a good question. There might be a smattering of the national pastime in it, but not enough to make it a baseball book per se (again, IMO).

Finally, adults only here. That is, no books for younger readers (although no erotic fiction that features baseball as a theme either. And goodness knows there are a bunch of those).

So, with all that said…

PRINT

K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches, by Tyler Kepner (hardcover)
The Science of Hitting, by Ted Williams with John Underwood
Inside the Empire: The True Power Behind the New York Yankees, by Bob Klapisch and Paul Solotaroff
Play Hungry: The Story of a Ballplayer, by Pete Rose
Let’s Play Two: The Legend of Mr. Cub: The Life of Ernie Banks, by Ron Rapoport
Astroball: The New Way to Win It All, by Ben Reiter (paperback edition)
108 Stitches: Loose Threads, Ripping Yarns, and the Darndest Characters from My Time in the Game, by Ron Darling and Daniel Paisner
The Mental Game of Baseball, by H.A. Dorfman
The Legendary Harry Caray: Baseball’s Greatest Salesman, by Don Zminda
Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, by Michael Lewis

E-BOOKS

K: A History of Baseball in 10 Pitches
Moneyball
2019 Little League Rule Book
108 Stitches
October 1964, by David Halberstam
Babe & the Kid: The Legendary Story of Babe Ruth and Johnny Sylvester, by Charlie Poekel
The Physics of Pitching, by Len Solesky
Ball Four, by Jim Bouton
Let’s Play Two
Inside the Empire
The Catcher Was a Spy, by Nicholas Dawidoff

AUDIOBOOKS (note: the links will take you to a sample of the audio via Amazon/Audible)

Moneyball (read by Scott Brick, #17 overall in sports)
K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches (read by the author, #18)
Astroball, (read by the author, #44)
Ball Four (read by the author, #96)

Inside the Empire is #4 on The New York Times‘ monthly sports list. After the Miracle: The Lasting Brotherhood of the ’69 Mets, by Art Shamsky and Erik Sherman, comes in seventh.

I have mixed feelings about the new Pete Rose book. On the one hand, what more is there to say? We’ve heard all about his drive and devotion to being the best player he could be. We also have heard about his descent and excommunication. On the other hand, I must admit to being morbidly curious.

Less curious about the Caray book, all due respect. I find that the older I get and the less time I have to read, I have to be a bit more choosy, and — fair or not — books about broadcasters, no matter how legendary, do not carry a high priority.

Still not on either the Amazon or Times‘ lists? 501 Baseball Books Fans Must Read before They Die. Today: 1,775,036; last time: 1,589,393. Hank Greenberg in 1938: Hatred and Home Runs in the Shadow of War ranks 833,244 (last time, 722,331). Trying to be philosophical about it: the more new books arrive, the further my contributions to baseball lit will fall. Circle of life.

If you have read either of those books, thanks, hope you enjoyed it, and please consider writing an Amazon review; it’s never too late. (And thanks to those who have.) Doesn’t have to be long or even complimentary, if you didn’t like it. Although I would warn you to understand what it is you’re reading. My editor tells me I shouldn’t worry over bad reviews and normally I don’t. But one Greenberg reviewer complained because apparently he felt it wasn’t long enough and that it wasn’t a full biography. Sorry, but caveat emptor: The title clearly states this book covers just one season in his career. If you’re disappointed for that reason, then that’s on you.