Headnote: One of the thing I like about the Pandemic Baseball Book Club is that it’s a kind of “one stop shopping.” Instead of posting about various authors, projects, and events, all I’m doing here is cutting and pasting their weekly newsletter. Do take a moment to read the author Q&A. I find them particularly interesting as they discuss the arduous process of bringing their projects to press.
Another note: I received this yesterday so adjustment to dates are in bold.
You could say that PBBC members paint pictures with words, but let’s talk for a moment about those who paint pictures with paint … at least a digital version thereof.
Gary Cieradowski has been an artist ever since he could hold a pencil. While his Kentucky-based studio focuses in disciplines ranging from branding to packaging, his personal illustrations tend toward baseball. So do his books.
In 2016, Gary came out with a collection of stories and illustrations called 21: The Illustrated Journal of Outsider Baseball, Volume 1. It was great. So great that he put out the second volume this year. In addition to stories about ballplayers, the 168-page Vol. 2 includes a step-by-step look at how Gary creates his illustrations and a detailed look at a historic uniform.
Want to know more? Read on.
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ASK AN AUTHOR
Gary Cieradowski 21: Illustrated Journal of Outsider Baseball, Volume 2
What’s your book about?
21: The Illustrated Journal of Outsider Baseball Volume 2 is a 168-page illustrated book featuring “baseball’s forgotten heroes, barnstormers, journeymen, foreign phenoms, blacklisted rogues, and bush league oddballs.” I researched, wrote, illustrated and designed the book myself. It is the second volume in what I hope to be a yearly publication.
Why this book? Why now?
I wanted to produce a sort of best-of from my work over the past several years. In 2016, I put out a 64-page book called 21: The Illustrated Journal of Outsider Baseball, Volume 1. In it, I was able to feature some longform stories and be creative with my storytelling and illustrations. I also included a few pieces about how I went about creating my work, because so many people have expressed interest in my process. I really enjoyed creating Volume 1, and when the pandemic hit, I decided that Volume 2 was long overdue.
Who had the biggest influence on this book?
It is a quartet comprising John Thorn, Scott Simkus, Gary Ashwill and Mark Aubrey. All four have had a tremendous impact on what I do and continue to serve as my inspiration.
How long did the book take?
All the stories and drawings were done over the past three years. I designed the entire book myself, which took about a week.
What are some lessons you learned along the way?
The hardest lesson, which I haven’t come close to mastering, is when to stop. I had so much material that I ended up having to cut stories and drawings … which at least offered the beginnings to 21: The Illustrated Journal of Outsider Baseball, Volume 3, which is in the works.
How did this process differ from your other book?
It was easier than my first book, because I was more secure in knowing what I wanted out of it. For instance, I did not worry about trying to reach a broader audience by including marquee names like Roberto Clemente or Sandy Koufax as a way to try to attract a casual reader. I feel like writing and drawing the story of little-known players like Lefty Glover and Wing Maddox is infinitely more interesting than retelling the same stories about Joe DiMaggio or Rogers Hornsby. When I did include a big-name player like Mickey Mantle, I did it on my own terms, focusing on lesser-known stories. With my first book, I was afraid of alienating people by not doing what was expected, but I was crystal clear with what I wanted to do with Volume 2.
Do you have a favored work routine?
I work from a studio I built in the downstairs rear of our house. My standard routine involves coffee with my wife, then going to the studio at 9 a.m. and working until 5. It’s not completely structured like an office job. I have a lunch break, go out for a walk and have a coffee break in the afternoon. I found that a routine, however loose, is important to keeping a consistent stream of work flowing. Sometimes, when I feel like I’m not getting anything substantial done, I’ll close up shop and go to the record store or library. I find it’s not good to try to force myself to work. When I first went out on my own, I had a hard time trying to stop working, and spent up to 18 hours straight in the studio. It’s not that hard when you enjoy what you are doing, but ultimately it burns you out. Now I try to make it a point to stop at 5, unless I have a deadline or something is just too interesting to drop.
Did you receive any notable outside help in pulling the manuscript together?
My wife, who is a university professor as well as a baseball fan, helped with my poor New Jersey grammar. My good pal, Christian Boyles, is a university librarian, and always helps me find impossible to find manuscripts and articles. I call him my personal Dennis Becker.
Buy 21 here.
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NOW UP AT PBBCLUB.COM
Compared to their counterparts in other sports, baseball players are cautious about speaking out on controversial issues, yet the sport has a history of players willing to stand up and fight for what was right. In their book Major League Rebels: Baseball Battles over Workers’ Rights and American Empire, authors Robert Elias and Peter Dreier reveal a little-known yet important history of rebellion among professional ballplayers. These reformers took inspiration from the country’s dissenters and progressive movements, speaking and acting against abuses within and beyond their profession, demanding better working conditions, battling against corporate power and challenging America’s wars, imperialism and unjust foreign policies, resisting the brash patriotism that many link with the “national pastime.” They discuss all of it here with Eric Nusbaum, author of Stealing Home.
Watch it here.
https://youtu.be/ABxJ2DPOpUs
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TWITTER, MAN.
Some of this week’s highlights …
Give us a follow!
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BRAD’S BIG ADVENTURE
Our old pal, Brad Balukjian (The Wax Pack) has undertaken the follow-up to his best-selling debut. For this one, he’s undertaking a nine-week road trip acros the U.S., hunting down WWF stars of the 1980s to learn about their post-wrestling lives. He’s calling it The Six Pack (Hachette, 2024). He’s also blogging about his adventure, every step of the way.
Day 1 ends up in Elko, NV. Bored en route, Brad calls a phone number on a Christian billboard and ends up talking to a septuagenarian Canadian Mennonite named Howard for 20 minutes.
On Day 2 he reaches Idaho Falls, just in time to suffer the consequences of his Mexican lunch in Burley, ID. He has not seen a Tesla or a mask since leaving the Bay Area. Somehow, he uses the term “drizzling shits,” and it doesn’t even have to do with his food poisoning.
Stay tuned for more!
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WHAT ELSE WE’RE DOING
Dan Epstein (The Captain & Me) wrote about George Carlin’s classic comedy album “Class Clown” for the Forward.
Tyler Kepner (K) wrote about MLBs difficulty with pride night for the New York Times.
Lincoln Mitchell (The Giants and Their City) wrote about the GOP’s stances toward guns and mental health for NBC News.
Philip Lee (Black Stats Matter) assisted Duke Goldman and Ben Alter in preparing their presentation, titled “Should Negro League Stats and AL/NL Stats Be Combined?”, for last week’s Jerry Malloy Negro Leagues Conference.
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WHERE WE’VE BEEN
Luke Epplin (Our Team) participated in a panel at the Yogi Berra Museum on the 78th anniversary of D-Day. It centered on baseball and World War II. Watch the whole thing here.
Howard Bryant (Rickey) went onto ESPN Daily to discuss the greatest leadoff hitter ever.
Danny Gallagher (Bases Loaded) spent 90 minutes talking about the history of the Expos on the Toronto Mike podcast.
Dan Good (Playing Through the Pain) appeared on “After Hours With Amy Lawrence” on CBS Sports Radio to discuss the impact of Ken Caminiti’s steroids confession 20 years later.
Andrew Maraniss (Singled Out) was on NPR’s All Things Considered, talking Glenn Burke and the Rays situation.
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WHERE WE’LL BE
All times local unless otherwise specified.
June 11: Chris Lamb will discuss Stolen Dreams at Emanuel AME Church, 110 Calhoun St., Charleston, SC, at noon, and will host a book signing at Blue Bicycle Books, 420 King St., also in Charleston from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
June 12: Chris Lamb will be discuss Stolen Dreams at Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St., Charleston, SC, from 11 a.m. to noon. Later that day, the Cannon Street All-Stars will be honored at The Charleston RiverDogs baseball game as part of the “Larry Doby Day” Celebration. (The RiverDogs will be wearing Jerseys to honor the CSASl.) 5:15 p.m.
June 12: Danny Gallagher will sign copies of four of his most recent Expos books near the press box at Christie Pits in Toronto June 12, beginning at 12:30 p.m., before/during the Maple Leafs baseball team’s game.
June 13: Chris Lamb will cap off Stolen Dreams Week in Charleston by discussing the book at Grace Episcopal Church, 98 Wentworth St., Charleston, SC. 5:30 p.m.
June 18: Robert Elias will discuss Major League Rebels at the San Francisco Public Library. 1 p.m.
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BONUS CONTENT
E. Ethelbert Miller‘s been hanging out with Kirsten Porter’s Dog.
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is available on Amazon.com,
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