I just finished the first round of edits on the manuscript for my forthcoming book, Hank Greenberg in 1938: Hatred and Home Runs in the Shadow of War (scheduled for release April 4, 2017. Just sayin’.) The last chapter deals with Greenberg’s final playing season as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1947. There’s […]
Tagged as:
Hank Greenberg,
Jackie Robinson
NOTE: I have been posting these things long enough now that a few have commented that the introductory section isn’t necessary anymore. But I’m leaving it in because, to paraphrase Joe DiMaggio when asked why he played so hard all the time, there may be people who’ve never read the best-seller entries before. So on […]
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baseball analytics,
baseball business,
baseball statistics,
Chicago Cubs,
classic baseball book,
Moneyball,
Oakland As,
Pitching,
World Series
When I was a kid, there was only Topps. And only one set of Topps. Now there are so many, of varying degrees of quality and inteerest, it’s hard to keep up. Case in point: the 2017 Inception set. Maybe this is all a dream.
Tagged as:
Baseball Cards,
Topps
NOTE: I have been posting these things long enough now that a few have commented that the introductory section isn’t necessary anymore. But I’m leaving it in because, to paraphrase Joe DiMaggio when asked why he played so hard all the time, there may be people who’ve never read the best-seller entries before. So on […]
Tagged as:
Chicago Cubs,
Pitching,
World Series
Goodness knows they deserve it given their long history of going without a championship, but how many new Cubs books are too many? Actually, even their failures have done well for them in terms of literature. There have been almost as many titles — if not more — lamenting their shortcomings as there have been […]
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Chicago Cubs,
Sports Illustrated,
Tom Verducci
NOTE: I have been posting these things long enough now that a few have commented that the introductory section isn’t necessary anymore. But I’m leaving it in because, to paraphrase Joe DiMaggio when asked why he played so hard all the time, there may be people who’ve never read the best-seller entries before. So on […]
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baseball collectibles,
Bill James,
Chicago Cubs,
Cincinnati Reds,
George F. Will,
instructionals,
Jackie Robinson,
Lenny Dykstra,
managing,
Michael Lewis,
Mike Mathany,
Moneyball,
Oakland Athletics,
Pitching,
St. Louis Cardinals,
Ted Williams
It almost seemed like David Ortiz had to retire this year, regardless of the impressive numbers — 38 home runs, a .315 batting average, and leading the league in five categories, including RBIs (127), doubles (48), slugging (.620), OPS (1.021), and intentional walks (15) — at the age of 40 in his 20th and final […]
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Boston Red Sox,
David Ortiz
Back in 2005, Bill Simmons published Now I Can Die in Peace: How ESPN’s Sports Guy Found Salvation, with a Little Help From Nomar, Pedro, Shawshank, and the 2004 Red Sox. (He issued a revised edition when they won again a few years later). Now that the Chicago Cubs have battled their way to the […]
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Chicago Cubs,
W.P. Kinsella,
World Series
Hello, friends. Been awhile. Apologies for the dearth of entries lately. Especially now that the season is over and your team’s season is over — unless your a Cubs or Indians fan — you’ll look for the comfort of books to get you through the long cold winter — unless you’re a resident of Florida, […]
Tagged as:
Hank Greenberg
NOTE: I have been posting these things long enough now that a few have commented that the introductory section isn’t necessary anymore. But I’m leaving it in because, to paraphrase Joe DiMaggio when asked why he played so hard all the time, there may be people who’ve never read the best-seller entries before. So on […]
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analtics,
Bill James,
Brian Kenny,
instructionals,
Jackie Robinson,
Lenny Dykstra,
managing,
Michael Lewis,
Mike Mathany,
Moneyball,
Oakland Athletics,
Pitching,
St. Louis Cardinals,
Ted Williams
Haven’t done one of these in a while. Research for my bio on Hank Greenberg in 1938 — scheduled for release next spring via Skyhorse — continues in halts and starts. Just when I think I’m about done with the research phase and am ready to begin writing in earnest, something else comes up I […]
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Hank Greenberg
Revised to include my oversight in omitting the Bad News Bears TV show. While baseball and TV go great together, episodic series about the national have never done well. None of the attempts have lasted more than one season. Ball Four. Based on Jim Bouton’s seminal book and starring the author as aversion of himself. […]
NOTE: I have been posting these things long enough now that a few have commented that the introductory section isn’t necessary anymore. But I’m leaving it in because, to paraphrase Joe DiMaggio when asked why he played so hard all the time, there may be people who’ve never read the best-seller entries before. So on […]
Tagged as:
baseball analysis,
baseball statistics,
ESPN,
instructionals,
Michel Lewis,
Mike Matheny,
Milwaukee Brewers,
New York Mets,
Oakland Athletics,
Pitching,
Ron Darling,
St. Louis Cardinals,
Ted Williams,
Tim Kurkjian,
World Series
you must be telepathic, because I’m not saying anything out loud. But seriously, folks… I will be speaking about “Jews and Baseball” this Sunday (April 17) at 7 p.m. at Temple Sholom in Scotch Plains, NJ. Open to the public, no charge, but it might be an idea to call them at 908-889-4900 and let […]
Haven’t been posting much lately but I have a good excuse. No, really, I have a better reason. Just contracted to do a book focusing on Hank Greenberg‘s 1938 season in which he put up a valiant fight to break Babe Ruth‘s single-season home run record of 60. The as-yet untitled project will also take […]
Tagged as:
Hank Greenberg