The New York Times obituary says the late actor was best known for his role as a southern sheriff in a couple of James Bond movies. Not for me. For me, Clifton was best known for his role as the penurious Charles A. Comiskey, owner of the Chicago White Sox, in Eight Men Out (which […]
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Charles Comiskey,
Clifton James,
Eight Men Out
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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Theo Epstein,
World Series
(WTF, right? Kids, ask your parents.) From The Hardball Times website, this on Stacey May Fowles‘ Baseball Life Advice: Loving the Game That Saved Me. Upshot: “Every day in baseball brings a chance for something new and exciting, an occurrence to talk about and focus on, to share and enjoy…. Fowles’ latest book…offers exactly that.” […]
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ballparks,
baseball fiction,
Chipper Jones,
Leigh Montville,
Leo Durocher,
Paul Dickson,
Stacey May Fowles,
Ted Williams,
Tim Raines,
Urban Shocker
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 statistics,
Casey Stengel,
Chicago Cubs,
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Marty Appel,
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sabermetrics,
Ted Williams,
Theo Epstein,
Ty Cobb,
World Series
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 statistics,
Casey Stengel,
Chicago Cubs,
Chipper Jones,
David Ross,
Leo Durocher,
Marty Appel,
Michael Lewis,
Oakland As,
Rick Ankiel,
sabermetrics,
Theo Epstein,
World Series
It strikes me as a happy coincidence that this year offers biographies of two of the most iconic characters in baseball history: Casey Stengel and Leo Durocher. They were both baseball “lifers,” enjoying careers that spanned 50 years, starting as players and continuing as World Championship managers. And both books are brought to you by […]
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Casey Stengel,
Leo Durocher,
Marty Appel,
Paul Dickson
In recent days, I’ve notice that a number of new baseball titles have “updated” nostalgia. By that I mean the subjects of these books are more recent than they used to be. Case in point, Scott Turbow’s Dynastic, Bombastic, Fantastic: Reggie, Rollie, Catfish, and Charlie Finley’s Swingin’ A’s. When did the 1970s become the “new” […]
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Leo Durocher,
Paul Dickson
We’re getting to the point where a bunch of new titles are hitting the bookstores. Herewith a brief roundup. New York Sports Day posted this one on Marty Appel’s engaging new project, Casey Stengel: Baseball’s Greatest Character. They also did this one on Shawn Krest’s Baseball Meat Market: The Stories Behind the Best and Worst […]
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Aubrey Huff,
baeball trades,
ballparks,
baseball movies,
Casey Stengel,
Chicago Cubs,
David Ross,
Leo Durocher,
Marty Appel,
Oakland As,
Paul Dickson,
Ransom Jackson
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 statistics,
Chicago Cubs,
Chipper Jones,
David Ross,
Jimmy Breslin,
Leo Durocher,
Michael Lewis,
New York Mets,
Oakland As,
Rick Ankiel,
sabermetrics,
Theo Epstein,
World Series
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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Atlanta Braves,
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Chicago Cubs,
Chipper Jones,
instructionals,
Michael Lewis,
Mike Methany,
Oakland As,
Scott Turbow,
St. Louis Cardinals,
Ted Williams,
Tom Verducci,
World Series
Not only is baseball season upon us, but baseball book season is upon us as demonstrated by the bouquet that arrived since Friday. My apologies, dear mail carrier. So in an attempt to catch up a bit… Meet Andy Green, San Diego Padres manager and bibliophile. A Q&A with Dan Schlossberg, author of the just-released […]
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Adrian Burgos,
Adrian Burgos Jr.,
Andy Green,
Dan Schlossn=berg,
David Ortiz,
Jon Post,
Jose Canseco,
Nolan Ryan,
Will Leitch
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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Aubrey Huff,
baseball analytics,
baseball history,
baseball statistics,
Boston Red Sox,
Chicago Cubs,
Davd Ortiz,
Fantasy baseball,
instructionals,
Michael Lewis,
Oakland As,
Pitching,
Rick Ankiel,
Ted Williams,
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 analytics,
baseball history,
baseball statistics,
Chicago Cubs,
David Ross,
Fantasy baseball,
instructionals,
Michael Lewis,
Oakland As,
Pitching,
Rick Ankiel,
Ted Williams,
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 analytics,
baseball history,
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Cal Ripken Jr.,
Chipper Jones,
Fantasy baseball,
instructionals,
managers,
Michael Lewis,
Mike Matheny,
Oakland As,
St. Louis CardinalsKeith Law,
Ted Williams,
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 analytics,
baseball history,
baseball statistics,
Chicago Cubs,
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Keith Law,
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Oakland As,
Ted Williams,
World Series
This year marks the 70th anniversary of Jackie Robinson‘s major league debut. Which means it’s also the 70th anniversary of the game in which he collided at first base with Hank Greenberg, playing in his final season with the Pittsburgh Pirates an ignominious release by the Detroit Tigers with which he had a Hall of […]
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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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baseball analytics,
baseball history,
baseball statistics,
Chicago Cubs,
instructionals,
Keith Law,
Michael Lewis,
Oakland As,
Ted Williams,
Tom Verducci,
World Series
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 history,
Boston Red Sox,
Chicago Cubs,
Dustin Pedroia,
instructionals,
Michael Lewis,
Oakland As,
Tom Verducci,
World Series
Mazel tov to Michael Leahy, winner of the 2016 CASEY Award presented by Spitball: The Literary Baseball Magazine, as the best baseball book of the year for The Last Innocents: The Collision of the Turbulent Sixties and the Los Angeles Dodgers. It is certainly one of my all-time favorites; if I ever get a chance […]
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Bergino Baseball Clubhouse,
Los Angeles Dodgers,
Michael Leahy