Ron Kaplan's Baseball Bookshelf
If it fits on a bookshelf, it fits here.
From the category archives:
How many ballplayers owe their careers to the work of Dr. Jobe, who pioneered the medical technique we know today as “Tommy John Surgery?” Jobe died yesterday at the age of 88. Here’s the NY Times obit by Richard Goldstein, who most recently wrote about the late Eddie O’Brien. Theorists love to talk about how […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
One-half of the Major League O’Brien twins passed away Feb. 17, at the age of 83. Wonder why it took so long to get into The New York Times, and subsequently surprised it was given this much space. The obituary was written by Richard Goldstein, author of a couple of books about baseball (and other […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The comic master passed away yesterday at the age of 69. This piece was written by Dan Epstein, author of the forthcoming Stars and Strikes: Baseball and America in the Bicentennial Summer of ’76 and Big Hair and Plastic Grass: A Funky Ride Through Baseball and America in the Swinging ’70.
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The former All-Star shortstop and manager died a day after being taken off life support following a massive stroke he suffered while on a cruise. Fregosi, who was 71, played 18 seasons for the Angels, Mets, Rangers, and Pirates. He then managed for 15 seasons for the Angels, White Sox, Phillies, and Blue Jays, compiling […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Ralph Kiner was such a New York institution, I thought it appropriate to include more reactions to his passing: The New York Times called on their resident baseball obit writer Bruce Weber to write this lengthy piece while sports media columnist Richard Sandomir produced this appreciation. I found this quote from Howie Rose especially telling […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Ralph Kiner, one of the game’s all-time great sluggers, passed away today at the age of 91. Kiner, who led the National League in home runs for seven straight seasons, was favorite of mine on one of the best trio of broadcasters in baseball. He was the last to go from his NY Mets booth-mates […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The iconic folk singer/activist died yesterday at the age of 94. These videos I found on Youtube were posted by Rolland Moussa who told me in an e-mail, “[Pete] wanted me to film it because he wanted to be known as an American who loved baseball, not labeled as a Communist.. No one had a […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The ex-Yankee favorite and member of the Greatest Generation who — like Ted Williams — served as a decorated aviator in both World War II and Korea, passed away following complications from a fall at the age of 89. Coleman played for only nine seasons, gaining All-Star Status in 1950. He went on to become […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The World War II veteran who returned from devastating injury sustained in the service of his country to play Major League baseball, passed away yesterday at the age of 89. Brissie, who earned a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, pitched seven seasons for the Philadelphia Athletics and Cleveland Indians, compiling a 44-48 record with […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
One of the few Jews to umpire in the Major Leagues, Allen “Al” Forman passed away Saturday at the age of 85. I had the pleasure of interviewing Forman in 2006 for a feature in the NJ Jewish News.
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
One of the grand old men of broadcast sports passed away yesterday at the age of 92. I remember Mazer from WNEW-TV (Channel Five) in New York. He was one of — if not the –first to host a half-hour Sunday night sports show, following the evening’s newscast. I always thought it was a “dead”space. […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The four-time all star and veteran of 17 Major League seasons passed away yesterday at the age of 92. Here’s the New York Times‘ obit, written by Richard Goldstein, whose resume includes publishing Superstars and Screwballs: 100 Years of Brooklyn Baseball. Pafko had the distinction of appearing in the Chicago Cubs’ last appearance in a […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The long-time umpire passed away on Wednesday at the age of 78. Here’s the NY Times obit. Pulli, who began his career in 1972 and served almost 30 years, was the first umpire to “use” video replay technology, according to the Times. Pulli made baseball history on May 31, 1999, after Florida Marlins outfielder Cliff […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
One of my favorite non-baseball writers passed away this morning. For all of his quirkiness, Leonard was a solid baseball fan. He even had the privilege of throwing out a first pitch at a Detroit Tigers game in 1999 and was the subject of a chapter in Tom Stanton’s The Final Season: Fathers, Sons, and […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The uber-fan and founder of the nomadic Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Fame died Tuesday at the age of 76. From the Richard Goldstein obit in The New York Times: When Jackie Robinson died in 1972, Mr. Adler campaigned to have his school, then known as Crown Heights Intermediate School 320, named for him. “The parents […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
You know you’ve earned respect from your arch-rival city when they run your obituary in the papers. George Scott, the hard-hitting first-baseman for the “Impossible Dream” Boston Red Sox in 1967, died Sunday at the age of 69. Scott also played for the Milwaukee Brewers and led the AL in home runs and RBI (36/109) […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The legendary swimmer-turned-movie star died today at the age of 91. She was a surprisingly competent actress, compared with many other sports stars who tried their hand at the silver screen. Studios went out of their way to compose scenes in which she would display her aquatic prowess (and the fact that she looked good […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Proof that if you look hard enough, you can make a baseball connection. And he’s got a pretty good motion, too. R.I.P. to a comic legend.
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
A lot of publications are call this woman — who died last December at the age of 83 — the “inspiration” for the novel The Natural. I think that’s wrong. To me it was Eddie Waitkus, whom Steinhagen shot in a hotel room in 1949, that served as the inspiration. After all, it was Roy […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
is available on Amazon.com,
In a former life, I was the sports and features editor for a weekly New Jersey newspaper, where I hosted an award-winning blog about Jews and Sports.
I did a profile piece on the legendary cartoonist Arnold Roth and he was very generous in immortalizing me in this caricature.
My article on Sandy Koufax in the 1965 World Series appears in
My article on the later biographies of Babe Ruth appears in
My article on the Mets’ 1969 postseason appears in
Profiles of several Jewish baseball figures appear in
