Ron Kaplan's Baseball Bookshelf
If it fits on a bookshelf, it fits here.
From the category archives:
Have to rearrange the schedule a bit between last holiday weekend and next weekend’s vacation to California. So… Note: Just like Chuck Lorre’s “vanity cards” at the end of The Big Bang Theory, you should read these list stories to their conclusion; the end is always changing, even though the theme is basically the same, […]
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The former Major League pitcher and the first to adopt the behind-the-scenes memoir as an active player and set the path for future writers such as Jim Bouton, Dirk Hayhurst, and others, died on June 28 at the age of 84. Brosnan, who was 55-47 in nine seasons for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, St. […]
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The former general manager Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets passed away yesterday at the age of 88. Cashen, who was hugely successful with both franchises, was scheduled to release a new memoir, Winning in Both Leagues: Reflections from Baseball’s Front Office, in September. Richard Goldstein wrote the obituary for The New York Times.
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Waaay too early. A damn shame, but perhaps also a lesson. Books by and about the Hall of Famer include: The Art of Hitting Tony! Tony Gwynn’s Total Baseball Player Gwynn was also a major component of George F. Will’s Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball. My mind may be playing tricks on me, […]
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The former embattled Major League pitcher passed away yesterday at the age of 57. Welch wrote about his addiction issues in Five O’Clock Comes Early with George Vecsey. Originally published in 1981 with the subtitle “A Young Man’s Battle with Alcoholism,” it was re-released a decade later with “A Cy Young Award-Winner Recounts His Greatest […]
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The testimonies are coming in fast and heavy for Zimmer, who was proud of the fact that he never drew a paycheck outside of baseball for 66 years. Zimmer passed away on Wednesday at the age of 83. He published two memoirs since 2001, but with the assistance of Bill Madden: Zim: A Baseball Life […]
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The renown poet passed away today at the age of 86. Her baseball connection? She was supposed to be be recognized as a 2014 Major League Baseball Beacon of Life honoree at Friday’s Beacon Awards Luncheon on May 30, marking MLB’s annual Civil Rights Game in Houston.
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His name might not be as familiar as David Halberstam or Roger Angell or Lawrence Ritter, but in the baseball book world, Hollander was an annual companion. He produced a staple of fans’ libraries From the obituary in today’s New York Times: a journeyman journalist who rebounded from the merger of his newspaper in the […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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.
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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. […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 bog 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
