Ron Kaplan's Baseball Bookshelf
If it fits on a bookshelf, it fits here.
From the category archives:
We lost another baseball lifer with the passing of Eddie Robinson on Monday at the age of 100. Here’s the New York Times obituary by Richard Goldstein. He enjoyed a 13 year career, spent entirely in the American League where he played on every team except the Boston Red Sox. Robinson, the oldest former big […]
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The 12-time All-Star catcher for the Detroit Tigers of the 60s and 70s passed away earlier this week at the age of 79. Here’s the obit from the Detroit Free Press. Freehan finished in the top three for the AL MVP vote in 1967 and 1968. He took advantage of his fame by publishing Behind […]
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Are you kidding me? I only heard about this today, even though Sutton, a 300-game winner and Hall of Famer, passed away Monday at the age of 75. Here’s his obituary from the Los Angeles Times by Bill Shaikin. As Richard Sandomir’s notes in his obit in The New York Times, this makes nine Hall […]
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The Hall of Fame manager who “bled Dodger Blue” passed away yesterday at the age of 93. Lasorda spent his entire major league career with the Dodgers. A middling pitcher, he was sent down by Brooklyn in 1955 to make room for a teenaged Sandy Koufax. Here’s Richard Goldstein’s obituary in The New York Times […]
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Will this year ever end? We lost yet another baseball great: Phil Niekro, the ageless knuckleballer, died December 26 at the age of 81. Here’s the obituary from The New York Times by Richard Goldstein, as well as an appreciation by Tyler Kepner. And here’s one from the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Niekro had a record […]
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In addition to baseball, I’ve always enjoyed me some good science fiction. Right now the missus and I are watching Expanse (Netflix) on the recommendation of some friends. After two episodes, it doesn’t seem to be in my wheelhouse, but they urge us to keep going, comparing it with Battlestar Gallactica (also not really my […]
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The legendary country singer died last Saturday at the age of 86 from complications of Covid after attending the CMA Awards in Nashville. Here’s the obituary from The New York Times. Pride had legitimate baseball roots, pitching professionally in the Negro Leagues. He was also a part owner of the Texas Rangers for a time. […]
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Don’t bother looking for him on Baseball-Reference; instead, check him out on IMDB. David Lander was probably — unfortunately — best know as part of the moronic duo of Lenny and Squiggy (his character) on the inexplicably popular I Love Lucy knockoff, Laverne and Shirley (all due respect, of course). But his baseball connection was his […]
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This has been a terrible year for baseball greats. The controversial slugger died today at the age of 78 after a long illness. Allen, who was the NL Rookie of the Year for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1964 and the AL MVP for the Chicago White Sox in 1972, was frequently criticized for his “attitude” […]
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Lost among the Seavers, Gibsons, and Brocks, all of whom recently passed away, Ron Perranowski has been overlooked. The left-handed reliever enjoyed a 13-year career, mostly with the Dodgers and Twins. The New Jersey native passed away October 2 at the age of 84. Perranoski led the National League in winning percentage in 1963 when […]
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Remember the other day when I asked when does this end? And then again a few days later? Might has well make a template. The latest Hall of Famer to pass was Joe Morgan, the feisty second baseman, mostly with the Cincinnati Reds — with whom he had his best years– and the Houston Astros. He […]
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Remember the other day when I asked when does this end? Obviously not any time soon. The latest casualty is Edward Charles “Whitey” Ford, who died last night (Oct. 8) at the age of 91. Nicknamed “The Chairman of the Board” and “Slick,” Ford spent his entire career with the New York Yankees, from 1950-1967 […]
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When will this end? Tom Seaver. Jay Johnstone. Lou Brock. Al Kaline. Jimmy Wynn. And a host of others. And now, Bob Gibson, who passed away Friday at the age of 84. A Hall of Famer, seven-time All-Star, and two-time Cy Young winner, he spent his entire 17-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals. Here’s […]
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It’s a funny thing about death. When you’re a kid, and you hear about some old ballplayer passing away, you don’t give it much thought. Even if you’re a big fan and know your history, you never saw these guys play so it doesn’t have the same existential effect (nor should it when you that […]
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We lost another Hall of Famer with the passing of Lou Brock. In addition to being the stolen base king before Rickey Henderson took the title, Brock was involved in what has usually been considered one of the top ten controversial trades of all time, coming over from the Chicago Cubs for Ernie Broglio. Here […]
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This time, it’s personal. For many Mets fans of a certain age, Tom Seaver, who died earlier this week at the age of 75, was indeed “The Franchise.” If any one player deserves credit for reversing the fortunes of a team it was George Thomas Seaver, who turned loveable losers into World Champions. They say […]
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Once you get to be a certain age, if you’re introspective (like me), I’ll bet you’ve given some thought about what your obituary might look like? How will you be remembered? Will it be for a lifetime of achievement? Or perhaps it will be for a single moment. In a way, I feel sorry for […]
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Missed over the holiday weekend: the passing of the talented Mr. Wheeler, a writer who assisted on the autobiographies of superstars like Hank Aaron, Bob Gibson, and Mike Piazza, as well as his own thought-provoking work. Here’s The New York Times‘ obituary, contributed by Richard Sandomir. I had the pleasure of talking with Wheeler for […]
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Words cannot express the sadness at the passing of the comedy legend (and long-time Dodgers fan). We shall not see his kind again.
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The two-time All-Star, who spent 14 of his 19 big league seasons with the Houston Astros before becoming the general manager of the team in 1993, died yesterday at the age of 74. Watson also played for the Boston Red Sox, NY Yankees, and Atlanta Braves. The Houston Chronicle printed several pieces on the “Bull.” […]
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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
