Ron Kaplan's Baseball Bookshelf
If it fits on a bookshelf, it fits here.
From the category archives:
Fans of sports talk radio in the New York area — and I am not one — are mourning the “loss” of their favorite team from WFAN. Mike (Francesa) and the Mad Dog (Chris Russo) had been together since 1989, annoying the hell out of me on the rare occasion that I would listen to […]
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Ya gotta start ’em young. The youth of America, as Casey Stengel would say.
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I was stunned when I read the news that the comedian/actor — he was the star of Mr. 3000 — had died at the age of 50. At the risk of sounding maudlin, the older I get, the more aware I am of those dying around me, especially when they’re younger than I. There are […]
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This article from Forbes reflects the tremendous increase in fan interest and, thereby, profits to be had in the minor leagues. There’s also a link to a slideshow about the 20 “best” MiLB teams.
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The son of the legendary Harry Caray died at the age of 68. How sad it must be to go through life know as an extension of someone else, “the wife of,” “the partner of.” Skip was the long-time voice of the Atlanta Braves. The Amazon Report on Skip Caray: Roomies: Tales from the Worlds […]
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This “conspiracy theory” article comes from The Nation. And I don’t mean that as a negative. Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not trying to get you. Many other respected sources believe Miller has been “punished” with exclusion for his role in increasing expenditures on the part of the owners. According to writers Peter […]
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An article from the New England-based Seacoastonline.com reports that a film about Ari Alexenberg, a 45-year-old Boston man who played in the first (and perhaps only) season of the Israel Baseball League last year, is in the works. When Steve Sanger, of Portsmouth-based Sanger Communications, heard of Alexenberg’s story, he knew he had to meet […]
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From a post originally posted following the All Star Home Run Derby contest: By the way, can we get some love for Hamilton’s pitcher, Clay Council, age 71? From Bleacherreport.com prior to the contest: Several years ago, Josh Hamilton made a promise to his American Legion batting practice coach back while he was still in […]
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From the OttawaCitizen.com: Longtime baseball writer and former Ottawa Citizen staff writer Bob Elliott is a nominee for induction into the writers’ wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009. According to the London Free Press, ”Elliott is one of three writers nominated for the J.G. Taylor Spink Award and induction into the writers’ […]
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What’s the difference between A-Rod and the Bambino? The way they have been treated by the media. In Ruth’s day, what happened behind bedroom doors (usually) stayed behind bedroom doors. That is not longer the case. Photographers and reporters hang around, just waiting for the opportunity to take an embarrassing picture. But according to this […]
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In today’s New York Times — and with the closing of both new York stadiums after the 2008 season — Nick Bunkley writes about the demolition of Tiger Stadium in his “Detroit Journal.” As the last game in the old Michigan ballpark drew near, Tom Stanton wrote about growing up an intergenerational Tigers fan in […]
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“Canseco not the first slugger to strike out in the ring,” from ESPN.com.
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His name might not be as familiar as David Halberstam or Maury Allen or other prolific baseball authors, but Jules Tygiel was a master of the social importance of the game. He wrote several volumes about Jackie Robinson, but managed to keep his material fresh and pertinent. Tygiel passed away yesterday at the age of […]
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The Pastime.net reports the daily happenings at the 38th SABR convention, now wrapping up in Cleveland.
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From an Associated Press Report in the June 27 NY Daily News: The graduating class of a suburban middle school got an unexpected surprise tucked inside their diplomas – signed baseball cards from Joba Chamberlain. The cards were a thank you from the Yankees pitcher for the charity work the eight graders at Pleasantville Middle […]
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George Carlin, 1937-2008 “Safe at Home”
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Last week, in an entry about a new documentary chronicling inaugural season of the Israel Baseball League, I said there would not be a season two. Seems that was a bit premature. If I had waited just a few hours, I would have added that the league will indeed have a curtain call. But then […]
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One of those heart-warming stories following World War II, Shepard was a flier who was shot down and captured in Germany. His injuries required the amputation of his right leg below the knee. Upon his return to the States, Shepard was signed by the Washington Senators and pitched in one game, against the Red Sox […]
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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
* Defending America's game
August 8, 2008
Damn right! An outraged reader in Eureka, Calif. sounds off on the National Pastime. You can read the original offending article here. The newspaper offers the disclaimer “Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of The Eureka Reporter or its staff.” But it was written by a staff reporter so so much for trying to […]
Tagged as: baseball commentary
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