And a gold watch goes to…Hideki Matsui

2007 title

The Japanese import known — perhaps politically incorrectly — as “Godzilla,” announced his retirement at the age 38. Matsui spent most of his career with the New York Yankees. I’m guessing he’s had at least one book written about him based on his career in Japan. At least two titles were released in the U.S., […]

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Topping off your bookshelf

collectibles

I don’t do a lot of collecting anymore, but I do like baseball caps. I keep several on top of my bookshelf and many hang along an overhang I have in my basement office. The only rule I have is I can’t buy them online; I have to be at least in the city where […]

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Finding baseball in the most unusual places

2009 title

I’m a big fan of audio books. I recently borrowed two titles from the library — The Drunkard’s Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives, by Mlodinow, Leonard, and 1861: The Civil War Awakening, by Adam Goodheart — that would seem to have nothing to do with the national pastime. But lo and behold the former […]

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Lest we forget: Roberto Clemente

2012 title

It’s almost inconceivable to me to think that we are coming on the 40th anniversary of the death of Roberto Clemente. That’s an entire generation ago and makes me feel much older than I am. Kevin Guilfoile took some time out fro his carer as a novelist to write A Drive into the Gap, a […]

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A 501 update

Uncategorized

This wait is killing me. Not much to do until the publisher — who is enjoying a well-deserved holiday — returns and starts arranging interviews and sends out review copies, etc. So I’ve been ordering new business cards, post cards, and very “limited-edition” 501 merch, more as souvenirs for the family than any kind of […]

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Hail and farewell, R.A.

2012 title

R.A. Dickey, the author of  Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity and the Perfect Knuckleball who was ignominiously “dumped” by the NY Mets, makes a class exit with his “farewell to the fans” piece in the Dec. 22 NY Daily News. The paper also named Dickey its “Sportsperson of the Year.” I […]

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Lest we forget: Jack Klugman and Charles Durning

"Ripped from today's headlines..."

Every Christmas you can count on a couple of celebrities to cast off this mortal coil. This time, sadly, it’s two of my favorite actors, Jack Klugman obit by Bruce Weber) and Charles Durning. One of Klugman’s signature roles was, of course, the sloppy sportswriter Oscar Madison in beloved TV series The Odd Couple, for […]

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So much for that…

"Oddballs"
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Book Launch Party: Greg Prince

2012 title

Last Saturday, I had the honor of attending the book launch/birthday party for Greg Prince, author of the The Happiest Recap: First Base (1962-1973): 50 Years of the New York Mets As Told in 500 Amazin’ Wins (Volume 1). There will eventually be three additional volumes. Several of Prince’s friends were on hand at Foley’s, […]

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Merry Christmas…from beyond the grave

"Oddballs"

This could be a Twilight Zone episode. There’s till time to get a gen-u-ine Connie Mack Christmas card, along with other little Philadelphia A’s knick-knacks, via eBay.

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Who knew? Yes.

"Oddballs"

A few months ago Bob Costas and Jerry Seinfeld sat down to deconstruct the famous Abbot and Costello routine, Who”s on First. Jimmy Fallon recently took it a step further in this bit feature Seinfeld, Billy Crystal and a couple of other guys regular viewers of the show probably recognize. Of course this one, by […]

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No ‘minor’ feat

2012 title

Milb.com, the repository of minor league news, has a new and recurring off-season book review feature by Ben Hill. Up first, Making It in the Minors: A Team Owner’s Lessons in the Business of Baseball, by Arthur Solomon, owner of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Bowling Green Hot Rods and a former professor of […]

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Kevin Youkilis: The inner man

"Oddballs"

Craig Robinson is one of my favorite Internet friends. One of his websites offers unusual graphical representations of ideas (infographics), such as how tall Alex Rodriguez’s salary would be in penny form (short answer, miles). Robinson published Flip Flop Fly Ball: An Infographic Baseball Adventure, a collection of his work last year, which I highly […]

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Lest we forget: Frank Pastore

"Ripped from today's headlines..."

What a shame. The former Cincinnati Reds pitcher was just 55. Pastore, who pitched the final year of his eight-year career with the Minnesota Twins, died on Monday from injuries sustained last month in a motorcycle accident. Following his retirement from baseball at the age of 28, Pastore became a popular Christian radio personality.

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Bits and pieces, Dec. 18

2013 title

501 update:  Received the index back for a bit of very minor revising. Then it’s really done. Gratified by the very early interest by members of the media in doing reviews. Bruce Markusen over at The Hardball Times offers another in his series of “baseball card mysteries.” This time it’s Dave Nelson’s 1973  Topps. Speaking […]

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Bay-area baseball event

Baseball program

If you happen to be in Mill Valley, CA, tomorrow evening you might want to check this out: former major leaguers Bip Roberts and Shooty Babitt (sounds like a couple of Saturday morning cartoon characters, don’t they?) will be at the 142 Throckmorton (another cartoon character) Theater to discuss — what else– baseball.

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When bad trivia happens to good baseball

"Oddballs"
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Neyer rides again

History

Taking a page from his own book, Rob Neyer “challenges” some assertions by Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx from an article in a 1962 issue of Baseball Monthly. Note the title: BaseballFactCheck.org. No such site exists, but it should. Neyer could recruit some baseball scholars to bust myths. Just sayin’.

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Mets at the movies

Baseball in movies

Rob Edelman, author of Great Baseball Films: From Right Off the Bat to a League of Their Own, recently published this article, focusing (heh) on movies that featured some aspects of the New York Mets.  

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501 update: The end of the beginning

2013 title

Sent in the index last night and just now found out I have a publicist. (How pretentious must that sound. “Give me your info and I’ll put you in touch with my publicist.”) In the meantime, I’m working on a new stand-alone web presence for the book, then it’s time to relax for a couple […]

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