Ron Kaplan’s Baseball Bookshelf — If it fits on a bookshelf, it fits here — Page 44

Baseball Best-Sellers, August 21, 2020

Note: The Amazon rankings are updated every hour, so these lists might not be 100 percent accurate by the time you read them (or even by the time I finish writing one). But close enough for government work, as the saying goes. In addition, occasionally the powers-that-be over there try to pull a fast one […]

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The Bookshelf Conversations: Jon Pessah

Some creators who have appeared in these Conversations have admitted that their project became a chore. For others, it was just a job. And sometimes that shows up in the work. A lot of biographies seem to be showing off the amount of research the author did. Very good, but they kind of read like […]

Tagged as: Jon Pessah, Yogi Berra

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Lest We Forget: Carroll Hardy

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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Baseball Best-Sellers, August 7, 2020

Note: The Amazon rankings are updated every hour, so these lists might not be 100 percent accurate by the time you read them (or even by the time I finish writing one). But close enough for government work, as the saying goes. In addition, occasionally the powers-that-be over there try to pull a fast one […]

Tagged as: baseball fiction, Bernard Malamud, Boston Red Sox, Jackie Robinson, Jim Bouton, Michael Lewis, Moneyball, Seattle Pilots, St. Louis Cardinals, Ted Williams, W.P. Kinsella, Willie Mays

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Lest we forget: Wilford Brimley and Pete Hamill

Baseball movies

Would have posted this sooner if not for power outages caused by the latest storm. While neither of these latest casualties were professional ballplayers, they both had a cultural impact on the game. Wilford Brimley, who passed away August 1 at the age of 85, appeared as Pop Fisher, manager of the woebegotten New York […]

Tagged as: baseball fiction, Pete Hamill, Snow in August, The Natural, Wilford Brimley

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Baseball Best-Sellers, July 31, 2020

"Bookshelf Conversations"

Note: The Amazon rankings are updated every hour, so these lists might not be 100 percent accurate by the time you read them (or even by the time I finish writing one). But close enough for government work, as the saying goes. In addition, occasionally the powers-that-be over there try to pull a fast one […]

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Baseball Best-Sellers, July 24, 2020

Note: The Amazon rankings are updated every hour, so these lists might not be 100 percent accurate by the time you read them (or even by the time I finish writing one). But close enough for government work, as the saying goes. In addition, occasionally the powers-that-be over there try to pull a fast one […]

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The Bookshelf Conversations: Rob Fitts

I’ve been collecting baseball cards for most of my life; not as much these days because I’m a grown-ass adult. For the most part, they have all been the same: a photograph surrounded by the annual change in design. More recently, a number of companies have joined Topps, coming out with multiple sets, almost ad […]

Tagged as: Baseball Cards, Japanese baseball, Rob Fitts

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Baseball Best-Sellers, July 17, 2020

Note: The Amazon rankings are updated every hour, so these lists might not be 100 percent accurate by the time you read them (or even by the time I finish writing one). But close enough for government work, as the saying goes. In addition, occasionally the powers-that-be over there try to pull a fast one […]

Tagged as: Baseball Cards, Bernard Malamud, Doc Gooden, Jim Bouton, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Moneyball, New York Yankees, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Yogi Berra

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A library unto itself

"Ripped from today's headlines..."

The Pandemic Baseball Book Club has just announced a giveaway contest with il premio di tutti i premi. (That’s “the prize of all prizes” for you non-Italian speakers out there. Yes, I’m pretentious.) Just posted on Facebook today so I thought I would share it. The lucky winner of “The Pandemic Baseball Book Club Grand […]

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Such stuff as dreams are made on

With apologies to Shakespeare. I received this link from a high school classmate today about a treasure trove of baseball cards found in the attic of a recently deceased 97-year-old. (Thanks, Terry!) I have fantasies about some friend or colleague telling me a loved one wants to just get rid of a bunch of old […]

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Baseball Best-Sellers, July 10, 2020

Note: The Amazon rankings are updated every hour, so these lists might not be 100 percent accurate by the time you read them (or even by the time I finish writing one). But close enough for government work, as the saying goes. In addition, occasionally the powers-that-be over there try to pull a fast one […]

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A song for our time

"Ripped from today's headlines..."

Still unsure of what lies ahead for the 2020 season. All it takes is for one team to explode with cases of Covid-19. God forbid it ever comes to this. So on that happy note, humbly submitted for your amusement.

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Lest we forget: Lonnie Wheeler

"Ripped from today's headlines..."

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 […]

Tagged as: Lonnie Wheeler

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The Bookshelf Conversations: John Shea

"Bookshelf Conversations"

According to Bert Sugar’s Rain Delays, one of Willie Mays‘ literary collaborators had an ignominious interaction with his subject. “[A]t the end of the 1965 season, when [Charles] Einstein gave his subject a follow up call, after having taken notes with Mays throughout the season and after having identified himself over the phone, Mays said ‘Charlie […]

Tagged as: John Shea, Willie Mays

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Lest we forget: Carl Reiner

"Ripped from today's headlines..."

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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Baseball Best-Sellers, June 26, 2020

Note: The Amazon rankings are updated every hour, so these lists might not be 100 percent accurate by the time you read them (or even by the time I finish writing one). But close enough for government work, as the saying goes. In addition, occasionally the powers-that-be over there try to pull a fast one […]

Tagged as: Los Angeles Dodgers, Lou Gehrig, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Tommy Lasorda, Willie Mays, Yogi Berra

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Baseball Best-Sellers, June 19, 2020

Note: The Amazon rankings are updated every hour, so these lists might not be 100 percent accurate by the time you read them (or even by the time I finish writing one). But close enough for government work, as the saying goes. In addition, occasionally the powers-that-be over there try to pull a fast one […]

Tagged as: Baseball Cards, Jim Bouton, Lou Gehrig, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Roy Halladay, Ted Williams, Yogi Berra

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The Bookshelf Conversations: Joan Ryan

Ever since Moneyball came out in 2003, most books analyzing the national pastime dealt with cold hard numbers. Putting a team together, it seems, is a lesson in math. But according to veteran journalist and author Joan Ryan, it’s a science. Chemistry, to be precise. (Full disclosure: I was never very good in that particular […]

Tagged as: Barry Bonds, Joan Ryan, Jonny Gomes, San Francisco Giants

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Baseball Best-Sellers, June 12, 2020

Missed last Friday’s BBS post with a good excuse: it was my birthday. But that’s long over now so… Note: The Amazon rankings are updated every hour, so these lists might not be 100 percent accurate by the time you read them (or even by the time I finish writing one). But close enough for […]

Tagged as: Jay Horwitz, Lou Gehrig, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Roy Halladay, Willie Mays, Yogi Berra

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