Now hear this: Fastball (baseball in podcasts)

2016 title

Been a bit remiss in my own Bookshelf Conversations lately. But always happy to pass along what I’ve come across. Jonathan Hock’s new documentary Fastball recently hit the screens. I had the opportunity to watch a screener. Fascinating stuff. There’s a “Zelig moment” with Justin Verlander “visiting” Bob Feller during his famous “motorcycle showdown.” That […]

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The annual Baseball Preview review

"Annuals"

ESPN the Magazine (Cover price: $5.99) Maybe it’s an age thing, I found ESPN’s attempt to replicate old English (or whatever the hell they were trying to accomplish), pretty difficult to read. It would have been enough if they had just used it on the cover, but they compound the error (IMO) repeatedly Once again, […]

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National Pastime Radio: It’s all about the “base”

"Oddballs"

Jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding was the guest for Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me‘s Not My Job segment last week. So the writer thought it would be cute… PETER SAGAL: Second base is baseball, the great American pastime. SPALDING: Oh no. SAGAL: One of the worst baseball players ever was one Smead Jolley. Mr. Jolly was […]

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Baseball in Jeopardy again

"Oddballs"

Last night, an entire category devoted to “Ways to reach first base.” The contestants answered each one correctly, although the $200 clue remained on the board after the first round. $400: 4 wide ones (What is a walk?) $600: Craig Biggio had it happen 285 times; ouch! (What is hit by pitch?) $800: A defensive […]

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Baseball Best Sellers, March 25, 2016

Uncategorized

NOTE: I have been posting these things long enough now that a few have commented that the introductory section isn’t necessary anymore. But I’m leaving it in because, to paraphrase Joe DiMaggio when asked why he played so hard all the time, there may be people who’ve never read the best-seller entries before. So on […]

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Lest we forget: Joe Garagiola

"Ripped from today's headlines..."

It strikes me that Baseball Is a Funny Game, originally published in 1960, was that generation’s Moneyball. It was reissued several times and was a perennial favorite, so look for it to kick up a notch on the sales charts along with It’s Anybody’s Ballgame and Just Play Ball, published in 1988 and 2007 respectively. […]

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Brought to you as a public service announcement…

Annoucements

“Baseball As Good Medicine: The Amazing, Magical, Healing Qualities of Baseball” describes itself as “a unique variety of storytellers from sportswriters to rheumatologists to artists to umpires – each telling a story related to this theme in 5 minutes or less.” From time to time, they hold an fundraising event by which all proceeds go […]

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The goat ate my homework…

2017 Title

Haven’t been posting much lately but I have a good excuse. No, really, I have a better reason. Just contracted to do a book focusing on Hank Greenberg‘s 1938 season in which he put up a valiant fight to break Babe Ruth‘s single-season home run record of 60. The as-yet untitled project will also take […]

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Baseball Best Sellers, March 18, 2016

2015 title

NOTE: I have been posting these things long enough now that a few have commented that the introductory section isn’t necessary anymore. But I’m leaving it in because, to paraphrase Joe DiMaggio when asked why he played so hard all the time, there may be people who’ve never read the best-seller entries before. So on […]

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Where has the time gone

Annoucements

Can it really be that Sandy Koufax has been retired for half a century? The National Pastime Museum will discuss it tomorrow (March 18) at 10 a.m. (sorry for the late notice) as one of their “Baseball Banter” programs, featuring Bob Klapisch of the New York Post. Learn more about it here.  

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Happy anniversary and congrats on the “new addition”

2016 title

Between the 30th anniversary of the 1986 World Championship and the afterglow of last year’s appearance in the Fall Classic, Mets fans will have a (Citi) field day as not one, not two, but… more… books about their team hits the shelves. Should have mentioned it earlier so I’ll start off with this: Greg Prince, […]

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Review roundup, March 15, 2016

2016 title

This is the time of year when baseball books start hitting the shelves in earnest: From the Albany Times Union: Baseball’s No-Hit Wonders: More Than a Century of Pitching’s Greatest Feats, by Dirk Lammers. Is it just me, or have no-hitters somewhat lost their allure? Maybe because they seem more common, albeit still mathematically rare. […]

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It’s like there’s a Moneyball for everything

"Oddballs"

This time it’s “Moneyball for book publishers.” How long until “moneyball” is added to the OED? No exact match found for “moneyball” in Grammar & usage

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Bookshelf Review: The Cardinals Way

2016 title

By way of Bookreporter.com.  

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Baseball Best Sellers, March 11, 2016

"Annuals"

NOTE: I have been posting these things long enough now that a few have commented that the introductory section isn’t necessary anymore. But I’m leaving it in because, to paraphrase Joe DiMaggio when asked why he played so hard all the time, there may be people who’ve never read the best-seller entries before. So on […]

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One and done: A baseball card assessment

2016 title

Had to go pick up some socks at a local sporting goods chain and while I was there I purchased my annual pack of Topps. Apologies for the poor quality of my photo. Pretty uninspiring  design, both front and back. A brief description from bottom to top, left to right: Michael Bourn, Atlanta Braves. Has […]

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Lest we forget: Tom Knight

History

Forgive the nihilism, but such is the meaninglessness of life. I was about to line the bottom of the birdcage this morning and just happened to notice that one of the pages carried the obituary for “Tom Knight, 89; Knew It All About Brooklyn Baseball.” The 750-plus-word New York Times tribute was written by by […]

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Birthday greetings, Jim Bouton

Author profile/interview by Ron Kaplan

Often imitated, never equaled, the author of the book that “started it all” turns 77 today. “Bulldog” was kind enough to share his thoughts with an incarnation of the Bookshelf Conversation in 2010. You can listen to all three parts here.  

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Is baseball in Jeopardy? Damn right it is.

"Oddballs"

Yesterday on Jeopardy: Then I sat down to do the Times‘ crossword: Crazy, man. One of my Facebook friends suggested there should be a version of Jeopardy devoted solely to the national pastime. Baseball in Jeopardy? You’re welcome.

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Authors appearance, starring Howard Megdal

2016 title

Took one of my rare trips into the jungles of Manhattan to see Howard Megdal, he of the new book The Cardinals Way: How One Team Embraced Tradition and Moneyball at the Same Time at the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse. It’s always great to reconnect with old friends. Jay Goldberg, Bergino’s congenial owner/event host is always […]

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