Baseball book recommendations
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Sorry for the (somewhat) OT post, but I don’t think there will be a ton of on-topic news for a bit.
I got a couple baseball books for Christmas, and I wanted to recommend at least one. It’s called “The Bad Guys Won!: A season of brawling, boozing, bimbo chasing, and championship baseball with Straw, Doc, Mookie, Nails, the Kid, and the rest of the 1986 Mets, the rowdiest team ever to put on a New York Uniform — and maybe the best” (https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Guys-Won-Championship-Uniform/dp/0062097636). What a team full of unlikable (but fascinating) jerks lol. I recently watched the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, “Doc & Daryl,” and that inspired me to dig a little deeper into the ‘86 Mets. The book is pretty well written and has lots of interesting insights, anecdotes, interviews, and behind-the-scenes drama. I’m not a Mets fan, but any baseball fan will probably enjoy it!
Unfortunately the only available legends are Gary Carter, Keith Hernandez, and George Foster (I think). I know it’s pointless to even hope for Strawberry or Gooden. Oh well.
I also got “Rickey: the Life and Legend of an American Original” (https://www.amazon.com/Rickey-Life-Legend-American-Original/dp/0358047315). I haven’t started it yet, but I’ll crack it open tonight. For the second time in 2 years, my apartment flooded due to frozen pipes, so I’m living in a hotel for the time being. Oh, and I just tested positive for Covid. So thank goodness I have a couple baseball books to keep me occupied!
Any other baseball book recommendations? I might be stuck here for a while, so I’ll probably be looking for something new in the next week or so.
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If you have never read Ball Four by Jim Bouton it is a must read.
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@TEXAS10PT_PSN said in Baseball book recommendations:
If you have never read Ball Four by Jim Bouton it is a must read.
Yes! Thank you. I have had this saved on my Amazon list for years. I think it’s finally time to read this bad boy.
Oh that’s right. You heard me. I said “bad boy.”
Thank you!
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@SchnauzerFace_MLBTS said in Baseball book recommendations:
@TEXAS10PT_PSN said in Baseball book recommendations:
If you have never read Ball Four by Jim Bouton it is a must read.
Yes! Thank you. I have had this saved on my Amazon list for years. I think it’s finally time to read this bad boy.
Oh that’s right. You heard me. I said “bad boy.”
Thank you!
The last best league is a great book that goes through a season in the cape cod league.
The rocket that fell to earth is good about Clemens. I believe this one is the same author as the bad guys book.
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„Moneyball“ (Michael Lewis) is a must-read imo
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If you dead ball era history Crazy 08 is a great one
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Sorry about the apartment! Maybe move back to Phoenix... they don't have hard freezes, do they?
When I was a kid, I read "Bad New Bears" before seeing the movie. There was a passage about a "shift", where Buttermaker moved every fielder to the left side of 2nd base. I thought that was the strangest thing. I'm sure that's where Joe Maddon got the idea to implement it so heavily - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrjJFNDQJbM
@TEXAS10PT_PSN is right about "Ball Four". My grandfather gave that to me. I also liked Dorris Kearns Goodwin's "Wait Till Next Year". Some great stuff about the old Dodgers before/after they moved to LA.
Oh... and feel better!
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@arvcpa_MLBTS said in Baseball book recommendations:
Sorry about the apartment! Maybe move back to Phoenix... they don't have hard freezes, do they?
When I was a kid, I read "Bad New Bears" before seeing the movie. There was a passage about a "shift", where Buttermaker moved every fielder to the left side of 2nd base. I thought that was the strangest thing. I'm sure that's where Joe Maddon got the idea to implement it so heavily - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrjJFNDQJbM
@TEXAS10PT_PSN is right about "Ball Four". My grandfather gave that to me. I also liked Dorris Kearns Goodwin's "Wait Till Next Year". Some great stuff about the old Dodgers before/after they moved to LA.
Oh... and feel better!
thank you! I think I’m over the worst of the sickness. I had 4 shots/boosters, so thankfully it never got all that bad. Kind of like a mild cold that wouldn’t go away. But the fatigue is still killing me. Ugh.
Thank you all for the recommendations! I am loading up the ol’ Amazon shopping cart right now. This should keep me busy for a while!
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@Dstaruh_XBL said in Baseball book recommendations:
If you dead ball era history Crazy 08 is a great one
This looks right up my alley. Thank you! Reading this is just going to [censored] me out even more that we didn’t get a 99 christy Mathewson this year (and also that Cobb is no longer in the game)
EDIT: seriously? I can’t even say bee-you-em? What about white Sox reliever Aaron Bummer?
DOUBLE EDIT: that seems to be ok.
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I'm pleasantly surprised this forum is so cultured with avid readers!
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An oldie, but a goodie: Men at Work by George Will.
DO NOT, under any circumstances, read Fair Ball by Bob Costas. It argued in 2000 that Kansas City and Florida would never again win the World Series.
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@arvcpa_MLBTS said in Baseball book recommendations:
Sorry about the apartment! Maybe move back to Phoenix... they don't have hard freezes, do they?
When I was a kid, I read "Bad New Bears" before seeing the movie. There was a passage about a "shift", where Buttermaker moved every fielder to the left side of 2nd base. I thought that was the strangest thing. I'm sure that's where Joe Maddon got the idea to implement it so heavily - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrjJFNDQJbM
@TEXAS10PT_PSN is right about "Ball Four". My grandfather gave that to me. I also liked Dorris Kearns Goodwin's "Wait Till Next Year". Some great stuff about the old Dodgers before/after they moved to LA.
Oh... and feel better!
Now Joe (Morgan) can you tell us the difference between a curveball and a mofo curveball. LMAO
classic. -
@TEXAS10PT_PSN said in Baseball book recommendations:
@arvcpa_MLBTS said in Baseball book recommendations:
Sorry about the apartment! Maybe move back to Phoenix... they don't have hard freezes, do they?
When I was a kid, I read "Bad New Bears" before seeing the movie. There was a passage about a "shift", where Buttermaker moved every fielder to the left side of 2nd base. I thought that was the strangest thing. I'm sure that's where Joe Maddon got the idea to implement it so heavily - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrjJFNDQJbM
@TEXAS10PT_PSN is right about "Ball Four". My grandfather gave that to me. I also liked Dorris Kearns Goodwin's "Wait Till Next Year". Some great stuff about the old Dodgers before/after they moved to LA.
Oh... and feel better!
Now Joe (Morgan) can you tell us the difference between a curveball and a mofo curveball. LMAO
classic. -
@SchnauzerFace_MLBTS said in Baseball book recommendations:
Sorry for the (somewhat) OT post, but I don’t think there will be a ton of on-topic news for a bit.
I got a couple baseball books for Christmas, and I wanted to recommend at least one. It’s called “The Bad Guys Won!: A season of brawling, boozing, bimbo chasing, and championship baseball with Straw, Doc, Mookie, Nails, the Kid, and the rest of the 1986 Mets, the rowdiest team ever to put on a New York Uniform — and maybe the best” (https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Guys-Won-Championship-Uniform/dp/0062097636). What a team full of unlikable (but fascinating) jerks lol. I recently watched the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, “Doc & Daryl,” and that inspired me to dig a little deeper into the ‘86 Mets. The book is pretty well written and has lots of interesting insights, anecdotes, interviews, and behind-the-scenes drama. I’m not a Mets fan, but any baseball fan will probably enjoy it!
Unfortunately the only available legends are Gary Carter, Keith Hernandez, and George Foster (I think). I know it’s pointless to even hope for Strawberry or Gooden. Oh well.
I also got “Rickey: the Life and Legend of an American Original” (https://www.amazon.com/Rickey-Life-Legend-American-Original/dp/0358047315). I haven’t started it yet, but I’ll crack it open tonight. For the second time in 2 years, my apartment flooded due to frozen pipes, so I’m living in a hotel for the time being. Oh, and I just tested positive for Covid. So thank goodness I have a couple baseball books to keep me occupied!
Any other baseball book recommendations? I might be stuck here for a while, so I’ll probably be looking for something new in the next week or so.
Hope you’re feeling better friend.
The Summer of Beer and Whiskey by Edward Achorn is a great look at the formation of the American Association and its 1883 season. If you like early baseball, outlandish characters and league rivalries, this one is for you.
Will also second Crazy ‘08 by Cait Murphy. Incredible deep dive into the drama of the 1908 season.
Just finished listening to Rickey on Audible. Henderson is one of my all time favorites and the book did not disappoint. Fair and illuminating.
Hope this passes the time during your recovery.
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@MarinerMatt01 said in Baseball book recommendations:
@SchnauzerFace_MLBTS said in Baseball book recommendations:
Sorry for the (somewhat) OT post, but I don’t think there will be a ton of on-topic news for a bit.
I got a couple baseball books for Christmas, and I wanted to recommend at least one. It’s called “The Bad Guys Won!: A season of brawling, boozing, bimbo chasing, and championship baseball with Straw, Doc, Mookie, Nails, the Kid, and the rest of the 1986 Mets, the rowdiest team ever to put on a New York Uniform — and maybe the best” (https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Guys-Won-Championship-Uniform/dp/0062097636). What a team full of unlikable (but fascinating) jerks lol. I recently watched the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, “Doc & Daryl,” and that inspired me to dig a little deeper into the ‘86 Mets. The book is pretty well written and has lots of interesting insights, anecdotes, interviews, and behind-the-scenes drama. I’m not a Mets fan, but any baseball fan will probably enjoy it!
Unfortunately the only available legends are Gary Carter, Keith Hernandez, and George Foster (I think). I know it’s pointless to even hope for Strawberry or Gooden. Oh well.
I also got “Rickey: the Life and Legend of an American Original” (https://www.amazon.com/Rickey-Life-Legend-American-Original/dp/0358047315). I haven’t started it yet, but I’ll crack it open tonight. For the second time in 2 years, my apartment flooded due to frozen pipes, so I’m living in a hotel for the time being. Oh, and I just tested positive for Covid. So thank goodness I have a couple baseball books to keep me occupied!
Any other baseball book recommendations? I might be stuck here for a while, so I’ll probably be looking for something new in the next week or so.
Hope you’re feeling better friend.
The Summer of Beer and Whiskey by Edward Achorn is a great look at the formation of the American Association and its 1883 season. If you like early baseball, outlandish characters and league rivalries, this one is for you.
Will also second Crazy ‘08 by Cait Murphy. Incredible deep dive into the drama of the 1908 season.
Just finished listening to Rickey on Audible. Henderson is one of my all time favorites and the book did not disappoint. Fair and illuminating.
Hope this passes the time during your recovery.
Thank you! I actually came across The Summer of Beer and Whiskey when I was adding Crazy ‘08 to my cart so I threw that one in there too. Very happy to hear you recommend that one as well!
I started Rickey this morning. Looking forward to learning more about his life and career. I always have him on my bench, but I may promote him to starting LF after reading his biography!
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