20 Best Books About Baseball (2023 Update)

"the ultimate chronicle of the games behind the game."—the new york times book reviewbaseball has always inspired rhapsodic elegies on the glory of man and golden memories of wonderful times. but what you see on the field is only half the game.in this fascinating, colorful chronicle—based on hundreds of interviews and years of research and digging—john helyar brings to vivid life the extraordinary people and dramatic events that shaped america's favorite pastime, from the dead-ball days at the turn of the century through the great strike of 1994. witness zealous judge landis banish eight players, including shoeless joe jackson, after the infamous "black sox" scandal; the flamboyant a's owner charlie finley wheel and deal his star players, vida blue and rollie fingers, like a deck of cards; the hysterical bidding war of coveted free agent catfish hunter; the chain-smoking romantic, a. bartlett giamatti, locking horns with pete rose during his gambling days of summer; and much more.praise for the lords of the realm"a must-read for baseball fans . . . reads like a suspense novel."—kirkus reviews"refreshingly hard-headed . . . the only book you'll need to read on the subject."—newsday"lots of stories . . . well told, amusing . . . edifying."—the washington post

Why are major league pitchers normally limited to 100 pitches per game? why was jack roosevelt robinson the first african-american ever to play as part of an official lineup for a team in major league baseball? why is a baseball field sometimes referred to as a diamond? this book provides over 100 questions and detailed answers concerning the traditions, rules, and history of the national pastime. organized by the sport's five eras–dead ball, live ball, golden age, expansion, and steroid era–it answers questions about hitting, pitching, fielding, base running, managing, scouting and ownership that vex even the most ardent fans of the game. moreover, this book is an appreciation of how baseball's traditions began.

A young baseball player is frustrated beyond belief… and on the verge of choking away a dream… when a mysterious man appears and offers coaching beyond the player s wildest imagination.as the drama unfolds you ll discover… how to make total confidence as easy as abc the hidden law right now governing your success in everything how to eliminate negative thoughts and feelings in 5 minutes or less what really causes you to under-perform… and how to fix it 5 simple steps to breaking through to the next level dr. tom hanson is on the leading edge of sports psychology. his knowledge goes way beyond the conventional and traditional. his teachings have been extremely helpful, not only in my career, but in my life in general. carlos pena, first baseman, chicago cubs

Hernandez provides commentary on two ball games in the 1993 season : a philles-braves match-up and an extra innings battle between the tigers and the yankees. [he] examines the overall strategies of the game and offers good analyses of fielding techniques, base stealing, lineups, umpiring etiquette, double-steal rundowns, hit-and-runs, signals, infield shifts and more. his most intense and incisive analysis, however, is saved for the psychology of the pitcher-hitter duels. all the subtleties of baseball are revealed as the two games unfold. mr. hernandez's opinions and pet-peeves–intentional walks, early-inning sacrifices, throwing fastballs to prevent stolen bases, large gaps in the outfield, pitchers who 'nibble. nibble, nibble,"–are well thought out and clearly articulated. [he] is particularly strong in analyzing the cat-and-mouse game played between pitchers and hitters as the count shifts the odds back and forth."– new york times book review "an mvp of a guide to the national pastime from savvy 17-year veteran of the major leagues who remains an ardent fan in retirement. hernandez came up with an angle that works to near perfection: tellingly detailed start-to-finish accounts of two games played midway through the 1993 baseball season."– kirkus reviews(starred)

All the baseball stats for every level of the game in one bookthe only definitive baseball annual on the market, the baseball america almanac is a book whose value only grows year to year. it includes statistics and award winners for all levels of professional baseball with summaries and stats from the majors, minors, partner leagues, college baseball, foreign leagues and international competition. it covers what happened in baseball all around the globe in 2021.

A new york times bestsellerthe inside story of how pete rose became one of the greatest and most controversial players in the history of baseball pete rose was a legend on the field. as baseball’s hit king, he shattered records that were thought to be unbreakable. and during the 1970s, he was the leader of the big red machine, the cincinnati reds team that dominated the game. but he’s also the greatest player who may never enter the hall of fame because of his lifetime ban from the sport. perhaps no other ballplayer’s story is so representative of the triumphs and tragedies of our national pastime. in play hungry, rose tells us the story of how, through hard work and sheer will, he became one of the unlikeliest stars of the game. guided by the dad he idolized, a local sports hero, pete learned to play hard and always focus on winning. but even with his dad’s guidance, pete was cut from his team as a teenager—he wasn’t a natural. rose was determined, though, and never would be satisfied with anything less than success. his relentless hustle and headfirst style would help him overcome his limitations, leading him to one of the most exciting and brash careers in the history of the sport. play hungry is pete rose’s love letter to the game, and an unvarnished story of life on the diamond. one of the icons of a golden age in baseball, he describes just what it was like to hit (or try to hit) a bob gibson fastball or a gaylord perry spitball, what happened in that infamous collision at home plate during the 1970 all-star game, and what it felt like to topple ty cobb’s hit record. and he speaks to how he let down his fans, his teammates, and the memory of his dad when he gambled on baseball, breaking the rules of a sport that he loved more than anything else. told with candor and wry humor—including tales he’s never told before—rose’s memoir is his final word on the glories and controversies of his life, and, ultimately, a master class in how to succeed when the odds are stacked against you.

National bestseller – from the new york times baseball columnist, an enchanting, enthralling history of the national pastime as told through the craft of pitching, based on years of archival research and interviews with more than three hundred people from hall of famers to the stars of today.the baseball is an amazing plaything. each pitch has its own history, evolving through the decades as the masters pass it down to the next generation. from the earliest days of the game, when candy cummings dreamed up the curveball while flinging clamshells on a brooklyn beach, pitchers have never stopped innovating.in k: a history of baseball in ten pitches, tyler kepner traces the colorful stories and fascinating folklore behind the ten major pitches. each chapter highlights a different pitch, from the blazing fastball to the fluttering knuckleball to the slippery spitball. infusing every page with infectious passion for the game, kepner brings readers inside the minds of combatants sixty feet, six inches apart.filled with priceless insights from many of the best pitchers in baseball history–from bob gibson, steve carlton, and nolan ryan to greg maddux, mariano rivera, and clayton kershaw–k will be the definitive book on pitching and join such works as the glory of their times and moneyball as a classic of the genre.

From the acclaimed #1 bestselling author . . . a riveting journey through the world of minor-league baseball “no one grows up playing baseball pretending that they're pitching or hitting in triple-a.” —chris schwinden, triple-a pitcher “if you don't like it here, do a better job.” —ron johnson, triple-a manager john feinstein gave readers an unprecedented view of the pga tour in a good walk spoiled. he opened the door to an ncaa basketball locker room in his explosive bestseller a season on the brink. now, turning his eye to our national pastime, sports journalist john feinstein explores the colorful and mysterious world of minor-league baseball—a gateway through which all major-league players pass in their careers . . . hoping never to return. baseball's minor leagues are a paradox. for some players, the minors are a glorious launching pad toward years of fame and fortune; for others, a crash-landing pad when injury or poor play forces a big leaguer back to a life of obscure ballparks and cramped buses instead of fenway park and plush charter planes. focusing exclusively on the triple-a level, one step beneath major league baseball, feinstein introduces readers to nine unique men: three pitchers, three position players, two managers, and an umpire. through their compelling stories, feinstein pulls back the veil on a league that is chock-full of gifted baseball players, managers, and umpires who are all one moment away from getting called up—or back—to the majors. the stories are hard to believe: a first-round draft pick and pitching ace who rocketed to major-league success before finding himself suddenly out of the game, hatching a presumptuous plan to get one more shot at the mound; a home run–hitting former world series hero who lived the dream, then bounced among six teams before facing the prospects of an unceremonious end to his career; a big-league all-star who, in the span of five months, went from being completely out of baseball to becoming a star in the alds, then signing a $10 million contract; and a well-liked designated hitter who toiled for eighteen seasons in the minors—a record he never wanted to set—before facing his final, highly emotional chance for a call-up to the big leagues. from raleigh to pawtucket, from lehigh valley to indianapolis and beyond, where nobody knows your name gives readers an intimate look at a baseball world not normally seen by the fans. john feinstein gets to the heart of the human stories in a uniquely compelling way, crafting a masterful book that stands alongside his very best works.

From babe ruth to joe dimaggio, satchel paige to dizzy dean, see all the greats step up to the plate in baseball legends alphabet. written and illustrated with all-star quality, this book is sure to hit a home run with every lover of baseball.

An unorthodox history of baseball told through the enthralling stories of the game's objects, equipment, and characters.no sport embraces its wild history quite like baseball, especially in memorabilia and objects. sure, there are baseball cards and team pennants. but there are also huge balls, giant bats, peanuts, cracker jacks, eyeblack, and more, each with a backstory you have to read to believe. in the 34-ton bat, sports illustrated writer steve rushin tells the real, unvarnished story of baseball through the lens of all the things that make it the game that it is.rushin weaves these rich stories–from ballpark pipe organs played by malevolent organists to backed up toilets at ebbets field–together in their order of importance (from most to least) for an entertaining and compulsive read, glowing with a deep passion for america's pastime. the perfect holiday gift for casual fans and serious collectors alike, the 34-ton bat is a true heavy hitter.

Focusing on the ten most influential baseball books of all time, this volume explores how these landmark works changed the game itself and made waves in american society at large. satchel paige's pitchin' man informed the dialog surrounding integration. ring lardner's you know me al changed the way americans viewed their baseball heroes and influenced the work of hemingway and fitzgerald. bill james's baseball abstract transformed the way managers–including those in fields other than baseball–analyzed numbers. pete rose's my story and my prison without bars exposed and deepened a cultural divide that paved the way for donald trump.

A new york times bestsellerforeword by doris kearns goodwinthe longtime commissioner of major league baseball provides an unprecedented look inside professional baseball today, focusing on how he helped bring the game into the modern age and revealing his interactions with players, managers, fellow owners, and fans nationwide. more than a century old, the game of baseball is resistant to change–owners, managers, players, and fans all hate it. yet, now more than ever, baseball needs to evolve–to compete with other professional sports, stay relevant, and remain america's pastime it must adapt. perhaps no one knows this better than bud selig who, as the head of mlb for more than twenty years, ushered in some of the most important, and controversial, changes in the game's history–modernizing a sport that had remained unchanged since the 1960s. in this enlightening and surprising book, selig goes inside the most difficult decisions and moments of his career, looking at how he worked to balance baseball's storied history with the pressures of the twenty-first century to ensure its future. part baseball story, part business saga, and part memoir, for the good of the game chronicles selig's career, takes fans inside locker rooms and board rooms, and offers an intimate, fascinating account of the frequently messy process involved in transforming an american institution. featuring an all-star lineup of the biggest names from the last forty years of baseball, selig recalls the vital games, private moments, and tense conversations he's shared with hall of fame players and managers and the contentious calls he's made. he also speaks candidly about hot-button issues the steroid scandal that threatened to destroy the game, telling his side of the story in full and for the first time.as he looks back and forward, selig outlines the stakes for baseball's continued transformation–and why the changes he helped usher in must only be the beginning. illustrated with sixteen pages of photographs.

One day during an afternoon at the ball park, author eric gray asked his wife, daughter, and friend to identify their favorite game that they had been to. little did he know, that simple question would soon take on a life of its own. as the question made its way to family members, friends, friends of friends, strangers and beyond, it gave way to a surprising collection of incredibly diverse stories and perspectives. thus, bases to bleachers was born. much more than your average baseball book, the many special and unique stories shared with readers here, whether they're about watching or playing, either at the major league level or little league, represent a wide gamut of experiences. some entail meeting the stars or attending famous games–and some offered are personal, intimate moments involving family connections and the importance of baseball in people's lives. unlike most baseball books, this is not a biography, or a discussion of a team, or analysis of a season. baseball here is a setting in which both astounding feats and some of the most beautifully touching moments in peoples' lives have happened. whether it's the first game, falling in love at the park, or even a beloved baseball glove that survived world war ii, these stories are about more than just baseball.

"baseball's 6th tool: the inner game" focuses on developing a player's mental approach to sport. without controlling the inner game players rarely reach their potential. a solid mental-skills program is a must for success and this book covers the basics of developing a personal program to help you break out of your comfort zone and into levels of performance that match your potential. you can increase confidence and perform more consistently at a high level by applying these principles–in just minutes a day. acclaim for baseballs 6th tool "the title of this book says it all. . . a must-read for consistent success." dale sveum, manager, chicago cubs "jack has a great understanding of the mental aspects of the game, which are critical to an athlete's overall success." paul molitor, 7-time all-star; member, national baseball hall of fame "i've had the opportunity to witness jack's work with players and and how it has contributed to their overall success. ryne sandberg, 10 time all-star and member, national baseball hall of fame "dr. jack 'hit the nail on the head' with baseballs 6th tool. confidence is the key to success, and jack's insights will help players develop and maintain confidence or regain it quickly once it's been lost." benny looper, assistant general manager, philadelphia phillies but it's not just pertinent to professional players! "both players and coaches will benefit from the annotated exercises to help affirm and visualize performance and reinforce a positive mindset . . . i can testify to their value. i'm a believer!" tom o'connell, national high school coaches association coach of the year, 2011 and american baseball coaches association (abca) national coach of the year in 2004 and 2005 "baseballs 6th tool is the best, most realistic, and practical baseball book to reach coaches i've seen. it doesn't get any better than this." joseph caligure, former head coach at western oregon university

This used book is in acceptable condition. now with complete fielding statistics for all players and pitchers, the baseball encyclopedia is bigger and better than ever. all the major league players are covered–from aaron to zuverink–and a new section highlights the stars of the old negro leagues. colorful and comprehensive, the baseball encyclopedia is recognized by major league baseball as the official record of the game and its players.

Baseball continues to be a popular game both as a spectator sport and as a pastime. since the publication of baseball for dummies, 3rd edition, baseball teams have changed, new mlb stadiums have been built, and rules have been updated. this updated 4th edition brings you the latest information on the players, the places, and above all, the game. baseball for dummies is for baseball fans at all levels, from players and coaches to spectators who love the game. baseball hall of fame player joe morgan explains baseball with remarkable insight, using down-to-earth language so everyone from the casual observer to the die-hard fan can gain a fuller appreciation of the sport. ● improve your hitting, pitching, and fielding ● find a baseball team to play on, from little league on up ● evaluate stats, players, and records ● coach baseball or umpire effectively complete with morgan's personal lists of top-ten toughest pitchers, smartest players, and most strategic managers, baseball for dummies gives you all the inside tips, facts, and stats so you can have major league fun!

Each work, chosen with exquisite care by an expert, is analyzed and summarized. its greatness as baseball literature, its place in the genre, its peculiarities, weaknesses, strengths, how the critics went for it–all are discussed in such a way, with quotations, that reading or browsing shannon's book is equivalent to absorbing a rich history of the sport.

Babe ruth remains the most popular player in the history of baseball. the slugger for the new york yankees established a home run record in the 1927 season, just a year before joining the league of authors. babe ruth's own book is a who's who of old-time greats-lou gehrig, ty cobb, rogers hornsby, and many others. it describes the babe's rise from poverty to stardom, catching his image and voice as freshly and permanently as pen and ink can. in a no-nonsense style, the babe describes the ins and outs of the game, touching all bases and loading up the reader with priceless information and advice. the surprise is that so little about the sport has changed except the size of the players' salaries. jerome holtzman, in a lively introduction, tells some good stories about babe ruth. the senior sports columnist for the chicago tribune, holtzman is the author of no cheering in the press box.

Each work, chosen with exquisite care by an expert, is analyzed and summarized. its greatness as baseball literature, its place in the genre, its peculiarities, weaknesses, strengths, how the critics went for it–all are discussed in such a way, with quotations, that reading or browsing shannon's book is equivalent to absorbing a rich history of the sport.

Total baseball, the official encyclopedia of major league baseball, is a complete baseball library in a single volume. a nearly inexhaustible resource of statistics and historical material, it will capture the curiosity of fledgling fans and deepen the delight of long-time lovers of the national pastime. new to this seventh edition is a groundbreaking change to the historical record by major league league baseball and total baseball regarding the 1876 and 1887 seasons. total baseball will follow the rules of the day, which charged an at bat for a walk in the national league's first season, lowering the averages that year. the scoring practice of 1887, to count walks as hits, creates eight new .400 hitters, a new single-season batting leader and increases the 3,000-hit club by one member. this edition also has much new information of a more recent vintage, featuring situational statistics for the past 22 years. for the first time, total baseball will feature summaries and box scores on every tie-breaking playoff game, highlighted by bobby thomson's shot heard 'round the world to win the 1951 pennant and bucky dent's famous homer at fenway park in 1978. new statistical information is included for all 15,416 players in major league history; now readers can find out how many times babe ruth played center field in his career (64 games) and how often willie mays played an outfield position other than center (31 games in 22 years). not surprisingly, ruth and mays lead the way in the total player rating top 100, with detailed biographies explaining who makes the list and why. read about baseball's popularity both before and during the civil war. and along with the rosters of every manager, coach, umpire, and owner back to 1871 is a roster of baseball announcers over the past 80 years.