The SABR Bookshelf: Spring 2026
Here are the SABR Bookshelf listings for Spring 2026.
To get your NEW book listed on The SABR Bookshelf, send an e-book file in PDF, EPUB or MOBI format to jpomrenke@sabr.org.
To ensure a listing in The Baseball Index, SABR’s online catalog of baseball research materials at www.baseballindex.org, please make sure a review copy is sent to The Baseball Index, 4025 Beechwood Pl., Riverside, CA 92506.
Bolded names indicates that the author(s) is a SABR member.
In addition, check out new books published by SABR at SABR.org/ebooks.
Henry Aaron
Edited by Bill Nowlin and Glen Sparks
Publisher: SABR
Retail Price: $9.99 (ebook)
ISBN: 978-1-960819-60-4
Buy It: SABR.org
Summary: SABR Digital Library book with essays and stories on memorable games focusing on the baseball pioneer and Braves great who set the all-time home run record in Major League Baseball.
Double Play on the Red Line
By Rajesh C. Oza
Publisher: Third World Press
Retail Price: $24.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-0-8837-8434-1
Buy It: Third World Press
Summary: A novel focusing on a story between two American men of color, one African American and one Indian. These men are bound by a brutal encounter in the bleachers at Wrigley Field.
Diamond Classics II: The Best Baseball Books Since 1989
By Mike Shannon
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $39.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-8463-5
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: A look into 68 great baseball books published since 1989. Each essay neatly looks into and summarizes each book that was selected, defines its contribution to the canon, and explains what makes it great.
Baseball’s Most Outrageous Promotions: From Wedlock and Headlock Day to Disco Demolition Night
By Joseph Natalicchio
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $29.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9512-9
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: A look into thirteen of the most outlandish promotions in baseball history. These promotions took place between 1946 and the early 1980s when many owners looked to promotions to raise attendance.
Baseball at the Dawn of the Seventies: The Major Leagues in Transition, 1970-1971
By Paul Hensler
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $39.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9531-0
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: A look at how baseball changed at the start of the 1970s and the challenges that teams and the league faced.
Opening the Door For Jackie: The Untold Story of Baseball’s Integration
By Keith Evan Crook
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $49.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9535-8
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: The story of baseball’s integration in 1945 on a far deeper level. The Civil Rights Movement before Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is analyzed and how it affected African American players.
Tragedy in Black Baseball: Early Deaths of 136 Negro Leagues, 1871-1950
By Chris Jensen
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $49.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9621-8
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: A deep dive into 136 Negro League players, managers, and executives detailing their careers and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Leon Day: A Baseball Life from the Negro Leagues to the Hall of Fame
By Bob Luke
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $29.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9627-0
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: The story of Leon Day, the Hall of Fame pitcher who also holds Negro Leagues records in All-Star appearances and strikeouts.
We Would Have Played Forever: A History of the Coastal Plain Baseball League, Revised Edition
By Robert Gaunt and Chris Holaday
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $59.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9658-4
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: A look into minor league baseball history and the spirit of baseball in eastern North Carolina and how the game impacted the lives of many there.
Crybaby Rebellion: Ossie Vitt and the 1940 Cleveland Indians
By Gary Webster
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $29.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9705-5
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: The story of how the 1940 Cleveland Indians clashed with manager Oscar Vitt and the aftermath of the saga.
Black Baseball’s Heyday: Capturing an Era in Art and Words
By Denny Dressman and Anthony High
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $39.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9736-9
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: A look into Black baseball culture and how it featured more than just future Hall of Fame players, it showcased minority neighborhoods flourishing and American Jazz blossoming. These innovations made baseball more accessible to fans and as a result community leaders emerged.
Joe “Flash” Gordon: A Biography of the Hall of Fame Second Baseman
By Judy Gordon and Erik Simpson
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $39.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9797-0
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: The story of Joe “Flash” Gordon, the American League’s first power-hitting second baseman who redefined how the position is played. He helped the Yankees win five World Series championships in a seven year span.
Simulating Satchel: A What-If History of Integrated Major League Baseball in 1934
By John Graf
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $39.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9805-2
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: A deep dive into what Major League Baseball may have looked like if it were integrated before the 1934 season.
Baseball Magic and Mayhem in St. Louis: The 1926 Cardinals, World Series Champions
By Kevin J. Abing
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $39.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9838-0
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: The story of the 1926 St. Louis Cardinals and how they won their first World Championship after nearly four decades of frustration.
Baseballisms: A Murderers’ Row of Metaphors and Idioms
By Leonard Skonecki
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $49.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9839-7
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: A deep dive into the many figures of speech in baseball. The game’s many figures of speech, metaphors, and idioms add color and drama into the National Pastime.
Ford Frick: Baseball’s Third Commissioner and his Four Decades Shaping the Game
By Dave Bohmer
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Retail Price: $39.95 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4962-4349-2
Buy It: Nebraska Press
Summary: The story of third Major League Baseball commissioner Ford Frick. The way Frick’s tenure was shaped by the league’s owners from 1951-1965 is examined.
The Legend of Clayton Kershaw
Edited by John Cherwa
Publisher: Pediment Publishing
Retail Price: $45.00 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-6384-6183-8
Buy It: Pediment.com
Summary: Highlighting the key moments of Kershaw’s career from getting drafted by the Dodgers to three Cy Young awards, MVP, three World Series rings, and stepping off the mound for the last time.
Dynasty: The Dodgers Journey to Back-to-Back World Series Titles
Edited by John Cherwa
Publisher: Pediment Publishing
Retail Price: $45.00 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-6384-6185-2
Buy It: Pediment.com
Summary: A book produced by the Los Angeles Times featuring photography and inside reporting on the Dodgers’ 2025 championship season.
Spinning the Yarn: A Fun Compendium of Baseball History
By Paul M. Bohannon
Publisher: Archway Publishing
Retail Price: $20.99 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-6657-8856-4
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: A look into twenty-two notable baseball events from 1843 to 1977. These events are based on contemporaneous newspaper coverages that reveal forgotten facts.
Before They Wore Dodger Blue: Tommy Lasorda and the Greatest Draft Class in Baseball History
By Eric Vickrey
Publisher: August Publications
Retail Price: $24.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-938532-94-8
Buy It: August Publications
Summary: The story of how the Los Angeles Dodgers put together the legendary 1968 draft class and how they were developed under Tommy Lasorda.
7 Swings at 7: Mickey Mantle – The Legend and the Victim of American Culture
By Rob Weir
Publisher: Summer Game Books
Retail Price: $25.99 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-9553-9837-4
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: The story of Mickey Mantle and how 1950s American culture fueled his stardom but also led to his demise. The riches and deep pain Mantle endured during his later years are examined.
Chief: The Three Lives of Gene Locklear
By Jay Thomas and Gene Locklear
Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
Retail Price: $30.99 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 979-8-3188-0096-2
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: A look into the life of Gene Locklear, the first Lumbee Indian to play Major League Baseball.
How Retrosheet Saved Baseball History
By Jay Wigley
Publisher: Wiglesius Press
Retail Price: $19.99 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 979-8-3485-9651-4
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: A look into 7,000+ games from 1871 to today and how Retrosheet is the reason why we have access to all this information.
Death in the Strike Zone: The Mystery of America’s First Baseball Hero
By Thomas W. Gilbert
Publisher: David R. Godine
Retail Price: $27.95 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-5679-2759-7
Buy It: Godine.com
Summary: A biography of James Creighton, the first American ballplayer to become a national sensation before the Civil War who died tragically at the age of 21.
Unhittable: How Technology, Mavericks, and Innovators Engineered Baseball’s New Era of Pitching Dominance
By Rob Friedman
Publisher: HarperCollins
Retail Price: $32.00 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-0-0634-5676-1
Buy It: HarperCollins
Summary: An inside look at how advancements in technology have been used to help pitchers dominate the game in recent years, from the man behind the popular Pitching Ninja account.
Metropolitans: New York Baseball, Class Struggle, and the People’s Team
By A.M. Gittlitz
Publisher: Astra House
Retail Price: $30.00 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-6626-0300-6
Buy It: Astra House
Summary: A politically conscious history of the New York Mets, on and off the field.
Bleacher Seats and Luxury Suites: Democracy and Division at the Twentieth-Century Ballpark
By Seth S. Tannenbaum
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Retail Price: $30.00 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-0-2520-8925-1
Buy It: University of Illinois Press
Summary: A social history overview of the changing understandings of major league ballparks as a democratic space for all Americans.
Kid Gloves: How Baseball Helps Children Overcome 21st Century Problems
By Christopher Dale
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $44.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-5831-5
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: An exploration of how baseball can counteract and inform today’s child-rearing challenges.
Black Baseball in Cincinnati: A History
By Paul Debono
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $39.95 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-8803-9
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: A chronological exploration of semi-professional and professional African American baseball players in Cincinnati from 1870-1970.
Bill Dickey: A Baseball Life
By Lew Freedman
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $35.00 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9708-6
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: A biography on the Hall of Fame New York Yankees catcher of the 1920s and 1930s.
Beyond the Last Inning: Life and Careers After Playing Professional Baseball
By Zak Ford
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $35.00 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9962-2
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: First-person accounts about the transitions players face upon retirement from baseball.
The 1890 Louisville Cyclones: Major League Baseball’s Original Worst-to-First Team
By Perry T. Cooper
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $39.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9993-6
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: A historical account of the Louisville Cyclones record-setting season in the 19th century.
We Sacrifice Everything to Baseball: How the Czech Republic’s Amateur Underdogs Became World Baseball Classic Heroes
By Michael Clair
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Retail Price: $34.95 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4962-4266-2
Buy It: Nebraska Press
Summary: A recount of how the Czech Republic’s team of amateur players qualified to participate in the 2023 World Baseball Classic against all odds.
Royal Treatment: Jackie Robinson, Montreal, and the Breaking of Baseball’s Color Barrier
By Sean J. McLaughlin
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Retail Price: $34.95 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4962-4431-4
Buy It: Nebraska Press
Summary: An account of Jackie Robinson’s historic first season in the minor leagues with the Montreal Royals in 1946, one year before his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Warm Summers and Cold Winters: How Baseball Survived the Korean War
By Steven P. Gietschier
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Retail Price: $36.00 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-5381-9388-4
Buy It: Bloomsbury
Summary: An examination of the Korean War and its impact on Major League Baseball.
Baseball’s Outcast: The Story of Ron LeFlore
By Adam Henig
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Retail Price: $34.00 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-5381-9495-9
Buy It: Bloomsbury
Summary: A detailed biographical account of the life of Ron LeFlore and how he went from prison inmate to a Detroit Tigers center fielder.
Delivery: A Novel
By Christopher Hebert
Publisher: Regal House Publishing
Retail Price: $19.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-6460-3659-2
Buy It: Regal House Publishing
Summary: A novel about a high school baseball player, who is plagued by a stubborn minor league injury, who takes the summer to work as a pizza delivery boy and think about what he wants to do with his life.
My 50 Years in California Baseball and the Pacific Coast League
By Mike Fisher
Publisher: Baseball Press Books
Retail Price: $19.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-8933-9215-1
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: Series of articles stemming from Mike Fisher’s professional baseball and ownership career in the California and Pacific Coast leagues. These articles were written and took place at the turn of the 20th century, then turned into book form.
Stars of 20th Century Japanese Baseball
By Carlos Bauer
Publisher: Baseball Press Books
Retail Price: $19.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-8933-9216-8
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: Statistical compilation of the greatest Japanese professional baseball players from 1936–2000.
Ebbets to Paradise: O’Malley’s Journey to the Coliseum & Dodger Stadium
By Allen Schery
Publisher: Brooklyn Bridge Books
Retail Price: $42.99 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-9689-5004-0
Buy It: AllenSchery.com
Summary: An account of the challenges and tribulations that Walter O’Malley faced as the Brooklyn Dodgers relocated to Los Angeles.
The Leadoff Man: The History of, the Evolution of, and Fun with the Greatest Catalyst in Sports
By Matt Snyder
Publisher: Self-published
Retail Price: $23.82 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 979-8-2749-3647-7
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: Historical analysis of how the makeup and purpose of a leadoff hitter has evolved over time.
Baseball Imposters: The Dark Side of Fandom
By Rob Sheinkopf
Publisher: BookBaby
Retail Price: $24.99 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 979-8-3178-2378-8
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: A collection of stories about men who falsely claim to be former Major League Baseball players.
Charlie Dressen: A Baseball Odyssey
By David L. Fleitz
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $45.00 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 979-8-3686-0077-2
Buy It: McFarland Books
Summary: A biography of Charlie Dressen, an undersized infielder who went on to become one of baseball’s most colorful managers through the 1950s.
A Dynasty Interrupted: The Rise and Fall of the 1980s Atlanta Braves
By Patrick Montgomery
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Retail Price: $34.00 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 979-8-8818-4256-7
Buy It: Bloomsbury
Summary: A detailed account of how the Atlanta Braves rose from the depths of the National League to become postseason conenders, only to fall again for the latter half of the 1980s.
The Heyday of Willie, Duke, and Mickey: New York City Baseball’s Golden Age amid Integration
By Robert C. Cottrell
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Retail Price: $38.00 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 979-8-8818-5445-4
Buy It: Bloomsbury
Summary: A historical account of the golden age of baseball in which the New York Giants, Brooklyn Dodgers, and New York Yankees each won at least one World Series in the 1950s. Also examining the major New York City Negro League teams during this period.
Battlefields: The Chicago White Sox and the Great War
By Jim Leeke
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Retail Price: $32.00 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 979-8-8818-6619-8
Buy It: Bloomsbury
Summary: A detailed examination of how World War I affected baseball, focusing primarily on the Chicago White Sox.
How Boerne Made History and Played on Their Field of Dreams
By Tim Christ
Publisher: Self-published
Retail Price: $19.99 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 979-8-9950-3951-8
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: A story of how the Boerne team from Texas made it to the 2024 Little League World Series.
Compiled by Ryan Belina and Dazhane Moseley.