The SABR Bookshelf: Spring 2013
Here are The SABR Bookshelf listings for Spring 2013. To get your NEW book listed on The SABR Bookshelf, make sure a review copy is sent to: SABR, 4455 E. Camelback Rd., Ste. D-140, Phoenix, AZ 85018.
To ensure a listing in The Baseball Index — SABR’s online catalog of baseball research materials at www.baseballindex.org — make sure a review copy is sent to The Baseball Index, 4025 Beechwood Pl., Riverside, CA 92506.
These books can be purchased at the SABR Bookstore, powered by Amazon.com.
Bolded names indicates that the author(s) is a SABR member. Publishers’ contact information can be found by clicking here.
Hank Greenberg: The Hero of Heroes
By John Rosengren
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| New American Library (Penguin Group) | $17.61 (hrdcvr) | 978-0-451-23576-3 | Amazon |
- Summary: John Rosengren offers an intimate account of Greenberg’s life on and off the field. It is a story of integrity and triumph over adversity, a portrait of one of the greatest baseball players ever and one of the most important Jews of the 20th century.
Swinging ’73: Baseball’s Wildest Season
By Matthew Silverman
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyons Press | $16.95 (sftcvr) | 978-0-7627-8060-0 | Amazon |
- Summary: The year 1973 was a turbulent time for the United States. Silverman’s book takes readers back in time to show how the game of baseball and the country changed drastically in one year.
The Coal Barons Played Cuban Giants: A History of Early Professional Baseball in Pennsylvania, 1886-1896
By Paul Browne
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| McFarland & Co. | $35 (sftcvr) | 978-0-7864-6125-7 | Amazon |
- Summary: Minor league ball in Pennsylvania from the mid-1880s to the mid-1890s presented a broad kaleidoscope of teams, players and events. There were black players and black teams, both future and former major leaguers and a palette of changing rules.
League Park: Historic Home of Cleveland Baseball, 1891-1946
By Ken Krsolovic and Bryan Fritz
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| McFarland & Co. | $39.95 (sftcvr) | 978-0-7864-6826-3 | Amazon |
- Summary: League Park hosted Cleveland baseball teams in a variety of leagues for over half a century. It also displayed college football, boxing and a host of other events.
Baseball Team Names: A Worldwide Dictionary, 1869-2011
By Richard Worth
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| McFarland & Co. | $55 (sftcvr) | 978-0-7864-6844-7 | Amazon |
- Summary: Baseball Team Names pulls together research on team nicknames from around the world. It goes back to famous pre-National Association teams and includes not only the major leagues, but North American minors and foreign leagues, organized by city and by year.
Billy Southworth: A Biography of the Hall of Fame Manager and Ballplayers
By John C. Skipper
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| McFarland & Co. | $29.95 (sftcvr) | 978-0-7864-6847-8 | Amazon |
- Summary: Southworth was a player and manager of the Branch Rickey school, finishing his playing career with the Cardinals in the 1920s and achieving his greatest fame as manager of the great St. Louis teams of the 1940s (plus another pennant with the Braves late that decade).
Baseball Injuries: Case Studies, by Type, in the Major Leagues
By W. Laurence Coker, M.D.
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| McFarland & Co. | $45 (sftcvr) | 978-0-7864-6868-3 | Amazon |
- Summary: This book is organized by types of injuries, but a good index allows you to quickly find information about specific players. In addition, there are good diagrams showing surgeries, treatments, joints and muscle groups.
Frantic Frank Lane: Baseball’s Ultimate Wheeler-Dealer
By Bob Vanderberg
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| McFarland & Co. | $29.95 (sftcvr) | 978-0-7864-7018-1 | Amazon |
- Summary: Frank Layne was know for his multiple trades, especially home run champion Rocky Colavito for batting champ Harvey Kuenn, over the years as general manager of the White Sox, Cardinals, Indians and Athletics. He also traded managers with the Tigers at one point. This is the first biography of “The Trader.”
Black Sox in the Courtroom: The Grand Jury, Criminal Trial and Civil Litigation
By William F. Lamb
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| McFarland & Co. | $29.95 (sftcvr) | 978-0-7864-7268-0 | Amazon |
- Summary: Written by a former prosecutor, this is the first comprehensive, non-partisan account of the Black Sox Scandal’s legal proceedings, including the Grand Jury hearings, the criminal trial and the ensuing civil lawsuits.
The Easter Monday Baseball Game: North Carolina State and Wake Forest on the Diamond, 1899-1956
By Tim Peeler
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| McFarland & Co. | $29.95 (sftcvr) | 978-0-7864-7452-3 | Amazon |
- Summary: For over half a century, the North Carolina State-Wake Forest baseball contest on the Monday after Easter was a highlight of the sporting and social world on the two campuses. Peeler traces the games, the dances of related events.
Cracking Baseball’s Cold Cases: Filling in the Facts About 17 Mystery Major Leaguers
By Peter Morris
$29.95 (sftcvr)
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| McFarland & Co. | 978-0-7864-7545-2 | Amazon |
- Summary: The redoubtable Peter Morris displays his research brilliance once again with these 17 profiles and major leaguers with major questions about their resume. First names, death details and similar information were missing until Morris and his Biographical Committee cohorts got on the job.
501 Baseball Books Fans Must Read Before They Die
By Ron Kaplan
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska Press | $24.95 (sftcvr) | 978-0-8032-4073-5 | Amazon |
- Summary: Most of the lists of baseball books to read top out at 100, which makes Kaplan’s work even more impressive. He presents capsule reviews of all 501 volumes broken down into sections by topic and reader age.
Bridging Two Dynasties: The 1947 New York Yankees
Edited by Lyle Spatz
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska Press | $26.95 (sftcvr) | 978-0-8032-4094-0 | Amazon |
- Summary: Third book in the “Memorable Teams” series includes biographies of the 1947 Yankees, a seasonal timeline and a recount of their AL-record 19-game winning streak.
Philadelphia’s Top 50 Baseball Players
By Rich Westcott
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska Press | $24.95 (sftcvr) | 978-0-8032-4340-8 | Amazon |
- Summary: The list covers Phillies, Athletics and Negro League greats, as well as some Philadelphia area natives who played elsewhere. It’s divided into eras, with 5-8 page profiles of each player.
Drama and Pride in the Gateway City: The 1964 St. Louis Cardinals
Edited by John Harry Stahl and Bill Nowlin
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska Press | $26.95 (sftcvr) | 978-0-8032-4372-9 | Amazon |
- Summary: The fourth in the “Memorable Teams” series. The book includes 59 sections, mostly profiles of players, manager, coaches, executives, owners and broadcasters. It also has sections on the pennant race and the World Series.
Smoky Joe Wood: The Biography of a Baseball Legend
By Gerald C. Wood
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska Press | $34.95 (hdcvr) | 978-0-8032-4499-3 | Amazon |
- Summary: From Midwestern phenom fireballer in the World Series with the Red Sox to journeyman outfielder in a World Series with the Indians, Wood had a storied career. After baseball, he spent decades as Yale’s baseball coach.
Baseball’s Last Great Scout: The Life of Hugh Alexander
By Dan Austin
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska Press | $24.95 (hdcvr) | 978-0-8032-4501-3 | Amazon |
- Summary: There have been far fewer biographies of scouts than the group deserve. Austin’s book covers one of the major figures in the group, as Uncle Hughie Alexander’s career six decade of identifying player.
American Jews and America’s Game: Voices of a Growing Legacy in Baseball
By Larry Ruttman
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska Press | $34.95 (hdcvr) | 978-0-8032-6475-5 | Amazon |
- Summary: The story of more than 50 of baseball’s most influential Jewish figures on and off the field, including commissioner Bud Selig, labor leaders Marvin Miller and Donald Fehr, owners Jerry Reinsdorf and Stuart Sternberg.
Mr. Wrigley’s Ball Club: Chicago & the Cubs During the Jazz Age
By Roberts Ehrgott
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska Press | $34.95 (hdcvr) | 978-0-8032-6478-6 | Amazon |
- Summary: Ehrgott knits together the story of Hack Wilson’s Cubs and Al Capone’s own playmates and other Chicago notables as the Chicago Nationals built the strong teams which would last well into the 1930s.
Baseball’s Iconic 1-0 Games
By Warren N. Wilbert
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scarecrow Press, Inc. | $65.00 (hrdcvr) | 978-0-8108-8578-3 | Amazon |
- Summary: A collection of stories that all describe the rare, drama-filled 1-0 ball games which have happened in MLB history.
The Pitching Professor: The Life & Times of Ernie Kershaw
By Ernie Kershaw and Len Corben
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Little Lonsdale Publishing Company | $24.95 (sftcvr) | 978-0-9783248-1-0 | Contact the author |
- Summary: An autobiography of Ernie Kershaw who was one of professional baseball’s oldest living players when the book was written. The book dives into his childhood, playing days in baseball, service in WWII and his days as a teacher.
Summers At Shea
By Ira Berkow
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph Books LLC | $14.95 (sftcvr) | 978-1-60078-775-1 | Amazon |
- Summary: Former New York Times columnist Ira Berkow captures the spirit of the New York Mets in this unforgettable collection of opinions, stories and observations.
100 Things Brewers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die
By Tom Haudricourt
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph Books LLC | $14.95 (sftcvr) | 978-1-60078-788-1 | Amazon |
- Summary: Collected into a fun-to-read one to 100 format, the book combines fan-favorite memories with challenging trivia and suggestions for the ultimate fan adventures—including the best places in Wisconsin to grab a drink or have a meal before a game.
100 Things Reds Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die
By Joel Luckhaupt
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph Books LLC | $14.95 (sftcvr) | 978-1-60078-794-2 | Amazon |
- Summary: In this ultimate resource guide for true fans of baseball’s first professional team, author Joel Luckhaupt has collected every essential piece of Cincinnati Reds trivia, as well as must-do activities, and ranked them from one to 100, providing an entertaining and easy-to-follow checklist for fans to complete in their lifetime.
How the Red Sox Explain New England
By Jon Chattman and Allie Tarantino
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph Books LLC | $14.95 (sftcvr) | 978-1-60078-802-4 | Amazon |
- Summary: An examination of New Englanders’ unique affinity for the Red Sox, including chapters on the team’s relationship to the Kennedy family, Bill Buckner and the Salem Witch Trials, and Irish pubs in the Hub.
Classic Bucs: The 50 Greatest Games in Pittsburgh Pirates History
By David Finoli
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent State University Press | $18.00 (sftcvr) | 978-1-60635-160-4 | Amazon |
- Summary: A countdown of the most memorable games in Bucs history, from Game 1 of the first modern World Series in 1903 to Andrew McCutchen’s breakout game as a rookie in 2009.
Bleacher In The Bedroom: The Swampoodle Irish and Connie Mack
By John J. Rooney
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Educational Publisher | $19.95 (sftcvr) | 978-1-62249-006-6 | Amazon |
- Summary: In Rooney’s trip down memory lane, the author describes how Connie Mack and the A’s took on the Yankees and all of the aspects of his childhood.
Sports Illustrated Kids presents Goodnight Baseball
By Michael Dahl
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capstone Young Readers | $14.95 (hrdcvr) | 978-1-62370-000-3 | Amazon |
- Summary: From the arrival at the stadium to the last goodnight, Goodnight Baseball is a sweet, nostalgic tale — told in gentle, funny rhyme — about the thrill of the game and a day at the ballpark.
Baseball Comes Out: A Revolutionary Novel
By Jack Saunders
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| BookBaby | $7.99 (ebook) | 978-1-62675-214-6 | Amazon |
- Summary: A novel about the trials and tribulations of an aristocratic Yale graduate who suddenly becomes the first openly gay player in the major leagues — and is joined by the second, his popular teammate.
Heart of a Tiger: Growing Up With My Grandfather, Ty Cobb
By Herschel Cobb
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECW Press | $24.95 (sftcvr) | 978-1-77041-130-2 | Amazon |
- Summary: A SABR member’s moving memoir of his relationship with his Hall of Fame grandfather, Ty Cobb, and life in Northern California.
Sweet ’60: The 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates
Edited by Clifton Blue Parker and Bill Nowlin
| Publisher | Retail Price | ISBN | Buy it |
|---|---|---|---|
| SABR | $9.95 (sftcvr) | 978-1-93359-948-9 | SABR |
- Summary: This SABR BioProject book covers one of the most memorable World Series champions of all time. Includes biographical essays on every significant figure associated with the 1960 Pirates, from Roberto Clemente and Bill Mazeroski to broadcaster Bob Prince and GM Joe L. Brown. Also includes recaps of the season and World Series.
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