Welcome to the SABR Digital Library! Scroll down to find more information about our latest e-book and the entire SABR Digital Library collection.
SABR members will get discounted rates for all Digital Library publications, including many for free. Click here to sign up for a SABR membership.
Paperback or e-book editions of all of our award-winning books, Biography Project team books, and past editions of the Baseball Research Journal and The National Pastime can be found at Amazon.com.
Here's our newest book in the SABR Digital Library:
The Team that Couldn’t Hit: The 1972 Texas Rangers
Edited by Steve West and Bill Nowlin
Associate editors: Len Levin and Carl Riechers
ISBN (paperback): 978-1-9438-1693-4, $29.95
ISBN (e-book): 978-1-9438-1692-7, $9.99
414 pages, 8.5" x 11"
The 1972 Texas Rangers were a culmination of decades of trying to get a major-league team in Dallas-Fort Worth. The area has a long history with baseball, going back to the 1800s, and minor-league teams played in both cities right up until the Rangers arrived with Ted Williams at the helm.
High expectations were quickly dashed. Just how bad were those early Rangers teams? When reporter Mike Shropshire wrote a book about covering the Rangers from 1973 to ’75, he titled it Seasons In Hell. Twenty years later, the Rangers still hadn’t made the playoffs. Counting the decade when the franchise was known as the Washington Senators, the team did not go to the playoffs for the first 35 years of its existence.
So why write a book about the 1972 Texas Rangers, perhaps the worst team in club history? Because they’re the start of that history. Articles in this book cover the effort to bring a team to North Texas and the story of Tom Vandergriff, the man now known as “the father of the Rangers.” Biographies of every man to play — or coach — for the 1972 team are presented, including Frank Howard, Larry Bittner, Horacio Pina and Tom Grieve, and broadcasters Don Drysdale and Bill Mercer. Owner Bob Short and Arlington Stadium itself are given full write-ups as well.
This book is the collaborative work of 46 SABR members. Contributors include: Marc Z. Aaron, Mark Armour, John Bennett, Robert W. Bigelow, Maurice Bouchard, Bruce Bumbalough, Frederick "Rick" Bush, Bo Carter, Greg Chandler, Alan Cohen, Rory Costello, Dan Fields, Paul Geisler, Joseph Gerard, Charlie Grassl, Chip Greene, Paul Hofmann, Chris Holaday, Mike Huber, Gordon Janis, Chris Jones, Maxwell Kates, Duane Keilstrup, Norm King, Bob LeMoine, Len Levin, Francisco Rodriguez Lozano, Chad Moody, Bill Nowlin, Will Osgood, Carl Riechers, C. Paul Rogers III, Ray Rossi, Kris Rutherford, Rick Schabowski, William Schneider, David E. Skelton, Mark S. Sternman, Joe Stroop, Wayne Strumpfer, Clayton Trutor, Dale Voiss, Joseph Wancho, Steve West, Bob Whelan, Gregory H. Wolf, and Don Zminda.
SABR members, get this e-book for FREE!
- E-book: Click here to download the e-book version of The Team That Couldn't Hit for FREE from the SABR Store. Available in PDF, Kindle/MOBI and EPUB formats.
- Paperback: Get a 50% discount on the The Team That Couldn't Hit paperback edition from the SABR Store ($15.99 includes shipping/tax; delivery via Kindle Direct Publishing can take up to 4-6 weeks.)
Buy the book
- E-book: Click here to download the e-book version of The Team That Couldn't Hit for $9.99 from the SABR Store. Available in PDF, Kindle/MOBI and EPUB formats.
- Paperback: Get the paperback edition of The Team That Couldn't Hit from the SABR Store ($30.99 includes shipping/tax; delivery via Kindle Direct Publishing can take up to 4-6 weeks.)
Click on a book cover below to find out more information and order these great titles from the SABR Digital Library:
 Base Ball's 19th Century “Winter” Meetings, 1857-1900 Eds. Jeremy K. Hodges, Bill Nowlin (released December 2018) |
 1995 Cleveland Indians: The Sleeping Giant Awakes Edited by Joseph Wancho (released January 2019) |
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 Met-rospectives: A Collection of the Greatest Games in New York Mets History Eds. Brian Wright, Bill Nowlin (released August 2018) |
 Time for Expansion Baseball Eds. Maxwell Kates, Bill Nowlin (released December 2018) |
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 Major League Baseball A Mile High: The First Quarter Century of the Colorado Rockies Eds. Bill Nowlin, Paul T. Parker (released May 2018) |
 Cincinnati’s Crosley Field: A Gem in the Queen City Edited by Gregory H. Wolf (released June 2018) |
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 From Spring Training to Screen Test: Baseball Players Turned Actors Eds. Rob Edelman, Bill Nowlin (released February 2018) |
 Moments of Joy and Heartbreak: 66 Significant Episodes in the History of the Pittsburgh Pirates Eds. Jorge Iber, Bill Nowlin (released March 2018) |
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 Baseball's Business: The Winter Meetings: 1958-2016 Eds. Steve Weingarden, Bill Nowlin (released December 2017) |
 The Whiz Kids Take the Pennant: The 1950 Philadelphia Phillies Eds. C. Paul Rogers III, Bill Nowlin (released January 2018) |
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 20-Game Losers Eds. Bill Nowlin, Emmet R. Nowlin (released September 2017) |
 Sportsman's Park in St. Louis Edited by Gregory H. Wolf (released November 2017) |
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 Puerto Rico and Baseball: 60 Biographies Eds. Bill Nowlin, Edwin Fernandez (released June 2017) |
 Bittersweet Goodbye: The Black Barons, the Grays, and the 1948 Negro League World Series Eds. Rick Bush, Bill Nowlin (released July 2017) |
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 NO-HITTERS Edited by Bill Nowlin (released May 2017) |
 The 1967 Impossible Dream Red Sox: Pandemonium on the Field Eds. Bill Nowlin, Dan Desrochers (released June 2017) |
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 Dome Sweet Dome: History and Highlights from 35 Years of the Houston Astrodome Edited by Gregory H. Wolf (released February 2017) |
 The SABR Book on Umpires and Umpiring Eds. Larry R. Gerlach, Bill Nowlin (released March 2017) |
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 Baseball's Business: The Winter Meetings: 1901-1957 Eds. Steve Weingarden, Bill Nowlin (released December 2016) |
 Overcoming Adversity: Baseball's Tony Conigliaro Award Eds. Bill Nowlin, Clayton Trutor (released January 2017) |
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 Boston’s First Nine: The 1871-75 Boston Red Stockings Eds. Bob LeMoine, Bill Nowlin (released September 2016) |
 When Pops Led the Family: The 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates Eds. Bill Nowlin, Gregory H. Wolf (released October 2016) |
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 From the Braves to the Brewers: Great Games and Exciting History at Milwaukee’s County Stadium Edited by Gregory H. Wolf (released June 2016) |
 Cuban Baseball Legends: Baseball's Alternative Universe Eds. Peter C. Bjarkman, Bill Nowlin (released July 2016) |
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 Au jeu/Play Ball: The 50 Greatest Games in the History of the Montreal Expos Edited by Norm King (released April 2016) |
 Tigers by the Tale: Great Games at Michigan & Trumbull Edited by Scott Ferkovich (released May 2016) |
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 The 1986 New York Mets: There Was More Than Game Six Eds. Leslie Heaphy and Bill Nowlin (released March 2016) |
 The 1986 Boston Red Sox: There Was More Than Game Six Eds. Bill Nowlin and Leslie Heaphy (released March 2016) |
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 The Team That Time Won't Forget: The 1951 New York Giants Eds. Bill Nowlin and C. Paul Rogers III (released December 2015) |
 Nuclear Powered Baseball: Articles Inspired by The Simpsons Episode "Homer At the Bat" Eds. Emily Hawks and Bill Nowlin (released January 2016) |
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 Mustaches and Mayhem: Charlie O's Three-Time Champions The 1972-74 Oakland A's Edited by Chip Greene (released September 2015) |
 A Pennant for the Twin Cities: The 1965 Minnesota Twins Edited by Gregory H. Wolf (released October 2015) |
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 Scandal on the South Side: The 1919 Chicago White Sox Edited by Jacob Pomrenke (released June 2015) |
 Braves Field: Memorable Moments at Boston's Lost Diamond Eds. Bill Nowlin and Bob Brady (released August 2015) |
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 '75: The Red Sox Team: That Saved Baseball Eds. Bill Nowlin and Cecilia Tan (released April 2015) |
 Calling the Game: Baseball Broadcasting From 1920 to the Present By Stuart Shea (released May 2015) |
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 Winning on the North Side: The 1929 Chicago Cubs Edited by Gregory H. Wolf (released February 2015) |
 Who's On First: Replacement Players in World War II Eds. Marc Z. Aaron and Bill Nowlin (released March 2015) |
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 The National Pastime: Premiere Issue (Replica Edition) Edited by John Thorn (released December 2014) |
 Detroit the Unconquerable: The 1935 Detroit Tigers Edited by Scott Ferkovich (released December 2014) |
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 The 1934 St. Louis Cardinals: The World Champion Gas House Gang Edited by Charles F. Faber (released August 2014) |
 Van Lingle Mungo: The Man, The Song, The Players Edited by Bill Nowlin (released October 2014) |
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 Thar's Joy in Braveland: The 1957 Milwaukee Braves Edited by Gregory H. Wolf (released May 2014) |
 Baseball: The Fan's Game By Gordon S. (Mickey) Cochrane (released June 2014) |
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 The Miracle Braves of 1914 Edited by Bill Nowlin (released February 2014) |
 Base-Ball: How to Become a Player By John Montgomery Ward (released February 2014) |
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 The Fenway Project Eds. Bill Nowlin and Cecilia Tan (released September 2013) |
 New Century, New Team: The 1901 Boston Americans Edited by Bill Nowlin (released December 2013) |
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 The Year of the Blue Snow: The 1964 Philadelphia Phillies Eds. Mel Marmer and Bill Nowlin (released July 2013) |
 Inventing Baseball: The 100 Greatest Games of the 19th Century Edited by Bill Felber (released July 2013) |
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 Memories of a Ballplayer: Bill Werber and Baseball in the 1930s By Bill Werber and C. Paul Rogers III (released February 2013) |
 Sweet '60: The 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates Eds. Clifton Blue Parker, Bill Nowlin (released April 2013) |
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 Detroit Tigers 1984: What A Start! What A Finish! Eds. Mark Pattison, David Raglin (released December 2012) |
 Batting By F.C. Lane (released January 2013) |
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 Nineteenth Century Stars Eds. Robert L. Tiemann, Mark Rucker (released August 2012) |
 Red Sox Baseball in the Days of Ike and Elvis: The Red Sox of the 1950s Eds. Mark Armour, Bill Nowlin (released September 2012) |
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 Great Hitting Pitchers Edited by L. Robert Davids, updated for 2012 by Mike Cook (released March 2012) |
 Opening Fenway Park With Style: The 1912 World Champion Red Sox Edited by Bill Nowlin (released May 2012) |
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 CAN HE PLAY? A Look At Baseball Scouts and Their Profession Eds. Jim Sandoval, Bill Nowlin (released December 2011) |
 RUN, RABBIT, RUN: The Hilarious and Mostly True Tales of Rabbit Maranville By Walter "Rabbit" Maranville (released February 2012) |
About the SABR Digital Library
For more than 40 years, SABR and its members have led the way in publishing the best baseball historical and statistical research. Our publications program is shifting to take advantage of new methods of publishing. Not only will we continue to publish new books like Can He Play? A Look At Baseball Scouts and Their Profession (released in December 2011); Detroit Tigers 1984: What A Start! What A Finish! (December 2012); Sweet '60: The 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates (April 2013); Inventing Baseball: The 100 Greatest Games of the 19th Century (July 2013); Scandal on the South Side: The 1919 Chicago White Sox (June 2015); The Team That Time Won't Forget: The 1951 New York Giants (December 2015); Nuclear Powered Baseball/The Simpsons (February 2016), Au jeu/Play Ball: The 50 Greatest Games in the History of the Montreal Expos (April 2016); Cuban Baseball Legends (July 2016), Baseball's Business: The Winter Meetings: 1901-1957 (December 2016); Dome Sweet Dome: History and Highlights from 35 Years of the Houston Astrodome (February 2017), and No-Hitters (May 2017), which showcase the best efforts of SABR's members, chapters and committees, but new technology makes it possible for us to bring out-of-print titles like Run, Rabbit, Run: The Hilarious and Mostly True Tales of Rabbit Maranville (February 2012), Great Hitting Pitchers (March 2012), Nineteenth Century Stars (August 2012); Batting (January 2013); The Fenway Project (September 2013); and '75: The Red Sox Team That Saved Baseball (April 2015) back again.
Books will be available in digital formats as well as paperbacks produced by "print on demand" (POD).
SABR members will get discounted rates for all Digital Library publications, including many for free. If you're not a member, click here to join SABR.
Stay tuned throughout the year for new (and old!) titles that we'll be adding to the SABR Digital Library. To learn more about SABR Publications, contact Publications Editor Cecilia Tan at ctan@sabr.org.
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