The SABR Bookshelf: Fall 2024
Here are the SABR Bookshelf listings for Fall 2024.
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. Click here for a list of publishers found in the SABR Bookshelf, along with their contact information.
In addition, check out new books published by SABR at SABR.org/ebooks.
The 1939 Baltimore Elite Giants
Edited by Frederick C. Bush, Thomas Kern, and Bill Nowlin
Publisher: SABR
Retail Price: $9.99 (ebook)
ISBN: 978-1-960819-24-6
Buy It: SABR.org
Summary: SABR Digital Library book focusing on Baltimore’s first Negro National League championship team, which featured future Hall of Famers Roy Campanella and Biz Mackey.
Dodger Stadium: Blue Heaven on Earth
Edited by Bill Nowlin and Glen Sparks
Publisher: SABR
Retail Price: $9.99 (ebook)
ISBN: 978-1-960819-20-8
Buy It: SABR.org
Summary: SABR Digital Library book that highlights the rich history of Dodger Stadium, with dozens of stories on memorable baseball games, plus essays on the building of the ballpark and the Battle of Chavez Ravine; the many TV shows and movies filmed there; and concerts and other events.
Sandy Koufax
Edited by Marc Z. Aaron, Bill Nowlin, and Glen Sparks
Publisher: SABR
Retail Price: $9.99 (ebook)
ISBN: 978-1-960819-26-0
Buy It: SABR.org
Summary: SABR Digital Library book that explores what made Sandy Koufax so special in baseball and American society through 17 insightful essays and recaps of 36 key games in his career.
Dazzling Debuts: First At-Bat Home Runs
Edited by Giselle Stancic, Bill Nowlin, and Jacob Pomrenke
Publisher: SABR
Retail Price: $9.99 (ebook)
ISBN: 978-1-960819-30-7
Buy It: SABR.org
Summary: SABR Digital Library book, along with companion website at SABR.org/dazzling-debuts, that tells the story of 140 major-league players who hit a home run in their first career at-bat. Also includes stories on players from the Negro Leagues, Japan, Korea, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the AAGPBL.
The Last of His Kind: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness
By Andy McCullough
Publisher: Hachette Books
Retail Price: $32.00 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-0-3068-3259-8
Buy It: Hatchette Books
Summary: The first full biography of Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw, examining how he tried to build on early success to attain and maintain greatness.
Love and Loss: The Short Life of Ray Chapman
By Scott Longert
Publisher: Ohio University Press
Retail Price: $19.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-0-8214-2566-4
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: The life story of Ray Chapman, detailing his rise in baseball as one of the best Deadball Era shortstops and his tragic death in the batter’s box.
Cookie Rojas: A Baseball Life
By Lou Hernández
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $29.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9457-3
Buy It: McFarland & Co.
Summary: Cookie Rojas was a baseball lifer, from little regarded prospect to regular to manager.
Baseball’s Shooting Stars: Improbable Ascents and Burnouts in the National Pastime
By David J. Gordon
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $29.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9489-4
Buy It: McFarland & Co.
Summary: Profiles of 30 players who sparkled and then dimmed from Fred Dunlap (1884) to Dave Winfield.
The Louisville Grays and the Myth of Baseball’s First Great Scandal
By Wendell Lloyd Jones
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $35.00 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9438-2
Buy It: McFarland & Co.
Summary: Jones attacks the established narrative that several Louisville Grays players threw the National League pennant, arguing they just lost it.
Pitching to the Corners: My Post-MLB Career Abroad
By Don August with Mark Knudson
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $29.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9307-1
Buy It: McFarland & Co.
Summary: After a promising career with the Brewers, Don August tells the story of his years in Mexican, Taiwanese, and Italian leagues.
World Series ’64: The Cardinals, the Yankees and the End of a Dynasty
By John G. Robertson and Carl T. Madden
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $35.00 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9206-7
Buy It: McFarland & Co.
Summary: From the 1964 pennant races, game-by-game through the World Series and then an examination of the fallout.
Foxy Ned Hanlon: The Baseball Life of a Hall of Fame Manager
By Tom DeLise and Jay Seaborg
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $39.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9396-5
Buy It: McFarland & Co.
Summary: Ned Hanlon’s career covered creative tactical innovations and years as a manager whose tree of descendants includes John McGraw and Miller Huggins.
Roger Bresnahan: A Baseball Life
By John R. Husman
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $39.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9466-5
Buy It: McFarland & Co.
Summary: Hall of Famer Roger Bresnahan helped redefine the catching position in the early 20th century and became a sought-after manager.
The Memphis Red Sox: A Negro Leagues History
By Keith B. Wood
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $39.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9376-7
Buy It: McFarland & Co.
Summary: Over 30 seasons, the Memphis Red Sox were stalwarts of the Negro Leagues and a rallying point for the Civil Rights movement in Memphis.
Sudden Deaths in Sports: 75 Athletes Lost Without Warning
By Douglas Putnam
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $39.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9444-3
Buy It: McFarland & Co.
Summary: A dozen of the dead, from Ray Chapman to John McSherry, are baseball figures.
The Lineup Card: An Illustrated History of the Baseball Collectible
By Tom O’Reilly
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $39.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9160-2
Buy It: McFarland & Co.
Summary: Lavishly illustrated, O’Reilly’s book goes through the history, art and quirks of the scorecard.
Globetrotter: How Abe Saperstein Shook Up the World of Sports
By Mark Jacob and Matthew Jacob
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Retail Price: $35.00 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-5381-8145-4
Buy It: Rowman.com
Summary: The baseball sections of this book focus on how Jewish immigrant Abe Saperstein impacted Black participation in baseball, from his involvement in the Negro Leagues to his support for Satchel Paige.
Season of Shattered Dreams: Postwar Baseball, The Spokane Indians, and a Tragic Bus Crash that Changed Everything
By Eric Vickrey
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Retail Price: $34.00 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-5381-9072-2
Buy It: Rowman.com
Summary: Vickrey goes beyond the bus crash to set the scene of post-World War II baseball and then follows the diverse careers of some of the survivors.
It’s a Beautiful Day for Baseball: The National Pastime in the 1960s
By Doug Kurkul
Publisher: K Executive Group
Retail Price: $25.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-6296-7272-4
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: Chronicle that includes interviews, player memoirs, and news accounts that detail the experience of being a major leaguer in the 1960s.
A Baseball Gaijin: Chasing a Dream to Japan and Back
By Aaron Fischman
Publisher: Sports Publishing
Retail Price: $25.99 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-6835-8477-3
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: How Tony Barnette’s journey from Nippon Professional Baseball to Major League Baseball is one of persistence in pursuit of his ultimate dream.
Larry Doby in Black and White: The Story of a Baseball Pioneer
By Jerry Izenberg
Publisher: Sports Publishing
Retail Price: $32.99 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-6835-8480-3
Buy It: Sports Publishing
Summary: Veteran sportswriter Izenberg turns to the story of the American League’s pioneer black star.
Home Run King: The Remarkable Record of Hank Aaron
By Dan Schlossberg
Publisher: Sports Publishing
Retail Price: $32.99 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-6835-8484-1
Buy It: Sports Publishing
Summary: In a thorough re-telling of Aaron’s story, Schlossberg argues how the Braves star was actually underappreciated.
Remembering Torn-Down Ballparks Over a Cold Beer
By Ken Finnigan
Publisher: Sports Publishing
Retail Price: $24.99 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-6835-8487-2
Buy It: Sports Publishing
Summary: Finnigan goes through 34 defunct stadiums matching them with a bar associated with them.
The Obscure History of Baseball in San Diego: Before the Padres Came to Town, 1870-1936
By Carlos Bauer
Publisher: Baseball Press Books
Retail Price: $15.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-8933-9212-0
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: Showing the struggle to bring organized baseball to the city of San Diego in a 66-year journey, as told by Carlos Bauer.
Game Changers: Sports Photographs from the National Museum of African American History and Culture
Edited by Michèle Gates Moresi and Laura Coyle
Publisher: GILES
Retail Price: $16.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-9138-7576-3
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: A pictorial history book on the role that Black athletes played during the 20th century and continue to play in both on-field and off-field American culture today.
Jim Gilliam: The Forgotten Dodger
By Stephen W. Dittmore
Publisher: August Publications
Retail Price: $33.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-9385-3282-5
Buy It: August Publications
Summary: The story of Jim Gilliam’s journey in the baseball world, from his time as a Negro League player to his career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bitten by the Red Sox Baseball Bug: A Fan’s Lifelong Passion
By Bill Nowlin
Publisher: Summer Game Books
Retail Price: $17.99 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-9553-9831-2
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: Prolific SABR author explains his devotion to the Boston Red Sox and its origins.
Ivan the Terrible Goes on a Family Picnic
By Charles Holdefer
Publisher: Sagging Meniscus Press
Retail Price: $18.00 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-9638-4600-3
Buy It: Sagging Meniscus Press
Summary: Short stories set across multiple eras and exploring how baseball ties into life lessons in 10 parts.
The Original Louisville Slugger: The Life and Times of Forgotten Baseball Legend Pete Browning
By Tim Newby
Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
Retail Price: $28.00 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-9859-0085-1
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: The first biography of a 19th-century batting champion whose claim to fame is his connection to the Hillerich & Bradsby Company, now known as Louisville Slugger.
The Wizard of College Baseball: How Ron Fraser Elevated Miami and an Entire Sport to National Prominence
By David Brauer
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Retail Price: $29.95 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4962-2043-1
Buy It: Nebraska Press
Summary: Not too many biographies of college coaches out there and this one focuses on the one-time Miami Hurricanes skipper.
Leave While the Party’s Good: The Life and Legacy of Baseball Executive Harry Dalton
By Lee C. Kluck
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Retail Price: $39.95 (hdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4962-2289-3
Buy It: Nebraska Press
Summary: Harry Dalton was an executive for several teams from the 1960s into the 1990s, and many of them were winners.
Bad Penny: How a Maverick Owner Helped Break Baseball’s Color Barrier
By Tom Gantert
Publisher: Shadow Play Publishing
Retail Price: $15.00 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 979-8-2183-0092-0
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: A behind-the-scenes look at the career of owner Bill Veeck and how he helped Black baseball players break the color barrier. The stories of some of the most important Black baseball figures are told through their interactions with Veeck.
The History of Fantasy Sports: And the Stories of the People Who Made It Happen
By Larry Schechter
Publisher: Self-published
Retail Price: $24.99 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 979-8-2184-2470-1
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: A chronicle of the evolution of fantasy sports, from the humble beginnings to the multi-billion-dollar industry of today.
re:Leaf: The Story of a Collector, a Candy Company, a Stack of Baseball Cards, and a Quest for Answers
By Brian Kappel
Publisher: Self-published
Retail Price: $20.00 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 979-8-3249-1127-0
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: History of the Leaf Candy and Card Company and its production of baseball cards in the 1940s.
Hardball Retro’s Compendium of Baseball Video Games and Electronic Handhelds
By Derek Bain and John Racanelli
Publisher: Self-published
Retail Price: $29.99 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 979-8-3329-7401-4
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: Covering baseball video games over the last 50 years, including guides, interviews with designers and programmers, and game reviews.
WAR in Pieces: A Guide to Baseball’s Superstat Wins Above Replacement
By Sean Smith
Publisher: Self-published
Retail Price: $18.99 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 979-8-3420-5389-1
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: About how the calculation of Wins Above Replacement was developed and why it is important to the game.
Ten Cent Beer Night: The Complete Guide to the Riot That Helped Save Baseball in Cleveland
By Scott Jarrett
Publisher: BookBaby
Retail Price: $9.99 (ebook)
ISBN: 979-8-3509-5510-1
Buy It: BookBaby
Summary: The story of Ten Cent Beer Night in Cleveland, a collection of accounts from fans, players, and journalists who recount the famous chaos that characterized baseball in America during the 1970s.
Joe and Mike Cantillon: Firebrands of Baseball
By Michael Bosanko
Publisher: Dorrance Publishing
Retail Price: $53.00 (hardcvr)
ISBN: 979-8-8860-4679-3
Buy It: Dorrance Publishing
Summary: The story of Joe and Mike Cantillon’s journey to the major leagues and the impact they would have on the game for decades to come.
Compiled by Jacob Shanker and Everett Williams.