The SABR Bookshelf: Spring 2022
Here are the SABR Bookshelf listings for Spring 2022.
To get your NEW book listed on The SABR Bookshelf, make sure a review copy is sent to: The SABR Bookshelf, Cronkite School at ASU, 555 N. Central Ave. #416, Phoenix, AZ 85004. An e-book file will also suffice; please send the e-book in PDF, EPUB or Kindle/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.
Dominicans in the Major Leagues
Edited by Bill Nowlin and Julio M. Rodriguez
Publisher: SABR
Retail Price: $9.99 (ebook)
ISBN: 978-1-970159-58-5
Buy It: SABR.org
Summary: SABR Digital Library publication, available in English and Spanish editions, that tells the story of the more than 800 natives of the Dominican Republic who have risen to the highest level of the major leagues and Negro Leagues.
Hebrew Hammer: A Biography of Al Rosen, All-Star Third Baseman
By Joseph Wancho
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $29.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-8131-3
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: The biography of All-Star third baseman Al Rosen and how his success translated from the field to his success as a President and General Manager. Rosen is the only person in major-league history to win an MVP award as a player and to be recognized as Executive of the Year by The Sporting News.
Black Stats Matter: Integrating Negro League Numbers into Major League Records
By Philip Lee
Publisher: McFarland & Co.
Retail Price: $39.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4766-8834-3
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: For years, systemic racism barred Black baseball players from Major League Baseball and these players created their own league. This book explores the history of race in America’s pastime and emphasizes that Negro League players were equally talented and deserving as their MLB counterparts.
Stumbling Around the Bases: The American League’s Mismanagement in the Expansion Eras
By Andy McCue
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Retail Price: $29.95 (hrdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4962-0703-6
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: During the expansion era, the American League fell behind the National League in attendance and prestige. This is the story of the mismanagement and decisions of American League owners that led to this development.
Baseball Rebels: The Players, People, and Social Movements That Shook Up the Game and Changed America
By Peter Dreier and Robert Elias
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Retail Price: $36.95 (hrdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4962-1777-6
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: Baseball has reflected the nation’s battles on social issues since it originated in the mid-1800s. This is the story of baseball’s first reformers and activists who diversified the game of baseball in terms of race, gender, and sexuality.
Stolen Dreams: The 1955 Cannon Street All-Stars and Little League Baseball’s Civil War
By Chris Lamb
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Retail Price: $34.95 (hrdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4962-1945-9
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: The story of a Little League Baseball team who had dreams of reaching the Little League World Series during the early civil rights movement.
Red Barber: The Life and Legacy of a Broadcasting Legend
By Judith R. Hiltner and James R. Walker
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Retail Price: $36.95 (hrdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4962-2285-5
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: The story of Red Barber, a descriptive play-by-play announcer for the Brooklyn Dodgers who relied on colorful expressions in his broadcasting. This book dives into his personal experiences and how he influenced sports broadcasting for years to come.
Lefty and Tim: How Steve Carlton and Tim McCarver Became Baseball’s Best Battery
By William C. Kashatus
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Retail Price: $34.95 (hrdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4962-2667-9
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: The dual-biography of one of the greatest batteries of their time. This book details the story of an old school catcher who believed the catcher should call pitches and a new age left-handed hurler who wanted to control pitch selection and how their unconventional friendship led them both to success.
Charlie Murphy: The Iconoclastic Showman behind the Chicago Cubs
By Jason Cannon
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Retail Price: $36.95 (hrdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4962-2863-5
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: Charlie Murphy was the owner of the Chicago Cubs from 1905-1914 and led the team to two World Series titles in 1907 and 1908. In this story, readers will learn about Murphy and his rise and fall in the Cubs organization as well as the lasting baseball legacy he left behind in Chicago.
The Umpire Is Out: Calling the Game and Living My True Self
By Dale Scott and Rob Neyer
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Retail Price: $34.95 (hrdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-4962-3044-7
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: The autobiography of umpire Dale Scott, one of the first openly gay officials in major professional sports. Scott tells the story of how he navigated living with a secret, his interactions with managers and players, and “playing the game.”
Pinnacle on the Mound: Cy Young Award Winners Talk Baseball
By Doug Wedge
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Retail Price: $32.00 (hrdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-5381-5481-6
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: Cy Young award-winning pitchers from the last 50 years break down their careers, how they honed their skills, and what went right in their renowned seasons to win the Cy Young. This book features 10 pitchers with diverse pitching styles, mechanics and experiences.
Whispers of the Gods: Tales from Baseball’s Golden Age, Told by the Men Who Played It
By Peter Golenbock
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Retail Price: $24.95 (hrdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-5381-5487-8
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: This book goes in-depth about some of the greatest players in Major League Baseball history with all of the stories told directly from the players themselves. Pulled from hundreds of hours of interviews with the author, the stories describe the legacy that these stars left on and off the field.
The Saga of Sudden Sam: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of Sam McDowell
By Sam McDowell with Martin Gitlin
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Retail Price: $26.95 (hrdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-5381-5641-4
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: The autobiography of southpaw Sam McDowell and his battle with alcoholism during the peak of his young career. McDowell details his own battles with depression, suicide, and addiction, as well as the addiction plague in Major League Baseball. He became the first successful counselor in baseball and offers insight into the struggle of addiction and sobriety.
Classic Baseball: Timeless Tales, Immortal Moments
By John Rosengren
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Retail Price: $32.00 (hrdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-5381-5696-4
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: A collection of the greatest and most impactful stories in Major League Baseball history. This book features some of the most momentous moments in the game’s history, as well as some of the lesser known stories of the game.
Historic Ballparks of the Twin Cities
By Stew Thornley
Publisher: The History Press
Retail Price: $32.99 (hrdcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-5402-4597-7
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: Ballparks have defined the history of baseball in the Twin Cities. This book details the stories of Minnesota’s ballparks and their history.
Gabe Paul: The Long Road to the Bronx Zoo
By William A. Cook
Publisher: Sunbury Press
Retail Price: $19.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-6200-6499-3
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: The story of Gabe Paul, a two-time Major League Executive of the Year and how he would serve as the President and General Manager of the New York Yankees. These teams, nicknamed the “Bronx Zoo,” were often a circus off the field but went on to win three consecutive American League pennants under Paul’s leadership.
Joe Nuxhall: The Old Lefthander & Me: My Conversations with Joe Nuxhall About the Reds, Baseball & Broadcasting
By John Kiesewetter
Publisher: Chilidog Press LC
Retail Price: $20.00 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-7359-1941-6
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: John Kiesewetter got to know beloved Cincinnati Reds pitcher and broadcaster Joe Nuxhall. This book tells the behind the scenes stories of Nuxhall and Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman.
Chili Dog MVP: Dick Allen, The 1972 White Sox and A Transforming Chicago
By John Owens and David Fletcher
Publisher: Eckhartz Press
Retail Price: $25.00 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-1-7379-2363-3
Buy It: Eckhartz Press
Summary: The story of Dick Allen, a controversial slugger, who transformed the Chicago White Sox and united a divided fan base in the 1970s.
Meditations in Panic City
By Roger Cormier
Publisher: Self-published
Retail Price: $5.00 (ebook)
ISBN: n/a
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: In this fictional memoir, Timmy Beiser has been a New York Mets fan since he was a kid and has suffered from anxiety and depression for likely just as long. In this book, he attempts to share the story of the New York Mets, but life keeps getting in the way.
“Victory on Two Fronts: The Cleveland Indians and Baseball through the World War II Era
By Scott Longert
Publisher: Ohio University Press
Retail Price: $24.95 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 978-0-8214-2472-8
Buy It: Ohio University Press
Summary: Beginning with the Cleveland Indians’ hard luck during World War II, this history follows the team through its historic role in racial integration and its postwar comeback to a World Series championship.
“It Happened in Boston: Harry & George Wright’s Creation of Professional Baseball in the Year 1872
By Wayne Soini
Publisher: Self-published
Retail Price: $14.99 (sftcvr)
ISBN: 979-8431584015
Buy It: Amazon
Summary: A historical novel based on professional baseball’s early struggle to survive during the tumultuous 1872 season.
Compiled by Sydney Dixon.