Recently read…
At the suggestion of Bookshelf friend David Jordan, this will serve as a home for older “recently read” snippets as they get replaced by newer items. Not all of them have reviews or author conversations, but I have included links when they are.
The books are listed in descending order, newest to oldest (updated October 28, 2022)
Most recent books read:
How to Beat a Broken Game: The Rise of the Dodgers in a League on the Brink, by Pedro Moura
Grade: C. Unconvincing and doesn’t really explain how the game is “broken” or why only one league is “on the brink.”
The Grandest Stage: A History of the World Series, by Tyler Kepner
Grade: B-. A bit all over the place. Not your granddaddy’s “history” book.
The Lineup: Ten Books That Changed Baseball, by Paul Aron
Grade: A. Even if I disagree with some of the choices, it’s still a thoughtful look that lives up to its title.
The Catch: A Novel, by Alison Fairbrother
Grade: B. A rare foray into fiction, mostly because of the father-daughter theme.
Baseball’s Best Ever: A Half Century Covering Hall of Famers, by Ira Berkow
Grade: B. So many players of so much time. Fascinating insights beyond statistics.
The Church of Baseball: The Making of Bull Durham: Home Runs, Bad Calls, Crazy Fights, Big Swings, and a Hit, by Ron Shelton
Grade: A-plus. Combines my two favorite pastimes: Baseball and movies
True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson, by Kostya Kennedy
Grade: A. With all the books on Robinson out there, the idea to focus on four specific years in his life stands out.
The Iconic Jersey: Baseball X Fashion, by Erin R. Corrales-Diaz
Grade: B-plus. Solid combination of history, contemporary fashion, and illustrations.
The Baseball 100, by Joe Posnanski
Grade: A-plus. Lives up to the title with cogent rationalizations for the selections.
When Your Wife Has Tommy John Surgery and Other Baseball Stories: Poems, by E. Ethelbert Miller
Grade: A-minus. My first foray into baseball poetry.
The Bronx Zoom: Inside the New York Yankees’ Most Bizarre Season, by Bryan Hoch
Grade: A. A fascinating — and terrifying — look at how a major league team dealt with the pandemic.
Cactus League, by Emily Nemens
Grade: C
The Magician (The Donora Story Collection Book 3), by Kathleen Shoop
Grade: B-
This Never Happened: The Mystery Behind the Death of Christy Mathewson, by J.B. Manheim
Grade: B
Bouton: The Life of a Baseball Original, by Mitchell Nathanson
Grade: A-. I have always been interested in the process of creation and this is the first book to go into such detail on the watershed Ball Four.
The Batter’s Box: A Novel of Baseball, War, and Love, by Andy Kutler
Grade: B+. I don’t read a whole lot of baseball fiction, so I was interested in this one that includes another of my interests, World War II. The author meshes all of his themes well.
Ahead of the Curve: Inside the Baseball Revolution, by Brian Kenny
Grade: B-. Lots of through-provoking stuff about the way fans think about the game (or don’t) by the MLB Network broadcaster.
The Last Innocents: The Collision of the Turbulent Sixties and the Los Angeles Dodgers, by Michael Leahy
Grade: A+. Touching look at several members of the team in the context of the times.
Kings of Queens: Life Beyond Baseball with the ’86 Mets, by Erik Sherman
Grade: B+. A bittersweet look at some of our heroes, now grown old.
Intangiball: The Subtle Things That Win Baseball Games , by Lonnie Wheeler
Grade: B-. Nice tribute to unsung qualities, with great examples, but loses steam in sustaining for a full book.
Baseball Immortal: Derek Jeter: A Career in Quotes, by Danny Peary
Grade: B+. Yeoman’s work in assembling thousands of quotes that tell the story of this future Hall of Famer. On the other hand, given Jeter’s milquetoast personality, perhaps too much of a good thing?
The Pine Tar Game: The Kansas City Royals, the New York Yankees, and Baseball’s Most Absurd and Entertaining Controversy, by Filip Bondy
Grade: B-: A lot of tangential material that may add to the deep backgro0und about the relationship between the Yankees and Royals or “puff it up” too much, depending on the reader’s point of view.
When the Yankees Were on the Fritz: Revisiting the Horace Clarke Years, by Fritz Peterson
Grade: C-. Interesting recollection hampered by poor editing.
Strangers in the Bronx: DiMaggio, Mantle, and the Changing of the Yankee Guard
Grade: B-. Interesting treatise on the DiMaggio/Mantle relationship, but too much filler.
Mashi: The Unfulfilled Baseball Dreams of Masanori Murakami, the First Japanese Major Leaguer
Grade: A. Fascinating story of a “pioneer” and an intimate look into Japanese baseball culture.
Pedro
Grade: C-. Few redeeming qualities. Yeah, it’s a memoir, but he doesn’t have to be so egotistical about it.
The Journey Home: My Life in Pinstripes
Grade: B-. Pleasant enough but nothing outstanding about it.
Split Season: 1981: Fernandomania, the Bronx Zoo, and the Strike that Saved Baseball
Grade: B-. I wonder how many fans are that interested in the well-researched and detailed “behind closed doors” machinations of the labor dispute.
The League of Outsider Baseball: An Illustrated History of Baseball’s Forgotten Heroes
Grade: A. Fun all around, from the stylized artwork to the engaging narratives.
A History of Baseball in 100 Objects
Grade: B-. Handsome book because of photos, but basically one more “listicle.”
Seeing Home: The Ed Lucas Story: A Blind Broadcaster’s Story of Overcoming Life’s Greatest Obstacles
Grade: A-. Sweet, inspirational story. Could have used more baseball info, but that’s obviously a personal call by the author.
Baseball Maverick: How Sandy Alderson Revolutionized Baseball and Revived the Mets
Grade: B. Solid work.
Baseball Maverick: How Sandy Alderson Revolutionized Baseball and Revived the Mets
Grade: B. Solid work.
Tommy Lasorda: My Way
C-: Nothing but a lovefest for Lasorda, with no mention of his “darker” side.
Billy Martin: Baseball’s Flawed Genius, by Bill Pennington
A: Has to be considered the definitive bio of the “troubled” Martin.
(Posted April 2, 2015)
Yankee Doodles: Inside the Locker Room with Mickey, Yogi, Reggie, and Derek
A-: Sweetly digestible nuggets about the veteran author’s favorite personalities and moments as a beat writer for the Yankees.
(Posted March 18, 2015)
Gil Hodges: A Hall of Fame Life
B+: Perhaps the definitive bio of an underrated Boy of Summer.
(Posted March 18, 2015)
Joe Black: More Than a Dodger, by Martha Jo Black and Chuck Schoffner
B-: Fairly standard bio, somewhat improved by the character of the subject. Points off for “misrepresenting” authorship, though.
The Joy of Ballpark Food: From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine
A: Entertaining and informative history of the subject, plus a team-by-team rundown of indigenous eats.
(Posted Feb. 3, 2015)
100 Years of Who’s Who in Baseball
B-: Nostalgic look at the covers of a baseball magazine institution with little beyond.
(Posted Jan. 20, 2015)
Bats, Balls, and Hollywood Stars: Hollywood’s Love Affair with Baseball
B: Fun looking at the veritable who’s who of celebrity who were baseball wannabes. More profiles of the participants would have been welcome, as well as color photos, but still worth it for lovers of both baseball and entertainers.
(Posted Jan. 19, 2015)
Rickey & Robinson: The True, Untold Story of the Integration of Baseball
C. Hate to say it, but there’s little “new” information here and the legendary sportswriter comes off a bit mean-spirited.
Up, Up, and Away: The Kid, the Hawk, Rock, Vladi, Pedro, le Grand Orange, Youppi!, the Crazy Business of Baseball, and the Ill-fated but Unforgettable Montreal Expos
B+: A nice blast from my past. Very nostalgic.
The Devil’s Snake Curve: A Fan’s Notes From Left Field
B+: Interesting and thought-provoking, even if I thought it was too Yankee-centric.
Throwback: A Big-League Catcher Tells How the Game Is Really Played
A- — After finishing Kendall’s book, I don’t have enough eyes to keep track of all the “inside-baseball” that can only be observed in person; television doesn’t offer enough angles to keep track of everything.