Baseball Books

[Electron Blue]

I know there have been thread about this, but without a search function or a reasonable attention span, I've been unable to find them. So...

 

I'm looking for books about baseball. I finally finished Moneyball recently. I understand full well that Moneyball is not flawless and am somewhat familiar with some readers' problems with it. But the fact is, Moneyball opened my eyes about baseball further than anything else had, and now I want to learn more.

 

I'm looking for resources that aren't simply statbooks, or entirely articles. I'm looking for good, interesting stat-based analysis, I guess, of strategies, common perceptions about the game, and so on.

 

I can't tell if Bill James' annual handbook is what I'm looking for or not. I have "Baseball Between the Numbers" ready to go in my Amazon cart. Baseball Prospectus 2007 looks too fantasy-oriented to me. And The Hardball Times has a few annuals they've released, but I can't tell what kind of information they present -- I've read bits and pieces from their website, though, if my memory is correct. (I should note, my understanding about these books is limited to Amazon's descriptions, so I'd appreciate feedback on these specific titles).

 

So, any recommendations from the list above (or, of course, not on the list)? I would particularly like to know why a good baseball book is good; not just that it's "a good read." I'm not interested in a lovefest Ripken bio or an anecdotal "Three Nights in August" type thing...

 

Much thanks for any feedback, and sorry mods, maybe this isn't the place for this thread (?)

[rocket]

Baseball Between the Numbers is exactly what you're looking for.

[Magnetic Curses]

I know there have been thread about this, but without a search function or a reasonable attention span, I've been unable to find them. So...

 

I'm looking for books about baseball. I finally finished Moneyball recently. I understand full well that Moneyball is not flawless and am somewhat familiar with some readers' problems with it. But the fact is, Moneyball opened my eyes about baseball further than anything else had, and now I want to learn more.

 

I'm looking for resources that aren't simply statbooks, or entirely articles. I'm looking for good, interesting stat-based analysis, I guess, of strategies, common perceptions about the game, and so on.

 

I can't tell if Bill James' annual handbook is what I'm looking for or not. I have "Baseball Between the Numbers" ready to go in my Amazon cart. Baseball Prospectus 2007 looks too fantasy-oriented to me. And The Hardball Times has a few annuals they've released, but I can't tell what kind of information they present -- I've read bits and pieces from their website, though, if my memory is correct. (I should note, my understanding about these books is limited to Amazon's descriptions, so I'd appreciate feedback on these specific titles).

 

So, any recommendations from the list above (or, of course, not on the list)? I would particularly like to know why a good baseball book is good; not just that it's "a good read." I'm not interested in a lovefest Ripken bio or an anecdotal "Three Nights in August" type thing...

 

Much thanks for any feedback, and sorry mods, maybe this isn't the place for this thread (?)

 

while the "hidden game of baseball" is out of print, your library should have a copy. these guys were way ahead of their time, as was earl weaver, apparently.

 

thorn and palmer introduce awesome terminology that totally and completely fits. for example, they often refer to an adherence to perceived baseball nuance as hearing "the music of the spheres"--and liken what most people believe baseball to be to nothing more than an illusion brought about by people who like to make the game much more complicated than it is.

 

the true essence of baseball stares even the most outside, casual fan right in the face. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE PLAYED BASEBALL ALL YOUR LIFE TO UNDERSTAND IT.

Edited August 7, 2007 by Stannis

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I haven't read it, but I've heard a lot of good things about "The Book". Tom Tango (tangotiger) is one of the authors. I've heard mixed reviews on "The Book on the Book" by Bill Felber, but it sounds like exactly the type of reading you're looking for(I think the same would apply to "Baseball Between the Numbers"). No personal experience with any of the three though.

[Abe Frohman]

Jose Canseco's book "Juiced" is a very interesting read. As is "My Turn At-Bat" by Ted Williams. I read Johnny Damon's book "Idiots" on a flight, and it was interesting as well.

 

These autobiographies by players give a little look inside the clubhouse, which is kinda worthwhile to read. I also got a copy of Pete Rose's book, and the little bit that I have read was fairly good.

[jjwalker48]

If you can get past the title, Jocks and Socks is a good read. It was written by a former Brewer clubhouse attendant and it has a lot of good stories.

And of course, read Cubs Nation by Gene Wojciechowski

[Cubbies2238]

If you liked Jocks and Socks I would recommend Bat Boy by Matthew Mcgough, it's about his two years as a Yankees bat boy.

 

Also some other good baseball books I've read are 3 Nights in August by Tony La Russa it's shows what the manager thinks about during a game.

 

Of course as someone before mentioned Cubs Nation, and if you like that Wrigley World is another good one.

[BigSlick]

Baseball Between the Numbers is exactly what you're looking for.

 

Argh, came here to post exactly that. A great primer for more indepth statistical analysis in baseball.

[swordsman]

my sister has been looking for a book about being an umpire, any suggestions?

[Electron Blue]

Baseball Between the Numbers is exactly what you're looking for.

 

Argh, came here to post exactly that. A great primer for more indepth statistical analysis in baseball.

 

Thanks everyone for the consensus on this -- made it real easy to take the plunge and get it (less than $8, shipping included ;)) Looking forward to reading it!

[BigSlick]

Baseball Between the Numbers is exactly what you're looking for.

 

Argh, came here to post exactly that. A great primer for more indepth statistical analysis in baseball.

 

Thanks everyone for the consensus on this -- made it real easy to take the plunge and get it (less than $8, shipping included ;)) Looking forward to reading it!

 

By far my favorite part of the book is a chapter on how influential major league managers are, and the author spends a long time railing against Dusty Baker.

[Rob]

Baseball Between the Numbers, The Book, The Book on The Book, The Hidden Game of Baseball, and The Baseball Economist all sound like what you're looking for.

[Marco4]

I might have to give The Book a look. Is it something that I can do chapter by chapter, or is it an all in at once thing?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I might have to give The Book a look. Is it something that I can do chapter by chapter, or is it an all in at once thing?

 

http://www.insidethebook.com/

[CraziCub]

my sister has been looking for a book about being an umpire, any suggestions?

 

I greatly enjoyed former umpire Ron Luciano's books. I think he had three or four. The titles I remember are THe Umpire Strikes Back, Strike Two, and Fall of the Roman Umpire. They aren't necessarily about how to be an umpire, but are stories about his experiences as an umpire in the sixties and seventies (maybe early eighties as well, can't remember). They were very fun to read and absolutely hilariouse. He was very witty.

[Dirt Dog Sparly]

Find a copy of " Weaver on Strategy" Its how a HOF manager applied the philosophies of "Moneyball" in real life.

 

Not quite a stats analysis book but "The Mental Game of Baseball" is another fantastic read.

 

"Men at Work" by George Will is also another great read.

[The Hawk]

I'm not sure this is what you are looking for but I just finished The Stark Truth and loved it. He makes some great points on over and under rated players past and present.

[Electron Blue]

Update, a week later:

 

I just got "Baseball Between the Numbers" in the mail, from amazon, very much due to everyone's praise of it here.

 

I'll let you know what I think of it -- at a couple glances, it looks very interesting.

 

And Hawk, that Stark book looks quite good too - it might be my next.

[swordsman]

my sister has been looking for a book about being an umpire, any suggestions?

 

I greatly enjoyed former umpire Ron Luciano's books. I think he had three or four. The titles I remember are THe Umpire Strikes Back, Strike Two, and Fall of the Roman Umpire. They aren't necessarily about how to be an umpire, but are stories about his experiences as an umpire in the sixties and seventies (maybe early eighties as well, can't remember). They were very fun to read and absolutely hilariouse. He was very witty.

 

Thanks, I'll pass that along to her.

[Backtobanks]

Update, a week later:

 

I just got "Baseball Between the Numbers" in the mail, from amazon, very much due to everyone's praise of it here.

 

I'll let you know what I think of it -- at a couple glances, it looks very interesting.

 

And Hawk, that Stark book looks quite good too - it might be my next.

 

I found the book "Baseball Between The Numbers" raised some very interesting questions. For the first half of each chapter it was pretty interesting, but the second half of each chapter seemed to over analyze each question with mind-numbing statistics.

[UK1679666180]

Did anyone enjoy reading curveball? It's pretty heavy as far as the statisical formula side of it.

 

For my money, the best overall baseball book I've ever read as been the Baseball Playbook by Miss. St. baseball coach Ron Polk.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Has anyone read Wrigley Blues: The Year the Cubs Played Hardball with the Curse (But Lost Anyway)? It was a "recommending reading" from Amazon in the e-mail I got today, and I thought about checking it out.