Favorite baseball books

[mmc]

Does anyone have any books about baseball that they found particularly interesting?  One I've always thought about reading is The Arm by Passan

[mmc]

And of course Fletch has his book about Ohtani coming up that I'm looking forward to

[T.G.]

The Soul of Baseball about Buck O'Neil is a great read. It's by Joe Posnanski.

[Justin]

I very much enjoyed Ballpark: Baseball in the American City, though that is much more about the ballparks (and the history of American cities) than the actual game. 

[Angelsjunky]

Bill James' Historical Abstract was one of my favorite bathroom books for about a decade. But it is now woefully out of date - the revised version came out in 2001, I believe. Still, for nice overviews of 20th century baseball decade by decade, and snapshots of the better players, it is hard to beat.

I also used to buy Baseball Prospectus every year, until about five years ago. Not sure why I stopped, but is pretty good.

[jsnpritchett]

Pat Jordan's A False Spring is one of my favorite books--not just about baseball, but also about coming to terms with not achieving your dream, learning to live with "failure," etc.  https://www.amazon.com/False-Spring-Memoir-Pat-Jordan-ebook/dp/B01COHD5SA

Dollar Sign on the Muscle is a great book about scouting: https://www.amazon.com/Dollar-Sign-Muscle-Kevin-Kerrane-ebook/dp/B00GK5NKB0

Prophet of the Sandlots is another great book about one scout in particular (Tony Lucadello): https://www.amazon.com/Prophet-Sandlots-Journeys-Major-League/dp/0137263732

Man on Spikes was written by Eliot Asinof (who also wrote Eight Men Out).  It's fiction, but is loosely based on a real player.  Great account of the struggles of minor league players in the days before rule changes made it harder for teams to keep control of them without promoting them:  https://www.amazon.com/Spikes-Writing-Baseball-Eliot-Asinof/dp/0809321904

I've got a bunch more, but not really sure what your tastes are in terms of the type of books you like.  Happy to give more suggestions if you'd like.

[failos]

The Count of Monte Cristo

[Duren, Duren]

 

So many. 

Non fiction. The Long Season and Pennant Race by Jim Brosnan. Diary style from a relief pitcher that set the precedent for Ball Four by Jim Bouton. Also a fun book. 

The Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn. Many biographies and autobiographies as well as histories of specific teams and seasons. The David Halverson books for instance. I enjoyed a book written by former Yankee shortstop and broadcaster Tony Kubek about the 1961 Yankees, which he was on. 

Then there are the stats and analytic books. The Bill James books are still interesting and set the precedent. 

For fiction, the Universal Baseball Association by Robert Coover. You Know Me Al, by Ring Lardner. The Natural is also good as a book. 

For adolescent fiction, the Mel Martin series. Like the Hardy Boys, a mix of baseball and sleuthing. 

Really, baseball is the best sport for literature, fiction and non fiction. 

[aznhockeyguy]

Ball Four is a must read for baseball fans. 

[Puget Sound Angel]

Good Enough To Dream by Roger Kahn is my all-time favorite baseball book.

[AngelsLakersFan]

The Bible

[Lou]

1 hour ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

The Bible

That's a slingshot book.

[AngelsLakersFan]

2 minutes ago, Lou said:

That's a slingshot book.

Precursor to cricket. 

[Lou]

Just now, AngelsLakersFan said:

Precursor to cricket. 

aka  A Gentleman's Game.

[Angels 1961]

2 hours ago, aznhockeyguy said:

Ball Four is a must read for baseball fans. 

Great book also Fallin Angel by Eli Grba

 

2 hours ago, fan_since79 said:

If the X-rays are negative there's no reason to delay that news.

 

[Angels 1961]

Boys of Summer by Rodger Kahn

[halodground]

5 hours ago, True Grich said:

The Soul of Baseball about Buck O'Neil is a great read. It's by Joe Posnanski.

Been wanting to read this. Posnanski’s stuff is always a good read.

[Tank]

Imperfect by Jim Abbott and Tim Brown

[Tank]

Any of the books by Rob Goldman are good, too - Once They Were Angels, Nolan Ryan, and the Tim Salmon one.

[Slegnaac]

59 minutes ago, Lou said:

That's a slingshot book.

In the big inning....

[Lou]

3 minutes ago, Slegnaac said:

In the big inning....

[Taylor]

3 hours ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

The Bible

"In the big inning ..."

[Taylor]

53 minutes ago, Slegnaac said:

In the big inning....

Gosh dangit.

[T.G.]

1 hour ago, halodground said:

Been wanting to read this. Posnanski’s stuff is always a good read.

It's terrific.  Buck O'Neil had an amazing attitude about life 

[JoJo26]

ONE PITCH AWAY - Mike Sowell

Heartbreaking - with an unfortunate Halo twist...