Baseball book suggestions

[MOFNY]

I am looking for some well-written books about the early days of professional baseball, preferably in the late 19th and early 20th century. Hopefully something I can find at the library. I honestly don't know that much about the culture, teams, players, etc. I am also looking for books about baseball cards from that era.

 

[hofmichael]

The New Historical Baseball Abstract by Bill James is a very good read.The Glory Of Their Times is an incredible read about the older days of baseball.

 

[ChasHawk]

The Card

 

[justwar]

Crazy '08: How a cast of cranks, rogues, boneheads, and magnates created the greatest year in baseball
Baseball In The Garden of Eden: The secret history of the early game
Past Time: Baseball As History

 

[thefatguy]

Past Time and the Historical Abstract were 2 I frequently used in university.
Dean A. Sullivan, ed., Middle Innings: A Documentary History of Baseball, 1900-1948 (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1998),
Leonard Koppett, Koppett’s Concise History of Major League Baseball (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1998),


watch Ken Burns' Baseball too

 

[JoshHamilton]

The best and most honest look at everyday life in the late 1800's is 59 In '84

 

[subpop77]

A I own all three books and they are all amazing Check them out
The Treasures of Major League Baseball
http://www.amazon.com/Treasures-Major-L ... 516&sr=1-1
Baseball Americana
http://www.amazon.com/Baseball-American ... 599&sr=1-1
Baseball As America
http://www.amazon.com/Baseball-America- ... 658&sr=1-1

I am currently reading "Opening Day" about Jackie Robinson's first year in the majors.

 

[JackLondon]

Crazy '08: How a cast of cranks, rogues, boneheads, and magnates created the greatest year in baseball

GREAT book!

I also suggest looking for a great series of baseball mysteries set in the early days of the 19th century by an author named Troy Soos. Main character is a utility player who solves murders. Tons of cameos of real major leaguers and a fine amount of period detail. Well worth the hunt!

 

[Mighty Bombjack]

Spalding's World Tour: The Epic Adventure that Took Baseball Around the Globe - And Made It America's Game

good read

 

[subpop77]

Just and Mighty I will have to check those out.

 

[emarc27]

fantasyland by sam walker

mint condition dave jamieson

 

[bricewaynebisel]

Sure it's already been said, but Ball Four is a must read.

Recent reads that I've enjoyed:
The Satchell Paige Biography
The Bad Guys Won-Story of the 86 Mets

 

[archiebunkerjr]

If you really want to dig deep and find something specific about a certain time, team or player, you can call the Baseball Hall of Fame Museum's Library. If anyone can help you out, they would be able to.

http://baseballhall.org/education/research/exploring-library

 

[bcubs]

fantasyland by sam walker

mint condition dave jamieson

Just finished Mint Condition and I highly recommend it. Offers some nice history of the hobby, although the early part of the book is pretty much just history quoted. For me, it helped to see some of my opinions were shared by others and offered new information that was interesting and disturbing at the same time.

 

[RedsFan2993]

The best and most honest look at everyday life in the late 1800's is 59 In '84

This book is great. The players were a tougher breed back then.

 

[elmalo]

The best and most honest look at everyday life in the late 1800's is 59 In '84

This book is great. The players were a tougher breed back then.

Life was a lot tougher back then.

 

[tm decomposer]

The Extra 2% by Jonah Keri. Book about how the Rays went worst to first from their Front Office view. Really makes you appreciate them more.

Also, I'm reading Shawn Green's (yes, the outfielder) book The Way of Baseball: Finding Stillness at 95 MPH. To be honest, I'm 3 chapters in and it's pretty lack luster. But the book has had some bright points, just really dry.