What is the best history of baseball book?

**christian gentleman** · 01-26-2006, 09:08 AM

What is the best book to read for an informative history of the game? wondering about your opinion.

Have read Bill James and Summer of '49 and Cobb. Others?

**Rome Colonel** · 01-27-2006, 12:27 PM

Koppett's Concise History of Major League Baseball:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...lance&n=283155

Good overview with coverage of every season. Look for the revised softcover edition.

**TonyK** · 01-27-2006, 07:10 PM

Dr. Harold Seymour's three volumes of the History of Baseball are highly praised.

**Brian McKenna** · 01-28-2006, 05:33 AM

those are good - the koppet is an easier read

baseball: the biographical encyclopedia - it is long 1400 or so pages but well worth the knowledge

total ballclubs

the cultural encyclopedia of baseball

read these and you're on your way

**Sberl** · 01-28-2006, 01:37 PM

bkmckenna, can you give me more info about the books you mentioned? I'm also interested in baseball history!

**Brian McKenna** · 01-28-2006, 01:57 PM

baseball: the biographical encyclopedia is from the publishers of total baseball - it contains over 2,000 mini biographies - takes forever to read 1280 pages but well worth it - easy read though because most of the stories are short -- similar books include the ballplayers by shatzkin and the new biographical history of baseball by dewey and acocella and james riley's the biographical encyclopedia of the negro baseball leagues and the biographical dictionary of american sports: baseball edited by david porter and sabr publications nineteenth century stars and baseball's first stars

total ballclubs is by dewey and acocella again and gives a brief history of every franchise in major league history - new book 650 pages but an easy read

the cultural encyclopedia of baseballby jonathan fraser light is expensive and a bear to read - over 800 pages but crammed with data - i haven't read that one cover to cover but am always using it as a reference - there is a second edition i haven't seen yet

david voigt also has a 3-volume history out

the total baseball encyclopedias have great articles

don't forget koppett's concise history of mlb

mentioned earlier was bill james' historical abstract

also might suggest the great encyclopedia of 19th century mlb by david nemec

the baseball timeline by solomon is also a useful reference

these are just general histories but hey you should learn the whole story before focusing on individual topics

**johnny** · 01-28-2006, 02:13 PM

The style that I like the best is the recorded oral history ala Mr. Ritter’s best known work, The Glory of Their Times. It gives background, depth and perspective to specific baseball moments and personalities. IMHO it goes very well with the aforementioned books.

**christian gentleman** · 01-28-2006, 02:21 PM

Is the companion book to Burns PBS series any good? Have seen it on amazon but haven't heard too much about it. Also, are there particularly good books about 19th century baseball out there? wondering...

**Sberl** · 01-28-2006, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by bkmckenna

baseball: the biographical encyclopedia is from the publishers of total baseball - it contains over 2,000 mini biographies - takes forever to read 1280 pages but well worth it - easy read though because most of the stories are short -- similar books include the ballplayers by shatzkin and the new biographical history of baseball by dewey and acocella and james riley's the biographical encyclopedia of the negro baseball leagues and the biographical dictionary of american sports: baseball edited by david porter and sabr publications nineteenth century stars and baseball's first stars

total ballclubs is by dewey and acocella again and gives a brief history of every franchise in major league history - new book 650 pages but an easy read

the cultural encyclopedia of baseballby jonathan fraser light is expensive and a bear to read - over 800 pages but crammed with data - i haven't read that one cover to cover but am always using it as a reference - there is a second edition i haven't seen yet

david voigt also has a 3-volume history out

the total baseball encyclopedias have great articles

don't forget koppett's concise history of mlb

mentioned earlier was bill james' historical abstract

also might suggest the great encyclopedia of 19th century mlb by david nemec

the baseball timeline by solomon is also a useful reference

these are just general histories but hey you should learn the whole story before focusing on individual topics

Thanks man! I will search them and try to buy something!

**Brian McKenna** · 01-28-2006, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by Sberl

Thanks man! I will search them and try to buy something!

make sure you check half.com - usually some of the best prices

**Brian McKenna** · 01-28-2006, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by johnny

The style that I like the best is the recorded oral history ala Mr. Ritter’s best known work, The Glory of Their Times. It gives background, depth and perspective to specific baseball moments and personalities. IMHO it goes very well with the aforementioned books.

one of the best books of all-time

**Brian McKenna** · 01-28-2006, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by christian gentleman

Is the companion book to Burns PBS series any good? Have seen it on amazon but haven't heard too much about it. Also, are there particularly good books about 19th century baseball out there? wondering...

i have the burns book and have looked at it for pictures - never bothered to read it - don't think i want to

already mentioned:
james, seymour, voigt, nemec and sabr publications -- many of the other biographical books have tons of 19th century stuff

also:
blackguards and red stockings by ryczek - national association 1871-75 info
baseball in blue and gray by kirsch - civil war info
the national association of bb players, 1857-70 by wright
when johnny came sliding hom, 1865-70 by ryczek
glory fades away by lansche - early postseason info
the beer and whisky league by nemec - american assoc. info

forgot to mention earlier deadball stars of the national league , a sabr publication, the al version is due out soon

**Sultan_1895-1948** · 02-15-2006, 01:39 AM

Here's a good one.

**Brian McKenna** · 02-15-2006, 08:03 AM

jim bouton's ball four is the only sports book on the library of congress' best 100 books of the 20th century

think it is the library of congress - could be another such organization

**Paulmcall** · 02-22-2006, 09:20 AM

You know I have been reading the Bouton book in my bathroom and I don't understand what the fuss is about. At the time, it might have been amazing but it's no great shakes now.
The guy sure has been able to squeeze the most out of a mediocre book.

**Brian McKenna** · 02-22-2006, 03:35 PM

yeah - it's all diluted after 40 years - just think if a show like the shield was on tv in the 1960s

**bryanspellman** · 06-26-2006, 07:34 AM

So I finally finished Koppett's Concise History of Major League Baseball, WOW!!!

I am an avid reader finishing 3-4 books a month and this baby took 5 weeks to finish, and it was the only book I was reading. I have such a greater appreciation for baseball now more than ever. Being a Labor Leader I was very aware (in detail) of the rise (and 'fall') of the baseball labor movement, but outside of that this book opened my eyes to many other players, teams and seasons. I love the fact that I got such an overview of 100 years of baseball and Koppett lead me to search for more specific books on individuals and events that have been widely published.

In reading this book I can see it's use as a text book, an introduction to baseball and it's history. This should be required reading to all minor leaguers and I am sure to give it to my son when he is old enough to put it all in perspective!!!

Bravo to the late Mr. Koppett and thanks to the people on this board for suggesting it!!!!

Up next: Ten Rings My Championship Seasons by Yogi Berra, then Babe by Robert Creamer.

**ACrank** · 06-26-2006, 12:59 PM

There are a lot of books mentioned that i have read - and a lot more mentioned that i am going to read - but one that i like that wasn't mentioned (or at least i didn't see) was:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/078...lance&n=283155

The newspaper pages shown really put baseball in a historical context - not only a baseball historical context, but a world historical context

You probably can't read this, but here is an exerpt:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/sitbv3/read...85#reader-link

Here is another book - again its more for the in context historical look at baseball (& no i dont own the orignal, but i was lucky enough to stumble across a softcover reprint years ago):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/094...lance&n=283155

An exerpt:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/sitbv3/read...92#reader-link

**bhss89** · 07-12-2006, 07:49 PM

Only The Ball Was White is fantastic.

**Baseball Guru** · 07-19-2006, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by bhss89

Only The Ball Was White is fantastic.

Agreed... Very good book about the Negro Leagues..

I also enjoyed The Baseball Timeline...

**PopTop** · 07-26-2006, 01:28 PM

Several excellent choices on this list. Halberstam's Summer of '49 and Bouton's Ball Four should be required reading by anyone who claims to be a true baseball fan.

Another one that I would think is a must for all Cubs fans is Peter Golenbock's Wrigleyville. It's a monster book, and that will scare away a lot of folks. Plenty of great history about the Cubs as well as the whole of Chicago.

**Brian McKenna** · 07-26-2006, 02:34 PM

All fans should check out A Game of Inches by Peter Morris.

**Da Penguin** · 07-26-2006, 02:39 PM

Anybody read The Baseball Chronicle

**Baseball Guru** · 07-27-2006, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by Da Penguin

Anybody read The Baseball Chronicle

Yes, I have that one... I liked it...

**Baseball Guru** · 07-27-2006, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by bryanspellman

So I finally finished Koppett's Concise History of Major League Baseball, WOW!!!

I am an avid reader finishing 3-4 books a month and this baby took 5 weeks to finish, and it was the only book I was reading. I have such a greater appreciation for baseball now more than ever. Being a Labor Leader I was very aware (in detail) of the rise (and 'fall') of the baseball labor movement, but outside of that this book opened my eyes to many other players, teams and seasons. I love the fact that I got such an overview of 100 years of baseball and Koppett lead me to search for more specific books on individuals and events that have been widely published.

In reading this book I can see it's use as a text book, an introduction to baseball and it's history. This should be required reading to all minor leaguers and I am sure to give it to my son when he is old enough to put it all in perspective!!!

Bravo to the late Mr. Koppett and thanks to the people on this board for suggesting it!!!!

Ok Bryan, you, bkmckenna and Rome Colonel have talked me into it...

Got it for $6.75 (which INCLUDED the shipping) at half.com

Just received it today!