October is the month of the playoffs, the time of the World Series. It is also the time many baseball books of all sizes, shapes, slants and styles jam book store shelves competing for the attention and affection of readers. A sampling of just a few of them follows.
Fans of the Chicago Cubs have not had much to cheer about in recent years as far as the performance of their team. But there are a couple of books about that will appeal to them and many baseball fans. "The Million-To-One Team" by George Castle (Diamond Communications, $29.95, 337pp.) is an in depth and probing look at why the Cubs have not won a pennant since 1945. A book that belongs beside Castle's opus is "Durocher's Cubs," by David Claerbaut (Taylor, $22.95, 226pp). The work goes into great depth analyzing and summoning up the great Cub teams of 1976-1972 - - the greatest teams that did not win despite having lineups that boasted of players like Ernie Banks, Randly Hundley, Billy Williams. Kenny Holzman, et al.
From Pocol Press in Clifton, Virginia comes "Mendoza's Heroes" by Al Pepper ($17.95, 250 pages). Sometimes humorous, always involving, this paperback entry focuses on fifty batters who failed to hit above .200 in their careers. We are treated to up close and personal looks at Mario Mendoza (the "Mendoza line" originated with him) Doug Camilli, Brian Doyle, Tony LaRussa, Charlie Metro, Bob Uecker and others of this strange fraternity.
"Yankees Coming ,Yankees Going: New York Yankee Player Transactions 1903 Through 1999" by Lyle Spatz (McFarland & Company, Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640/ 800 253 2817) is an omnibus collection of each trade, sale and purchase of the Bronx Bombers through 1999. Throughly researched, entertainingly presented, the book is a wonderful addition for the serious fan and all fans of the Yankees. Another book with a Yankee frame of mind is "Memories of the Mick" by Maury Allen (Taylor, $18.95, 183pp). In words and wonderful pictures by Bob Olen , the Mick is evoked one more time.
"Out of Step" (Diamond Communications, $26.95, 324pp) by Mike and Neil Shalin is a look at the best players NOT in the Hall of Fame. The list contains such as Bobby Bonds, Bruce Sutter, Jim Rice, Maury Wills, Rich Gossage, Thurman Munson, Roger Maris and on and on. Cogent, controversial, clearly argued - this is an important book.
For all you interested in what former Major League Baseball Baseball Commisioner Fay Vincent has to say -"The Last Commisioner" (Simon and Schuster, $26.00,322pp) is the book for you. For others, it is an optional read. Sub-titled "A Baseball Valentine," this chatty effort arranged in nine "innings" ends with a nine-man lineup of brief takes on various individuals Vincent has known and or dealt with.
BOOKENDS: "Nomar" from the Boston Herald (Sports Publishing L. L.C., $24.95) is a lavish bit of pictorial homage to Red Sox superstar shortstop Nomar Garciaparra.
» Harvey Frommer is the author of 32 sports books, including "The New York Yankee Encyclopedia, "Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball,"and "Growing Up Baseball" with Frederic J. Frommer. His "A Yankee Century: A Celebration of the First Hundred Years of Baseball's Greatest Team" was published by Berkley Putnam in October 2002.
Also by Harvey Frommer
» New York City Baseball: Once Upon A Time
» The Big Train: Walter Johnson, Baseball Immortal
» Baseball's Best Shots: Sports Book Review
» Wee Willie Keeler: Good Things Come in Small Packages
» Let's Play Two
» The First World Series
» Sandy Koufax, Out of Brooklyn: Sports Book Review
» The 1919 Black Sox (Part II)
» The 1919 Black Sox (Part I)
» Baseball Books On Parade: Sports Book Review
» Yankee Doodle Dandies: Yankee Books: Sports Book Review
» The Harmonica Incident: August 20, 1964
» "Fenway: A Biography in Words and Pictures": Sports Book Review
» Baseball's Mecca: The Hall of Fame in Cooperstown
» Trade a Player a Year Too Early, Not a Year Too Late
» The Yankee Mystique
» Satchel Paige: World's Greatest Pitcher
» "Red Smith on Baseball": Sports Book Review
» The Barry Halper Collection of Baseball Memorabilia: Sports Book Review
» Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson
» Remembering Irving Rudd
» Subway Series
» Midsummer Classic: Midsummer Mockery
» Yankee Stadium's First Opening Day
» The Birth of Baseball's First Professional Team
» Yankee Stadium's First Opening Day
» Gehrig's Streak
» Willie Mays and the Month of May
» Reese was no Pee Wee
» Yankees vs. Red Sox: Baseball's Greatest Rivalry
» Celebrating Hank Greenberg
» Bobby Thomson's Famous Homer Lives On
» Remembering the Yankee Clipper: Joe DiMaggio
» Shoeless Joe Remains a Scapegoat
» The Mets Have Always Been Amazing
» More submissions
Copyright © 2002 by Harvey Frommer. Posted October 14, 2002.
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