Product Description
From its nascent beginnings in the mid-19th century totoday's league that draws top pro prospects, major league scouts andmedia coverage from around the country, Cape Cod summer baseballboasts one of the sport's most colorful and captivatinghistories. Featuring vintage photographs, thrilling game accounts,rare team records and insightful analysis, Christopher Price presentsa compelling close-up of a treasured tradition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

A good read even for non-baseball fanatics
While I enjoy an afternoon at the game as much as anyone, I've never considered myself a baseball fan. I read this on the recommendation of a friend, however, and found it to be enjoyable on several levels. On one level, while it's quite clear where the NFL and NBA get their talent, MLB's methods aren't quite as visible for the non-fan; Price's book shed some light on how pro hopefuls work their way into the big leagues.

But more importantly, "Baseball by the Beach," shows why baseball is truly America's favorite pasttime. While recent events involving pro players have soured our memories of what makes baseball so magical, the history of the Cape Cod league as presented by Price reminds us of a time when the game was pure -- and the accounts of the league's present-day incarnation give us hope that this sense of magic might yet make a comeback. It's enough to renew this fan's faith in the game.

inaccuracies and vital information omitted
I've read the book Baseball by The Beach by Christopher Price.I found many inaccuracies and vital information omitted.

For instance, on page 50, Manny Robello was not the manager of Sagamore or umpire-in-chief.The manager and umpire-in-chief was Manny Pena. On page 54, concerning a big meeting, that meeting was about Manny Pena bringing in college ballplayers. You see the managers at first did not want to bring any out-siders in to play for the League. When they finally agreeed they only limited each team to bring in 3 players per team. The Next year Manny brought in 6. Manny Pena also attended that meeting because he was the General Manager for Sagamore. On page 49, 3rd paragraph talks about Sagamore, without mention of Manny Pena. On page 87, last paragraph discusses the umpires and the major league. Manny Pena was the umpire-in-chief. And he was interviewed by the FBI about his umpires doing the games while they had the umpires strike. George Scott of the Boston Red Soxs was married to Lucky Pena.

I have tried to reach out to Chistoper Price but I have not yet been able to get in contact with him. I will be writing the publisher of the book in the very near future.

Brings Back A Lot Of Memories
I think the book is great but, just too short. It took quite a while to find it, but I finally did.
I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in the game of baseball, because it gives a great history of the best collegiate baseball league in the country.
I played 3 summers in the Cape League, Wareham 1975, and Harwich 1976 and 1977, and they were truly 3 of the best summers I have ever spent. The jobs weren't the greatest, but the baseball sure was. If any college player ever gets the opportunity to play in this league, they should jump at it.
Reading this book and seeing the names of ballplayers I was fortunate enough to play with, sure brought back a lot of memories.
When does the sequel come out?

Wonderful
Have owned this book since it first came out and my husbnd and I (and now my son) often refer to it upon attending different CCBL ganmes! We love the Gatemn....they are the best in our "book"

This book is wonderful...full of history and insight...it brings you back to the true hereos of basbeall.A must read!Chris Price does a remarkable job of catching just enough info and history and stats. We are looking forward to an updated edition to catch all the wonderful games and plays that followed this edition.

GO GATEMEN!

The daughter of an umpire
My father was one of the Cape Cod Baseball Leagues prestigious umpires.Curly Clement umpired in the Cape League for 35 years and the stories that he tells about the "kids" who played baseball during theirsummers from school can be read within the covers of this book.It is amust book to read if you love the game of baseball. ... Read more

Product Description
This history of America's pastime describes the evolution of baseball from early bat and ball games to its growth and acceptance in different regions of the country. The New York clubs (i.e., the Atlantics, Excelsiors and Mutuals) are a primary focus, serving as examples of how the sport became more sophisticated and popular. The author compares theories about many of baseball's "inventors," exploring the often fascinating stories of several of baseball's oldest founding myths. The impact of the Civil War on the sport is discussed and baseball's unsteady path to becoming America's national game is analyzed at length. ... Read more

Product Description
At least as far back as 1842 through about the late 1930s and mid–1940s, before baseball became commercialized and teams were able to hire one man to manage the entire team, it was not uncommon for one person to fill the roles of player and manager simultaneously. Often, the strongest, brightest, or best player—or sometimes the person who owned the playing equipment—directed his teammates.

Forty-two of those men who were both players and managers at the same time are profiled in this work. The book leads off with chapters describing what it was like to fill the dual role and how it came about. Then, chapters are devoted to such men as Cap Anson, Connie Mack, Charles Comiskey, John McGraw, Mickey Cochrane, Dave Bancroft, Ty Cobb, Mel Ott, Joe Cronin, and Pete Rose, just to name a few. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Well researched, well written
Fred Stein has written a superb book on the player-managers, an interesting aspect of baseball when the economics of the game were different. As a younger fan watching today's busy managers, I find it fascinating to imagine what it was like when managers had to do double duty -- playing the game while running it. ... Read more

Product Description
An updated baseball reference analyzes each team, makes projections for the 1992 season, and features unconventional player profiles, incisive biographies of former greats, and accurate accessible statistics.85,000 first printing. $75,000 ad/promo. Tour. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Illuminating look at Baseball
Few baseball writers have Bill James' stellar combination of readability and analysis.James devotes a section to each of baseball's then-26 teams for the upcoming 1992 season, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses both on and off the field.He ranks players by position, and posts meaningful stats such as on-base, slugging, and offensive winning percentage.Included in these pages is biographical information, and dozens of illuminating anecdotes including one about Roger Clemens and another on whether Atlanta or LA faced tougher pitching down the stretch in 1991.I particularly liked James' fictional discussion with a U.S. Senator on ticket prices, scalping, and over-priced hot dogs.As always, James is readable and illuminating, respectful of the game, yet properly skeptical of big-money owners and their lame cries of poverty.

This was the last of James' three BASEBALL BOOK annuals from 1990-1992, a series many wished he'd continued.This one has a somewhat different format than its two predecessors, but each remains excellent reading even today.

Excellent work from the master
Even today, it's well worth getting this book. The best part is his utter dismantling of Summer of 1949, David Halberstam's bestseller.James points out at least 7 separate foolish statements or flat-out untruths halberstam makes. James also reviews all the players in the league and makes his normal excellent analysis. He has a great essay on the failures of psychology in the Gary Sheffield analysis. Definitely a classic. ... Read more

Product Description
A classic sports reference book features a complete listing of the major league players, an alphabetical roster of their managers, a chronological listing of teams, inning-by-inning summaries of each World Series, and more about the world of baseball.Amazon.com Review
No single volume sings the epic saga of the game with quitethe rhythms of The Baseball Encyclopedia. Now in its 10thedition, the granddaddy of all sports reference books is, at just overeight pounds and 3000 pages, the National Pastime's weightiesttome. As all-seeing as Homer and Milton, as all-knowing as Shakespeareand Yeats, the encyclopedia finds its poetry in the rhythms ofbaseball's numbers. Every player--regardless of significance--ispresent, with all the essential statistics of his career. There are,no doubt, some soulless creatures who may open the encyclopedia andjust see page after page of dry, meaningless, numbing data; the restof us know better: 755, 714, 61, 511, .406, 1.12, and 4,256 are allself-contained dramas filled with tension, and inspiring awe. It is inthese stats, and thousands more, that the mysteries of the game beginto reveal themselves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Baseball Encyclopedia
Are you an avid baseball enthusiast. Do you have every available statistic at the tip of your tongue?If so, this book is for you. It consists of a plethora of baseball statistics from 1871
onward to the present day. Key statistics pertaining to starting pitchers, saves, stolen bases, Hall of Famers and hometown heroes are listed in this encyclopedia for ease of reference.
This work would be very helpful for a class project on the subject of baseball. It is a solid value for the price charged.

First of its kind... but now out of date
Historically, this was the first book that attempted to compile statistical data for all-time players so the MacMillan Encyclopedia will always have its place.Today, other volumes (Total Baseball, STATS All-Time Major League Handbook, www.baseball-reference.com) are better resources.Acknowlegde that this book was important 20 years ago, but buy a different book today.

As good as a reference work can get
Given that _no_ book of baseball statistics can possibly be without errors (or controversies!), this book surpasses all its competition. My most recent edition of this is the eighth edition (complete through the 1989 season). I wanted to buy the latest version, but given that this copy only goes through 1995 (and the supplement through 1996), you can imagine my disappointment. Nevertheless...

This book is remarkable, especially for the scope of what it attempts. Most baseball references only have lifetime records and statistics for the American and National Leagues. This book has complete statistics for all _six_ major leagues throughout history, team lineups, standings, and season records for each of those leagues, managers' records, every trade made in baseball, every postseason series, every All Star game, a National Association register, and an admirable (albeit understandably incomplete) register of Negro League players.

Finally, I can think of only one reason a baseball fan might be disappointed with The Baseball Encyclopedia. As a book of statistics, this is a reference work, and not a collection of colorful stories. There are scores of great baseball books out there to enjoy. However, one of the great joys of baseball is that whether you're looking at this year's stars or those from the 19th century, statistics can paint a very vivid picture of anyone. The Baseball Encyclopedia displays that picture better than any other work. Reading about Babe Ruth's mighty swing is one thing, but seeing the numbers in black and white is staggering.

Especially when you realize he had 94 pitching wins as well. Whew!

Best Reference EVER!
I'm awaiting the next edition.I believe (hope) they're waiting for the last Century to "offically" end (Rumor) before the next edition.FYI: the first day of the 21st Century is 1/1/2001.

The Baseball Encyclopedia
I have used this tome as my bible for years. I have run into formerbaseball players who swear they were players for a major league team butare not listed. I still have not figured out how often it is revised. ... Read more

Product Description
BaseballÂ's Greatest Series details what many believe to be the most exciting postseason series in baseball history: the 1995 Division Series between the New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners. Chris DonnellyÂ's replay of this entire season focuses on five games that reminded people, after the devastating playersÂ' strike in 1994, how great a game baseball is because comebacks are always possible, no matter how great the obstacles may seem. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

rookie
good easy read. a lot of fun stuff i didn't know... or didn't remember. nice book for a first time writer. could have used a better editor. there were a number of mistakes; typos, , grammar, non-sentences, etc...

Fascinating...
Author Christopher Donnelly wrote a very good book.I was pleasantly surprised because I thought I was reading Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, when, much to my surprise the book is about baseball.I may add that I was under the influence of ridiculous amounts of alcohol.So what I summized is that Don Mattingly smashed a bat over the head of Ken Griffey Jr. at the end of that series.And then a grown man named Buck Shitwater or something, was fired in favor of a jewish guy named Joe Torah.

on second thought, I don't even know what the hell i'm talking about.does anyone know where I can find the Harry Potter section?

Baseball's Greatest Series
A great fun read that brought back lots of pleasant memories.I enjoyed reading the personality tibits, in addition to some of the long forgotten (by me) strategies and circumstances that prompted certain players to be in certain situatons.
I only found two errors in the book.One the author used the name Widger then changed to Wilson in the same paragraph.The 2nd one was "a seeing eye groundball to the shortstop".Can't be, unless in snuck through the infield and not directly to the shortstop.
But great book overall and a very nice trip down memory lane for us Mariner fans.

A good read, but lopsided
This book provides a well-written account of the 1995 ALDS between the Yankees and Mariners. This was indeed one of the "greatest" series of postseason baseball, for many reasons. Foremost, Donnelly does a nice job of placing this series into the context of baseball following the 1994 strike. Many fans were reticent to come back to baseball, and this series provided a lot of "spark" to excite fans in the game again. Additionally, the series was very exciting. The series went the full five games, with two extra-innings games, including the deciding fifth game. Donnelly does a nice job of describing the events of each of the games. Any fan of the game would enjoy the book just for this. Also, the book presents a history of each team leading up to the 1995 postseason. This helps build up the importance of each team making the playoffs. The entire existence of the Mariners had been futile, and they were on the verge of being sold and moved away from Seattle. The Yankees were going through a historic (for them) title drought. They had been through a lot of personnel changes, and 1995 was supposed to be their best chance at a winner. Jobs were at stake. It was also Don Mattingly's final season, so it was his only shot at the postseason. Clearly a lot was at stake for both teams.

The only complaint I have is the uneven treatment the two teams receive in the book. The author claims from the beginning that he is a Yankees fan, and this is very evident throughout the book. All the umpire calls that favored the Mariners are spelled out in detail, but there is very little reciprocal treatment for calls favoring the Yankees. Moreover, there are numerous mentions of instances where the Yankees would have won "if this bounce had been two inches over. . ." (for example). An equal, objective approach would have made this a better book. It is good to point out how evenly matched the teams were, and how close the series was, but the clear favoritism for the Yankees detracts from the rest of the book. Despite this, the book was still a good read. The author does explain how good the series was; he acknowledges the talent of the Mariners, and what the win meant for the Mariner franchise. All told, this was a good book. I recommend it.

A must-read for baseball fans
I've never been a great fan of sports literature, but this book truly brings the game of baseball to life.Fast-paced and engaging, but also deeply informative, it reads like a suspense novel but packs a terrific amount of information and analysis into its pages. What I particularly like is that this book has been issued by an academic press and clearly meets a high intellectual standard; but the prose style is much less academic and more geared toward reader of high-end trade nonfiction.If you're a Yankees or Mariners fan, or if you just love the skill and triumph of baseball, this book is a must-read. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Every Card for Every Year!
This book shows the front side of every Topps baseball card that was created from their inception in 1951 through 1990, when the book was published. It also includes the "Traded Series" for those players drafted or traded during said year. Each year has a section of what happened in the season during said year, and has a quiz. The quiz asks a question, and the answer is told in the form of a number, which correlates to a specific players card number for that year. This book is a joy to have, especially at looking into the past and seeing the players of yesteryear. The book is heavy, as it is almost 11 pounds, but it is well worth it!

Topps Complete Baseball Card Collection In A Book!
Excellent View of all Topps Baseball Cards Presented Yearly of each cards front face reduced to approx. 20% of the actual size on nice premium glosy thick paper.Hoping that someday maybe the size (larger) and back side of each card can be made in the same format. For now the next best thing to actually owning the entire collection which (Depending of course on condtion) could cost approx. half million dollars. An excellent gift for any baseball card fan of years gone by to re-live there child-hood memories in this massive volume weighting more than 10-lbs. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

A Comprehensive All-Star Game History (Through 2000)
No other professional sport's All-Star Game is as popular as the one major league baseball has been providing since 1933.This is the one exhibition that is widely embraced and scrutinized by baseball fans, everywhere.Its history is a well-chronicled slice of folklore for fans to enjoy, and this wonderful book provides detailed accounts of each game; each player; and every single play of every big game played from 1933 through 2000.

As a National League fan, the last decade of ineptitude for the Senior Circuit (aside from this year) has not been documented here, and that's quite all right with me.Enough is enough!

If you're looking for an exciting account of all the plays and players that ever participated in the Midsummer Classic, this book really isn't for you.The information contained here is comprehensive in its historical content; unspectacular in its approach.If you're looking for just the facts with no pizzaz, you've come to the right place.No self-respecting baseball historian would be caught without this guide, however.Is it in your library?

The Book of Record; Sticks to the Facts
When I was younger, I used to read The Sporting News Baseball Dope Book to keep abreast of the progression (with statistical history and records) of the MLB All-Star Game.However, The Dope Book was discontinued long before the release of "The Midsummer Classic," and it did not have play by play.I purchased "The Midsummer Classic" primarily because it had very detailed play-by-play of the games, particularly ones I was interested in from prior years.As an encyclopedia, this book is top notch.Its box scores have expanded information, and it is very thorough on rosters, including changes and replacements."The Midsummer Classic" also gives the year-by-year performances of every All-Star player and pitcher and contains a very drawn-out section on records.The thorough game summaries are detailed and well written, and their opening paragraphs highlight developments that set the stage for the games.

In dramatizing the games and providing color, however, "The Midsummer Classic" falls short.The few photographs included are in black and white, and they show the stars in only small sizes, minimizing the drama of the action.(Well, at least I can report that the editors got Pete Rose crashing into Ray Fosse at home plate in 1970.)Extra elements such as anecdotes, profiles, themes, or other things that would give perspective are missing. There are no special figures, charts, boxes, or varied text sizes or fonts that might showcase interesting players, facts, and events.

Although I do miss whatever color and creativity could have been part of the picture, I definitely value this book for its abundance of detail.It certainly is the absolute book of record for 20th century All-Star Games.

A Baseball Almanac Source
Baseball Almanac ([website]) has the most extensive collection of All-Star related data on the Internet. This book has even more! Incredible research, great sources, tons of data, and an annex that by itself is worth the price of the book. Four stars instead of five due to a few inconsistencies between the rosters, lineups, & boxscores, but a must have resource for the hardcore baseball fan interested in our Midsummer Classic.

The reference for All-Star game information
I collect baseball reference books and this one is right on the shelf closest to my desk by my Total Baseball, my Baseball Encyclopedia and my Baseball Biographical Encylopedia.It contains wonderful leaderboards of all-star information and play-by-play of every all-star game.For instance, the area describing Pete Rose's mad dash home to win the game has the full inning summary: Torre grounds out, Clemente grounds out, Rose singles, Grabarkewitz singles (Rose to 2nd) and Hickman singles (Rose scores).Every inning of every All-Star game has this level of detail. Nowhere else is this information available.

My only complaint is the lack of pictures.While it kept the cost of production down, it does seem to be a feature you would want to have.

Great reference book, but could have been better
This book presents each All-Star game (1933-2000) with textual background, box score, rosters & starting lineups, complete play-by-play, and a photo or two. The book has great reference value. The text, though, is fairly wooden : useful but gracelessly flat - a real disappointment considering the colorful and often dramatic subject matter. Still, a highly recommended purchase for all baseball fans, not just historians. ... Read more

Product Description
From the beginning, Jews have played a prominent role inour national pastime, the game of baseball, but have often beenignored. This is the first baseball encyclopedia dedicated to namingand honoring every Jewish contributor. These often remarkable storiesensure they will no longer be forgotten.

The Big Book of JewishBaseball covers everything, from tragic moments such as Herb Gormandying on the ball field, and Erskine Meyer quitting the sport afterfinding out about his teammates (on the 1919 White Sox) taking bribes,to happier occasions such as Koufax's perfect game as well as LarrySherry successfully concluding every Dodger victory of the 1959 WorldSeries.

Jews who impacted upon the great American pastime extendfar beyond the record homeruns and strikeouts of the legendary slugger"Hammerin' Hank" Greenberg and pitching ace SandyKoufax. There are scores of lesser known ballplayers like Lipman Pike(the first professional Jewish player), Cal Abrams (who shieldedJackie Robinson with his body), and Ron Blomberg (who stood in as thevery first Designated Hitter), whose baseball stories will touch oramuse readers of any background.

The Big Book of Jewish Baseballexplores all facets of baseball, including: Minor League players,Umpires, Jewish League Officials and Club Executives. It even includesa 2001 Major League update, as well as 200 B&W photographs. This bookis a must for anyone interested in the game.

Also included arefull player stats, unusual memorabilia, exclusive original interviews,and rare photos of players on & off the field.

This one-of-a-kindbook will be much appreciated by both baseball aficionados as well asreaders of popular Judaica. In addition, the authors convey so muchabout the lives of the players, not just their baseball careers, somegreat transcendent moments both in baseball and American history comealive for readers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

great book!
Very informative book, chock full of stats and interesting info about the players.
Great source of pride for any library of Jewish history!

Good for any sports fan!
I recieved this as a gift and found it very interesting. I also was able to use it in a research project for school. I recomend this book for anyone intrested in sports.

Horvitz & Horvitz hit a home run
They're all here -- the ones you can name (Hank Greenberg, Sandy Koufax, Shawn Green) and the ones you can't (just about everyone else). This is the perfect Father's Day gift for Jewish, baseball-loving Dads everywhere and a great resource to have on your baseball bookshelf. At least, I'm sending a copy to my father-in-law and I love having a copy on my own shelf!

Great Hanukah Present for any Baseball Fan
I absolutely loved this book.It's both fun and easy to read and fully thorough.It's definitly the standard book on Jewish baseball players.

Fun and Interesting!
This is a great book to thumb through and read all of the interesting stories.It's well-written, entertaining, and extremely interesting.The stories rang from the compelling to the hilarious.You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy it.It's a great book for any sports fan! ... Read more

Product Description
From the authority on baseballresearch and statistics comes a vastand fascinating compendium of uniquebaseball lists and records.

The SABR Baseball List & Record Book is an expansive collection of pitching, hitting, fielding, home run, team, and rookie records not available online or in any other book. This is a treasure trove of baseball history for statistically minded baseball fans that's also packed with intriguing marginalia. For instance, on July 25, 1967, Chicago's Ken Berry ended Game Two of a doubleheader against Cleveland with a home run in the bottom of the sixteenth inning -- Chicago's second game-winning homer of the day. The comprehensive lists include Most Career Home Runs by Two Brothers (Tommie and Hank Aaron have 768), Most Seasons with 15 or More Wins (Cy Young and Greg Maddux each have 18), and Highest On Base Percentage in a Season by a Rookie (listing every rookie above .400).

Unlike other record books that only list the record holders -- say, most RBI by a rookie, held by Ted Williams with 145 -- SABR details every rookie to reach 100 RBI. Other record books might note the last pitcher in each league to steal home; here SABR has included every pitcher to do it. The book also includes a number of idiosyncratic features, such as a rundown of every player who has hit a triple and then stolen home, or every reliever who has won two games in one day. Many of the lists include a comments column for key historical notes and entertaining trivia (Bob Horner hit four home runs in a 1986 game, but his team lost). This is a must-have for every fan's library.

Edited by Lyle Spatz, Chairman of the Baseball Records Committee for SABR ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Excellent Compilation Of Many Obscure Records
This fine book has been edited into eight sections: Batting,Pitching,fielding and base running records,as well as rookie and miscellaneous records. Also included are a list index and player index. Just about any unusual record one might imagine is included. Many are broken down as totals and then by right,left and switch hit batters as well as right and left handed pitchers. Several interesting illustrations are most career grand slam home runs
Lou Gehrig (23),best career strikeout to home run ratio Joe DiMaggio (1.02)most career home runs without ever hitting 30 in a season Al Kaline(389),most career shutouts Walter Johnson(110),most career strikeout by a pitcher Nolan Ryan(5714)most consecutive strikeouts Tom Seaver (10-1970), most RBI's in a season by a rookie Ted Williams(145-1939)most consecutive wins in a season by a time N.Y. Giants(26-1916,most career steals of home Ty Cobb(54). This list covers seasons 1876-2006. Many of the records are broken down between pre and since 1893. And don't think just the top players of a category are listed. In many cases the best forty or fifty are shown. All told there are 740 record categories. Tremendous job that should be in every serious baseball library.

Filling the Void in Baseball Reference Books
I immediately saw the value of this book when I received it as a SABR member. I claims to fill a void and it does.

I'm not the stat type that many SABRen are. I like the story more than the stats. But stats help tell the story. The stats in this book, help put stats in context.

This does not replace any other work. But it will definitely help to complete your baseball reference library.

baseball fanatic
a boring chore if you sit down to read from cover to cover.
like reading recipe after recipe.

it is great to check on a particular player, or a particular stat.

it's probably most fun just to open to a random page and read about a famous stat that you THOUGHT you knew about, a new stat you learn about, something new about a player you have known about for years, or a new player you see from a stat page, then try to learn more about him.

Neither here nor there
The book turned about 50 cool statistic lists into a couple of hundred by going by position and such.That turned out to be fairly numbing and repetitive.

I enjoy baseball statistics also, but I will sit on the fence on this one with 3 stars.

Talk about cool statistics!
For those who are figure filberts and love strange statistics, this book is for you!

This is a book produced by the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR).This is, as the book says (page vii), "intended to fill what we in SABR feel is a void in the reference publications that fans and media depend upon."It is not intended to replace standard sources of statistics, The ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia.It provides other lists, not appearing in standard references.For instance, the Introduction remarks that some reference sources include records for most RBIs by a rookie, this volume lists "every rookie who batted in at least 100 runs."

The book covers the time frame 1876-2006.And comparing statistics across these periods is extraordinarily difficult!

Records are listed in numerical order from 001 to 740 (thus, there are 740 records examined).001 is Most career games played (Pete Rose is # 1 with 3562); 740 is "Families with 3 or more brothers who played in the major leagues" (the Delahanty's are # 1 with 5 brothers playing in the bigs).By the way, both records are in the The Baseball Encyclopedia, if memory serves.But what records are included in between!

Some random picks: Worst fielding average by a first baseman since 1946.One player dominates with 3 of the 4 crummiest fielding averages.Any guess?Dr. Strangeglove--Dick Stuart (1961, 1963, 1964).Here's something exotic: Pinch-hit home run and one other home run in a game:This has happened 26 times (all with 1), the most recent beingJeff Salazar (Chicago White Sox) in 2006.What about most homers in a season without winning the home run title?Sammy Sosa, of course, with 66 in 1998.

Another intriguing hitting record: Most career RBIs without a 100 RBI season.Pete Rose ranks # 1 here.Others in the top 10 include Eddie Collins, Craig Biggio, Sam Rice, and Julio Franco. And how's this?Game-ending extra-inning home runs (16th inning and later)?The most recent is Ramon Martinez in 2006; the earliest was Charley ("Old Hoss") Radbourne, in 1886.

One last tidbit.Best stolen base duo in a season?With 246 steals, Arlie Latham (129) and Charlie ("Old Roman") Comiskey (117) in 1887.From1898 to the present?Vince Coleman (110) and Willie McGee (56), for a total of166 in 1985.

Anyhow, this book is a hoot for those who like offbeat statistics.Despite the book's claim, you will find some of these statistics elsewhere.But there are some interesting off-the-beaten-path stats.
... Read more

Product Description
Between 1947, when Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, and 1957, when the Dodgers and the New York Giants played their last season in the East, New York baseball teams appeared in ten World Series. In seven of those years, either the Giants or the Dodgers vied for the championship with the lordly Yankees. These were truly the glory years of New York baseball, when the city breathlessly followed the game in the tabloids rather than on the tube. And the New York Daily News, the nation's largest newspaper, had the best photographers, the best equipment, and the best field position to record the action, bringing the art of baseball photography to its highest pitch.

Accompanied by an evocative text by veteran sportswriter Vic Ziegel, the dramatic photographs (complete with their colorful original captions)-featuring such superstars as Robinson, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays-allow the reader to follow year by year the course of baseball's most exciting decade in the world's greatest city. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

First Review
For those of you who grew up in New York City in the late 1940's and throughout the 1950's, "Summer in the City" will transport you back in time to a place when Baseball was indeed the City Game, and New York City was the home office for that great national pastime. For those of you born after that long-gone era, like myself, this book will serve as an excellent primer on the New York Yankees, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants, their famous and not-so-famous players and the legendary ballparks they called home. The photos, which comprise the bulk of the book, are more than mere "in-action" photographs of the players. They are for the most part off-beat takes on the action beyond the game, such as a young New Yorker, attempting to gain entry to the ballpark without paying for a ticket, being chased by a member of the New York City Police Department and a Brooklyn Dodgers game at Ebbets Field being "fogged out". These are just a few of the gems you will see in this book. The pictures of the crowds at Yankee Stadium, the Polo Grounds and Ebbetts Field will also give you a window into what baseball was like in the golden era of baseball in New York City. The fans for the most part are dressed in what today we would call business attire, although the expressions on their faces, save for the antiquated hairstyles are timeless. If you are one of those avid baseball fans who still believe that baseball was played in black and white back in the day, well this book is for you. This book serves as a great conversation piece, a wonderful coffee table book, and if you are a teacher, a great introduction to what baseball was like for the grandparents of today's youngest generation. I highly recommend "Summer in the City"!

Amazing photographs
The seminal book about the Golden Age of Baseball in New York.A must have for any baseball fan.The photograph selection by Claus Guglberger is sublime.I eagerly anticipate another release containing the photographs selected by this gifted photographer.

The Photographs Make The Book
There have been numerous books written on New York baseball, but, at least for me, it is the photographs that make this a unique baseball book.I have vivid memories of the World Series of the 1950's, and all except 1959 involved at least one of the teams in New York City.The New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers series were classics, and will always be remembered.I enjoyed the descriptive writing of New York Daily News writer Dick Young.When Duke Snider made a wide turn at 3rd base in coming home, Young wrote, "Duke, who is a poor base-runner for a man of his superior speed, took the scenic route home...He was out by some 20 feet."Many of the photos brought back the names of players and umpires of my youth.The photographs illustrate how small the dugouts were in that era.Fans are predominantly dressed in suit coats, ties, and fedoras.Also of interest are photos of fans leaving the park via the playing field, and photographers near home plate photographing the action.Photographs of Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds show views from above the playing field in addition to close ups of the center field area of the Polo Grounds and the center and right field areas of Ebbets Field with the advertising on the wall are also of interest.I am a fan of the Detroit Tigers, but I will always have precious memories of those historic New York teams in addition to the arenas they played in.The text is nice, but it is the photos that make this book unique.

Brings back a great era in Baseball!
You don't just have to be a fan of New York baseball to enjoy this wonderful photo-filled book showcasing the great Big Apple teams of the late 1940's to the late 1950's. This wonderful book containing superb photographs from the baseball archives of the New York Daily News, is like a mirror through time. The large photos, (dont you just hate small photos in large books), showcase the players, (stars or not), stadiums, but above all action surrounding the great New York teams of 1947-1957 with a small but no less interesting text explaining each one. The most enjoyable thing about the book for me were the full-page sized photos showing all the action in ballparks, some unfortunately no longer with us (Ebberts Field and the Polo Grounds) and the pre-renovated Yankee Stadium. The nuances of these parks with their crazy outfield angles and advertising boards gives us an appreciation of what it was like to play or watch baseball in them back then. The shots of the fans who populated these parks also tells a story, of rabid fan allegience and spirited optimism. Any baseball fan will love this book as part of their collection. There is a brief text opening the selection of photos for each year that may be short but this book let's the photos do the describing. A fabulous book! ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Two years after the release of the first volume of the series, DEADBALL STARS OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE, the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) and Potomac Books are publishing its companion volume. Return to the period when "inside baseball" meant a game of bunting, stealing, and using a sodden, tobacco-stained ball few players could hit out of the oddly configured urban ballparks of another age. Where the initial volume introduced readers to one of the most colorful and important periods in baseball history, this volume explores the lives and performances of the stars, regulars, and major figures in the upstart junior circuit.

Guided by expert contributors from SABR, fans will learn about the eight teams that banded together to challenge the National League and become the second major league. Readers will learn about the great team that Connie Mack built in Philadelphia and about the famed outfield duo of Ty Cobb and Sam Crawford in Detroit. They will also read the stories of the players who won the World Series in Chicago in 1917 before they became infamous as the Black Sox in the 1919 Series. Lavishly illustrated, DEADBALL STARS OF THE AMERICAN LEAGUE features more than 200 photographs and the autographs of all of the players profiled. It is a unique resource for a defining era of baseball history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A 'Must' For Those Who Love Baseball History
Like its companion piece on the National League players, this book is the kind you can pick up, read a few stories (biographies) and then put down and then do the same the next day, on and on....and always enjoy what you're reading.

The book is comprised of very interesting short biographies of American League ballplayers who played a century ago in "The Deadball Era,"The short bios of these players each have a couple of interesting things about the men, whether they were a big star or someone you never heard of.It was a tough period to play this sport and the men who endured (but loved) it are all fascinating in their own right.

The authors present honest accounts of the men, the good and the bad, the lucky and the unlucky. Both this book and the one on the NL are essential reading for anyone who loves baseball history.

AL Deadball Stars
The product was shipped and received as promised. I enjoyed reading the biographies of the these players.

Great Book!
Some great insights to long ago baseball stars and the stories behind the stats.I have totally enjoyed this book.

Excellent Book On The First Two Decades of A.L. Baseball
The Society for American Baseball Research has outdone itself again, with a companion book to "Deadball Stars of the National League;" appropriately enough called "Deadball Stars of the American League."Following the same manner as the N.L. book, it has short biographies of the major stars for each of the franchises active between 1901 and 1919, complete with many photos. This excellent book again utilized a huge amount of people on the "Deadball" Committee of the organization taking part in the writing, editing and fact checking. It's a wonderful book for those wanting a feel of the game in the first decades of the 20th century, and of the players of that time, and I highly recommend it.

SABR Deadball Releases
Both books are instantly a must read for all fans of this era..Fantastic to see these teams and players given such loving and endearing attention. ... Read more

Product Description

Baseball bloopers are fun; they're funny, even. A pitcher slips on the mound and his pitch sails over the backstop. An infielder camps under a pop-up...and the ball lands ten feet away. An outfielder tosses a souvenir to a fan...but that was just the second out, and runners are circling the bases (and laughing). Without these moments, the highlight reels wouldn't be nearly as entertaining. Baseball blunders, however, can be tragic, and they will leave diehard fans asking why...why...why?

Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Blunders does its best to answer all those whys, exploring the worst decisions and stupidest moments of managers, general managers, owners, and even commissioners. As he did in his Big Book of Baseball Lineups, Rob Neyer provides readers with a fascinating examination of baseball's rich history, this time through the lens of the game's sometimes hilarious, often depressing, and always perplexing blunders.

· Which ill-fated move cost the Chicago White Sox a great hitter and the 1919 World Series?

· What was Babe Ruth thinking when he became the first (and still the only) player to end a World Series by getting caught trying to steal?

· Did playing one-armed Pete Gray in 1945 cost the Browns a pennant?

· How did winning a coin toss lead to the Dodgers losing the National League pennant on Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'round the World"?

· How damaging was the Frank Robinson-for-Milt Pappas deal, really?

· Which of Red Sox manager Don Zimmer's mistakes in 1978 was the worst?

· Which Yankees trade was even worse than swapping Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps?

· What non-move cost Buck Showalter a job and gave Joe Torre the opportunity of a lifetime?

· Game 7, 2003 ALCS: Pedro winds up to throw his 123rd pitch...what were you thinking?

These are just a few of the legendary (and not-so-legendary) blunders that Neyer analyzes, always with an eye on what happened, why it happened, and how it changed the fickle course of history. And in separate chapters, Neyer also reviews some of the game's worst trades and draft picks and closely examines all the teams that fell just short of first place. Another in the series of Neyer's Big Books of baseball history, Baseball Blunders should win a place in every devoted fan's library. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Wishing there was more on modern baseball
What I really enjoyed about this book is that it was all in bite size chunks.It reads like a collection of columns from a website or magazine.There are some really good stories here and some great analysis.The only thing that detracted from the book was there was a lot material that was pre-1980's which is when I was growing up.If you know a lot about baseball in the 1940's-1960's, this book will be more appealing.That being said, he does make the time period more accessible, it just really isn't my main area of interest.

Great Bargain, Great book
Again, Amazon comes through for me when I don't want to spend too much, but want the item.This arrived quickly and in great shape - thanks again Amazon

Misleading title
I'm a huge Rob Neyer fan. I've read almost every (free) column he's published on the Internet since 1997, and I've read most of his books (and plan to buy and read ALL of them, past and future). So it's with a little regret that I give this one a mediocre review. (I'd give it 3.5 stars if possible.)

First of all, it's called "Big Book of Baseball Blunders," which would naturally lead you to believe that it will be a ranking (or chronological list) of the biggest "mistakes" in baseball history. We get a clarification very early on that it's not about on-field mistakes or "boners," but rather premeditated errors, usually made by management. OK, so far, so good: Rob Neyer makes fun of stupid front offices with the benefit of hindsight AND a logical mind. That should be fun, right?

But once the book starts, you realize that this is NOT Rob's personal ranking of the biggest blunders in baseball history. Rather, it's a list of moves that were considered blunders by historical consensus, and then Rob does some research and evaluates whether they were truly blunders. (This is the same M.O. he uses in the later "Baseball Legends.") So it's more like "Rob Neyer's Big Book of Famous Alleged Baseball Blunders and His Analysis of Whether They Were Blunders or Not."

Fair enough, this could also be a good book if the opinions were interesting or eye-opening... but they're really not. A disappointing proportion of them end up with Rob meekly concluding: "We can't really tell one way or the other." This diplomatic response may make Rob seems like a "nice guy" (so many stats-oriented baseball writers come off as smug and arrogant, and I think he was specifically trying to avoid that) but it makes for a disappointingly flat baseball book. A little controversy isn't bad! I'm able to come up with NO OPINION without reading a book, thank you very much.

This book is also a victim of some careless copyediting. It's not as bad as the typical edition of "Baseball Prospectus," but there are a lot of little typos and a few actual mistakes that should have been caught. And if you've already read his earlier "Big Book of Baseball Lineups" (a superior product IMHO), there's quite a bit of thematic repetition.

On the positive side, Neyer's prose is always readable, he's a good storyteller, and there's some valuable baseball history in here. I definitely learned some stuff from this book, and it wasn't a chore to get through. But Neyer is capable of much better -- I preferred "Baseball Dynasties" and "Baseball Lineups," and his mid-'90s columns on ESPN.com completely changed the way I look at baseball.

Fine for the fanatic or Neyer completist, but not an essential book. I'd recommend "Lineups" or "Dynasties" before this one.

Great for Baseball Lovers
Gave to a baseball lover as part of a birthday present and he loved it as he glanced through the pages - he was really anxiouss to read it!!

Good Baseball Stuff
Some really good baseball stuff in this book. Some of the blunders are questionable and I think he wanted to write about them and made it fit into the book. I would recommend it just for the baseball stories and lore. ... Read more

Product Description
In this analysis, Bob Strauss has compiled all statistics on the best hitters in baseball history. The result is unique, simple, new, and meaningful statistics. Unlike current statistics, these new numbers truly compare the best batters of the last 120 years. The Best includes all statistics on the greatest players at your fingertips. And it ranks them on their careers, comparative careers, single seasons, and their best 5 and 10 consecutive years of play.
In 2004, Barry Bonds tied Babe Ruth as the only player with a slugging average of over .800 in two seasons. Yet Bonds2000 season resulted in great Total Run Production (TRP)TM and a higher Run Production Average (RPA)TM despite a slugging average of over 100 points less. Each player is rated in these new categories and on his Total Net Bases (TNB)TM and Total Base Average (TBA)TM. These new statistics can be used individually or combined in the Total Offensive Production (TOP)TM of each player. This single statistic can rate each batter on his total hitting prowess.

From Aaron to Zimmerman, The Best provides detailed statistics on 380 of the greatest seasons in baseball history. It is also a year-by-year comprehensive reference guide on the greatest 125 hitters of the last 120 years. It allows the baseball novice and the baseball expert to determine who really is The Best. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Poor Analysis, Poor Read
There are many baseball books on the market that include statistical analysis of hitters and offensive production.Any baseball enthusiast who buys this book hoping for a Bill James-like analysis and commentary on baseball's best hitters will be highly disappointed.Strauss uses only four metrics for evaluating and ranking players across the past century, but half (two) are based on a faulty premise.Total Run Production (TPR) is based on the simple addition of Runs and RBIs; Strauss then normalizes this total by dividing it by a player's at bats for comparison purposes between players.The thinking behind TPR is that it measures the batter's hitting skill of driving in other players on base and also getting on base to score runs.The problem is the double counting of Home Runs.Based on the Strauss metric a Home Run counts as a Run and RBI, although only one run is scored by the team by the hitter.According to the Strauss metric the act of hitting a solo HR is equivalent to a player who triples in another runner, and then scores on a subsequent play.The former play accounts for only one real run, but a total of two runs for purposes of the TPR total; the latter play truly accounts for two runs (1 run, 1 RBI). The TPR fault is then compounded as the basis for another metric.The result is a too high rating of home run hitters and too low a rating for hitters who hit for average without home run power.

Strauss' evaluation process also fails to take into account ballpark effects, hence the high ratings and rankings of players like Todd Helton and Larry Walker, or the fluctuation of offensive production over time, hence the dominance of players from the 1920s to early 1930s and the late 1990s.All-time greats like Willie Mays and Honus Wagner are hurt by this disregard of ballpark and time affects.Hack Wilson is helped, playing in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field and having his best season in 1930 when everyone had fantastic statistics.

Even if the statistical is overlooked, Strauss provides very little commentary or personal analysis.Most of the book is little more than yearly or lifetime batting count totals that can be found in a host of other books.

A Must Have for Your Collection
If you have an interest in baseball statistics, this is the book for you.This book uses several new metrics to analyze the performace of baseball's best and rank them more accurately than ever before.It is compact, concise and easy to read.I strongly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
The Detroit Tigers covers the history of major league baseball in Detroit from its beginnings in 1881 through the 2007 season. With over 500 carefully selected photographs, most of which have not been published before, William M. Anderson presents the highlights and lowlights of each season and gives a context for appreciating the Detroit careers of the players whose images grace the pages of the book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A book for True Tiger Fans
This is an excellent book for all true fans of the Detroit Tigers. It includes the history of the club along with plenty of photos, stories and anecdotes of the great and not so great players and their achievements. A few color photos would have been a nice touch. All pictures are in black and white.

The Detrfoit Tigers: A Pictorial Celebration of the Greatest Players and Moments in Tigers History
This book is very interesting and well written.For the true Detroit Tiger fan, it is a must read.

Tiger fan
This book makes a great gift for a Detroit Tiger fan.Loaded with history and pictures.

Now in an updated fourth edition
The Detroit Tigers are the pride of Detroit baseball fans. Now in an updated fourth edition, "The Detroit Tigers: A Pictorial Celebration of the Greatest Players and Moments in Tigers History" is a complete and comprehensive guide to the team's roots and history, from their formation in 1881 through the 2007 season. Enhanced with hundreds of black and white photographs and notable player statistics, "The Detroit Tigers" is an ideal gift for any Tigers fan, and highly recommended for community library sports collections. ... Read more

Product Description
More than forty outstanding archival photographs, accompanied by a fast-paced, readable text, chronicle the history of the Negro Leagues and profile some of the finest players of the era. TV tie-in. ... Read more

Product Description

Only a few dozen T206 Wagners are known to still exist, having been released in limited numbers just after the turn of the twentieth century. Most, with their creases and stains, look like they've been around for nearly one hundred years. But one—The Card—appears to have defied the travails of time. Its sharp corners and still-crisp portrait make it the single-most famous—and most desired—baseball card on the planet, valued today at more than two million dollars. It has transformed a simple hobby into a billion-dollar industry that is at times as lawless as the Wild West. Everything about The Card, which has made men wealthy as well as poisoned lifelong relationships, is fraught with controversy—from its uncertain origins to the nagging possibility that it might not be exactly as it seems.

Customer Reviews (15)

Great story on card collecting, but...
It doesn't really go into the history of The Card (T206 Wagner) before 1985. That's a lot of missing years, and the story could have used more investigation. That being said, this book is a real fun read for people in the hobby. This book details the who's who in the field, and all their positive and negative contributions and personalities. Also, it introduces the reader to both the good and bad of so-called
"authentication services" that perform grading on cards.

Overall, it is an entertaining book that you will enjoy and learn from. I just wish more dirt digging was performed on the true history of the Wagner card.

An Icon of American Material Culture
This book traces the story of the world's most valuable baseball card, the Honus Wagner psa 8 T206.The author did a commendable job of researching the story, and text is interesting, engaging, and has good flow.The author also offers very convincing evidence that this million dollar plus card was actually tampered with prior to being graded and "slabbed."This book is well worth reading for its information about the card, baseball card collecting in general, and Honus Wagner - the man.Every sports card collector should have a copy in their library.

A breezy read on an intriguing mystery
The story of the world's most expensive baseball card, the T206 Honus Wagner PSA 8 NM-MT, isn't very complicated.Unearthed in 1985, it has changed owners a handful of times, netting each one a tidy profit.Its whereabouts for its first 75 years of existence are unknown.The reasons for its rarity have been speculated on, but are ultimately unknown.Whether the card has been trimmed somewhere along the way, a big no-no in the card collecting world and, if ever determined to be true, would permanently mar the hobby, is unknown.While O'Keeffe and Thompson perform an admirable job of attempting to answer these unknowns in The Card, the reader is ultimately left unfulfilled.

What the authors do accomplish, however, is the painting of a vivid picture of the high end of sports card and memorabilia collecting.From the eccentric personalities involved to the back-room dealings to the heinous manipulation of items considered by some to be national or historic treasures, The Card lays it all out in unflinching detail.The king of the hill is Bill Mastro, the uber-dealer whose involvement has touched just about every sale of the Wagner.Surrounding him are other prominent collectors and dealers, some on his side, others attempting to dethrone him.While the authors exhibit a bias in who is "good" and "evil" in this fight, astute readers will recognize universal themes in this battle and be able to make their own judgments on motives.Like the question of whether the Wagner has been trimmed, the heroes and villains in this story are not clear-cut.What is clear, however, is that what used to be a fun hobby for boys and men with a touch of OCD has become commoditized by skyrocketing prices.Along with this commoditization comes all of its associated evils:all-encompassing greed, hubris, the destruction of national treasures.Ultimately, this unfortunate revelation will be The Card's final legacy.

Written in a light journalistic style, The Card is easy leisure time reading and can be finished in a single sitting.While a bit erratic in detail -- the sections on Wagner's life as a player seem scant, while too much time is spent on the purported Wagner card owned by Ray Edwards and John Cobb -- the narration nonetheless flows easily from one topic to the next.Longtime hobbyists will probably find very little new information in The Card, though, and may even be distracted by easily quashable errors such as Alan Ray's assertion that the red printer's mark present when he owned the Wagner is now missing.However, this book was more than likely not written for hardcore collectors; its target audience being laymen with a passing interest in the hobby and its most expensive artifact.That being said, though, The Card does provide a decent aggregation of many of the tidbits of information on the Wagner that have been scattered amongst Internet message boards and whisper-filled back rooms.Advanced hobbyists may find it useful for that reason, although the lack of an index may at the same time hinder it.All in all, The Card is a decent book for card collectors' reference shelves, and as an exciting read for everyday folks.

SO WHAT If It's Hand Cut?
First, let me say that this is, by far, the single greatest book ever written about the history of collecting.Even if you're not into cards, this book is a fast read which you absolutely will not be able to put down.

THAT BEING SAID, I strongly disagree with the very premise that a card which was hand-cut from a production sheet is somehow worthless.

THE Card is supposed to be "fake" or "worthless" because it has been "altered" or "trimmed".This is because it is designated PSA 8 NM-MT when PSA normally refuses to grade hand-cut cards.

In other words, PSA violates their own rules.I submit that it's not THE Card which is fake.It's PSA's RULES.They should get over their bias against hand-cut cards from production sheets and start grading them, the way they grade strip cards from the 1920's and 1930's.

99% of the vintage trading cards in existence were cut by machine at the factory.However, there were some cards which still existed as uncut sheets when collectors started getting into old cardboard back in the 1970's and 1980's.

Some cards were distributed to the public as uncut sheets only.This was mostly in the 1920's through the 1940's.These cards are called "strip cards".You can see examples if you search eBay for "w551".Once in a while, you'll even see an intact uncut sheet from the 1920's in collector's circles.

PSA will grade a strip card which was hand cut, no problem.If the margins are fully intact, they'll give it a numeric grade.If the card has been cut into the margins, they'll give it the dreaded "authentic".Either way, PSA provides a valuable service by doing so.Either way, a strip card is not considered to be a "Fake" or "Altered" in any way.

What PSA refuses to do is this:let's say a card like a T206 or 1933 Goudey was distributed to the public in machine-cut form.If you happen to run across an uncut sheet of those cards and cut them out of the sheet, no matter how neatly, no matter how perfectly, PSA will refuse to grade your card.

Well, I'm sorry, but that's just wrong.I've seen some absolutely beautiful hand-cut cards in my time.The cards are just as old, just as rare, just as desirable.The pictures are the same.They came off the same printing press.They are REAL, genuine, authentic, historically significant, and any true collector should be proud to own one.

A good example is the 1944 American Beauties trading card set.This was a non-sports series of World War II pin-up cards by famed artist Gil Elvgren.Most were distributed in packs of 12 cards.There were only 24 cards in the set, so each pack contained 1/2 the set.

HOWEVER, they were also distributed as strips of 6.You'll sometimes run across uncut sheets on the internet, and you'll sometimes run across neatly hand-trimmed examples of the cards.Genuine cards.From 1944.Identical in every respect to the cards from the packs, except for the trimming.

Submit one of these cards to PSA, and they'll return the card.Mind you, they keep the $15 or $25 grading fee.But your card will be treated with about the same amount of respect usually reserved for those who murder puppies.

In my opinion, that's just wrong.PSA makes the rules and PSA enforces the rules.The author of this book makes a compelling case that the most famous baseball card in the world was hand-cut from a production sheet.And he says it's "artificial" because that violates PSA's rules.The card isn't artificial.The RULES are artificial.So change the rules.

Deal or No Deal
A person may have never collected one baseball card, but the T206 Wagner transcends that industry. And with any item worth millions of dollars, the pop culture publicity surrounding it has been a curse and a blessing.

Authors Michael O'Keeffe and Teri Thompson take the reader on a wild ride of the history of the Honus Wagner tobacco card through the fiction that has oftentimes shuffled the facts to the clubhouse and the legacy of "The Card," the ultimate T206 that is worth at least $2 million.

From cards as fake as the slimy smiles of a con-man to the high-stakes game in the art of the deal to obtain the ultimate collectible, the story is a home run that is hammered out of the stadium.

... Read more