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Book of Baseball Literacy |
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These critics reviewed the first edition of The Book of Baseball Literacy.
Wes Lukowsky, March 15, 1996
"It's not so much the information that sets this effort above its considerable competition, it's the manner in which it is organized. There's the section 'Players and Managers,' in which one can find thumbnail sketches of everyone from current star Jose Canseco to Dutch Zwilling, whose infamy lies in his name--he's always last in any alphabetical listing of major leaguers. There's also a section for key media figures, owners, and other executives. The 'Teams' section includes brief synopses of virtually all current and former franchises, and 'Folklore, Literature & Diversions' includes such fanciful entries as 'asterisk' as it relates to baseball's record book. This thoroughly enjoyable, eminently browsable volume should be part of every fan's spring-training regimen."
Rick Shefchik, May 26, 1996
"The Book of Baseball Literacy is a useful, 382-page volume that assembles a wide range of facts, details and statistics in an easily digestible and sometimes enjoyably opinionated style. Surprisingly, there is no other book so comprehensive, concise or readable. You can look up baseball figures from Arnold Rothstein (the gambler who conspired to throw the 1919 World Series) to Dave Winfield (the ballplayer who returned home to get his 3,000th hit); thumbnail histories of every major-league team and stadium; and significant sayings, seasons and numbers that are essential for any discussion of baseball lore. An excellent introduction to the game for a young fan, or a great space saver for the longtime fan with limited shelf space."
John Curtis, March 28, 1996
Every baseball fan knows about Hank Aaron and Abner Doubleday, but what about Smoky Joe Williams and Harry Stevens? And what's so special about the number 3,508, or the Chalmers Award?
The answers are in this handy catalog of baseball history, filled with capsule sketches of a broad range of players, owners, events, records and places. Well-organized and thorough, it's a solid reference book, albeit one with an attitude: Martinez thinks Lee Smith is a better reliever than Rollie Fingers, Ted Williams was a mediocre fielder and baserunner who had trouble staying healthy, and the Padres are a team that won't contend until the next milennium.
(Author's note: That last statement is true. When I wrote the book in 1995, the Padres were a team in disarray. New ownership and a commitment to the team changed them around in a hurry.)
John Barron, March 17, 1996
"Arranged alphabetically in eight chapters, this neat book offers 'whaddayaknow' nuggets of wisdom on 800 topics including players, ballparks, and stats. It also tracks down the best baseball books, movies, folklore, and legends. Instructive and fun."
February 1, 1996
"Martinez, a SABR member and former college baseball broadcaster in California, has written a lively book that offers fun facts and opinions. He divides the text into hundreds of entries on baseball figures, teams, dates, folklore, literature, and more. This is an inexpensive purchase that should circulate well in all public and school libraries."
January 15, 1996
"Divided into eight sections on topics such as 'Players and Managers,' 'Dates and Events,' 'Folklore, Literature and Diversions,' and 'Rules, Game Terms and Baseball Business,' David H. Martinez's The Book of Baseball Literacy offers an alphabetical listing that explains everything from the seventh-inning stretch to The Show to 'Casey at the Bat' (accompanied by full text) and a whole bunch of guys with names like Rusty, Turkey, Satchel, Kid, Bid, Mugsy, and Crimedog."
March 5, 1996
"A cross-referenced collection of facts, folklore and untold tales about key figures, events and institutions. Easy-to-find answers to the most common (and obscure but fascinating) baseball questions."
Check out the new blog that features interesting tidbits of baseball lore, literature, personalities, statistics, terminology, and more. I'm sharing a lot of research I've done over the years on fascinating topics. If you're a fan of the history of the game, this blog is for you.
