Non-fiction baseball book recommendations

[Mr. Appropriate]

I've learned to appreciate baseball while watching the Astros play. Along the way a few books  have helped me understand and provide context for the game.
One that comes to mind is "Pure Baseball" by Keith Hernandez. It is a play by play analysis of a couple of games that helps explain what the managers and players are thinking during the course of a game. Doesn't provide the answers, but helps to highlight the questions.
At this point I am interested in the whole game. The macro/micro. Would love to learn which baseball books the OWA crowd reads about this great and glorious game.

[Waldo]

I recently read "The Only Rule Is It Has to Work", which describes how two of the Baseball Prospectus guys effectively became the co-GM of an independent team for a season.  I thought it was a good look into what does and doesn't work about an almost purely analytics-driven approach to the game.

[Andyzipp]

My favorites, in no particular order:

Ball Four
Big Hair and Plastic Grass
Joe, You Could Made Us Proud
Five Seasons
Boys of Summer
The Wrong Stuff
Seasons in Hell
Dock Ellis in the Country of Baseball
Veeck - As in Wreck
Only The Baseball Was White
The Bronx Zoo
Baseball's Great Experiment: Jackie Robinson
Moneyball
Three Nights in August
The Catcher Was A Spy
Well Paid Slave
Boys of Summer
A Great and Glorious Game
Lords of the Realm
Our Game
Eight Men Out
Can't Anybody Here Play This Game?
Stars And Strikes

[Bench]

My favorites, in no particular order:

Ball Four
Big Hair and Plastic Grass
Joe, You Could Made Us Proud
Five Seasons
Boys of Summer
The Wrong Stuff
Seasons in Hell
Dock Ellis in the Country of Baseball
Veeck - As in Wreck
Only The Baseball Was White
The Bronx Zoo
Baseball's Great Experiment: Jackie Robinson
Moneyball
Three Nights in August
The Catcher Was A Spy
Well Paid Slave
Boys of Summer
A Great and Glorious Game
Lords of the Realm
Our Game
Eight Men Out
Can't Anybody Here Play This Game?
Stars And Strikes

Great list.  I would add Halberstam's Summer of '49 and Teammates: A Portrait of a Friendship

[Andyzipp]

On the other hand, if you want to read a book by someone who played Major League Ball for 20 years, and got paid to talk about it for another 25, and still doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground, I'd highly recommend Tim McCarver's Baseball For Brain Surgeons. 

For me to poop on.

[Mr. Appropriate]

My favorites, in no particular order:

Ball Four
Big Hair and Plastic Grass
Joe, You Could Made Us Proud
Five Seasons
Boys of Summer
The Wrong Stuff
Seasons in Hell
Dock Ellis in the Country of Baseball
Veeck - As in Wreck
Only The Baseball Was White
The Bronx Zoo
Baseball's Great Experiment: Jackie Robinson
Moneyball
Three Nights in August
The Catcher Was A Spy
Well Paid Slave
Boys of Summer
A Great and Glorious Game
Lords of the Realm
Our Game
Eight Men Out
Can't Anybody Here Play This Game?
Stars And Strikes

Damn Andy that is quite a list. I've heard of a few of these (Ball Four, Catcher was a Spy, Lords of the Realm) but haven't read any of them. Think I'll pick up Ball Four first. If you could recommend one, which would it be?

[Mr. Appropriate]

I recently read "The Only Rule Is It Has to Work", which describes how two of the Baseball Prospectus guys effectively became the co-GM of an independent team for a season.  I thought it was a good look into what does and doesn't work about an almost purely analytics-driven approach to the game.

thank you..will definitely read this...

[Andyzipp]

Damn Andy that is quite a list. I've heard of a few of these (Ball Four, Catcher was a Spy, Lords of the Realm) but haven't read any of them. Think I'll pick up Ball Four first. If you could recommend one, which would it be?

Every baseball fan needs to read Ball Four.  Additionally, there are plenty of references to Bouton's time with the Astros.

Start there.

[NeilT]

I read a book a year or so ago called the Cheater's Guide to Baseball, by Derek Zumsteg.  It was short, and now with video review somewhat dated, but it was a nice discussion of everything from grounds maintenance to signs to spitballs to doping.  I enjoyed it, thought Zumsteg's insights into the morality of the game were sound, and learned something about the game as a whole by reading about how players and teams cheated. 

Buzz Bissinger wrote a book about Tony Larussa about ten years ago called Three Nights in August.  It followed LaRussa for a three-game series against the Cubs.  I'm not sure it taught me much about baseball, but its depiction of Larussa's obsession and intensity was unforgettable.   

ETA:  this was on AndyZ's list as well.

[Duke]

Every baseball fan needs to read Ball Four.  Additionally, there are plenty of references to Bouton's time with the Astros.

Start there.

I remember reading Ball Four when I was in high school at night.  I would be laughing so hard that my folks thought that I had a bunch of friends in my room.

[juliogotay]

Great list.  I would add Halberstam's Summer of '49 and Teammates: A Portrait of a Friendship

I second Summer of '49 or anything Halberstam wrote.

[SoonerJim]

"The Glory of Their Times" has always been my favorite baseball book. It was one of the first efforts using oral history to capture the voices of an entire era's players in their final years of memory.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

"The Glory of Their Times" has always been my favorite baseball book. It was one of the first efforts using oral history to capture the voices of an entire era's players in their final years of memory.

Seconded.

Ball Four  is essential. The Only Rule... was OK, probably more fun if you regularly listened to their podcast, which was special. I like the idea of the Cheater's Guide.

[NeilT]

I haven't looked at it in years, but when it came out I thought the New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract was the most fun baseball book I'd ever read.  I'm not sure I'd think that 15 years later, but I suspect it's still an oddly great history of the game.

[NeilT]

On the other hand, if you want to read a book by someone who played Major League Ball for 20 years, and got paid to talk about it for another 25, and still doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground, I'd highly recommend Tim McCarver's Baseball For Brain Surgeons. 

For me to poop on.

I tried to read it when it came out, and had no bias against it or McCarver.  I checked it out of the library.  All I remember is a completely baffling discussion of what constituted a hitter's count or a pitcher's count.  I think that may be all I read, so I can't really pass judgment.  And anyway, I'm not a brain surgeon, so I wasn't its target audience. 

[LonghornCDR]

Whatever you do, do NOT read The Greatest Game Ever Played by Jerry Izenberg. 

[juliogotay]

Whatever you do, do NOT read The Greatest Game Ever Played by Jerry Izenberg.

I actually enjoyed that book. Now excuse me while I go self-flagellate.

[MusicMan]

Whatever you do, do NOT read The Greatest Game Ever Played by Jerry Izenberg.

It’s very well written.


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[MusicMan]

I actually enjoyed that book. Now excuse me while I go self-flagellate.

If you keep doing that you’ll go blind.


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[Aussie Astro]

If you keep doing that you’ll go blind.


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Can I do it till I need glasses?

[Mr. Appropriate]

I read a book a year or so ago called the Cheater's Guide to Baseball, by Derek Zumsteg.  It was short, and now with video review somewhat dated, but it was a nice discussion of everything from grounds maintenance to signs to spitballs to doping.  I enjoyed it, thought Zumsteg's insights into the morality of the game were sound, and learned something about the game as a whole by reading about how players and teams cheated. 

Buzz Bissinger wrote a book about Tony Larussa about ten years ago called Three Nights in August.  It followed LaRussa for a three-game series against the Cubs.  I'm not sure it taught me much about baseball, but its depiction of Larussa's obsession and intensity was unforgettable.   

ETA:  this was on AndyZ's list as well.

Thanks Neil, Both of these sound fantastic. 

[Duman]

If you want to learn more about "old school scouting"  I would strongly suggest Dollar Sign on the Muscle .  I found an old paperback copy at a used bookstore in Knoxville and have read that copy twice.  It is out of print but BP released a digital version in 2013 and Kevin Golstein did the forward for the new edition. 

[JimR]

Thanks Neil, Both of these sound fantastic.

Second the nomination of Three Nights in August.

[hostros7]

I've read a lot of these - good recs. One that I have not seen mentioned is The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took and MLB Team from Worst to First by Jonah Keri. The writing isn't anything special, but the content is interesting and provides some insight on how front offices have changed.


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[Mr. Happy]

AZ is correct as usual. Ball Four is a must read. I read the book when it came out, and boy was it controversial. I remember Bouton trying to pitch the season after its release and pitching very poorly. I already was a huge. Astros fan.

[BlownRanger]

AZ is correct as usual. Ball Four is a must read. I read the book when it came out, and boy was it controversial. I remember Bouton trying to pitch the season after its release and pitching very poorly. I already was a huge. Astros fan.

The Astros were in an early-season NBC Game of the Week in 1970, and while interviewing Bouton before the game Tony Kubek basically accused him of making up most of the book.  Bouton just shrugged and said "every word is true".

He followed up Ball Four with an attempt to chronicle the '70 season called "I'm Glad You Didn't Take It Personally".  It was a pretty awful book, but it did have its moments, such as Doug Rader taking a dump on Jesus Alou's birthday cake.

[Mr. Happy]

The Astros were in an early-season NBC Game of the Week in 1970, and while interviewing Bouton before the game Tony Kubek basically accused him of making up most of the book.  Bouton just shrugged and said "every word is true".

He followed up Ball Four with an attempt to chronicle the '70 season called "I'm Glad You Didn't Take It Personally".  It was a pretty awful book, but it did have its moments, such as Doug Rader taking a dump on Jesus Alou's birthday cake.

I have that one too. I went and met Bouton about 30 years ago, right after his 1979 comeback with the Braves. He was clear that he had much more fun riding the bus in AA chasing the dream with the kids than when the Braves called him up, which is why he didn’t come back in 1980. He wanted to prove to himself that he could..

[Andyzipp]

I have that one too. I went and met Bouton about 30 years ago, right after his 1979 comeback with the Braves. He was clear that he had much more fun riding the bus in AA chasing the dream with the kids than when the Braves called him up, which is why he didn’t come back in 1980. He wanted to prove to himself that he could..

If you haven't seen it yet, check out the Battered Bastards of Baseball on Netflix.  It's a doc about the Portland Mavericks, and Bouton is featured pretty prominently.  Like you said, he really seemed to enjoy baseball when he was riding the proverbial bus.  I think it was especially fun for those guys that they were one of the only independent teams at the time.