Customer Reviews

2010 Who's Who in Baseball

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Each year, I enjoy seeing "Who's Who in Baseball" come out. It reminds the reader of who is, in fact, who in the game. It gets one off to a fast start as the Hot Stove League ends and real baseball begins. The book is remarkably simple. There is an entry for every major league player--position player or pitcher--providing their complete statistical record--including their tours in the minor leagues as well as their big league record. Great resource when watching a game and wanting to know something about a relatively unknown player! It's also sized well to take along when going to a game (or anywhere else, for that matter).

One way to appreciate the book is simply to randomly pick pages and see who's on that page and assess their record. Here goes. . . .

Pages 94 and 95: Andruw Jones, Garrett Jones, and Chipper Jones. Let's take Andruw Jones. It is obvious that he declined unbelievably quickly. In 2006, a standard year for him--.262 average, 41 home runs, and 129 RBIs. The next year (his last with the Braves)? .222 with 26 homers and 94 RBIs. 2008? Don't even ask. After a stint in the minor leagues (Las Vegas), his major league record with Los Angeles was .158 with 3 homers and 14 RBIs. Texas in 2009? .214 with 17 homers and 43 RBIs. As a White Sox fan, it is clear to me that their acquisition of him is a hope and not much more that he can return to a solid season. Garrett Jones has spent much of his career in the minor leagues with a brief stop in Minnesota in 2007 (.208 average) and a longer stay with Pittsburgh in 2009 (.293 average with 21 home runs and 44 RBIs). At 28, he's a little old to settle in as a major leaguer, but last year suggests some promise for him. Then, Chipper Jones. A stellar career, marred by a subpar 2009. .264 average (against a .307 lifetime average), with 18 home runs and 71 RBIs. He has hinted that if he cannot regain his touch, he could retire at season's end.

Anyhow, what a little treasure! For position players, the book goes from Abreu, Bobby to Zobrist, Benjamin. Pitchers? From Aardsma, David to Zumaya, Joel. For readers who love their baseball, this is the equivalent of comfort food!

If you like updated baseball stats of every player who ever played the game, then this is the book for you!

Now that The Sporting News no longer publishes The Baseball Register, "Who's Who" is back to being the only baseball book around that has the traditional year-by-year career and minor league stats of almost all current major league baseball players.

The only things it's missing are batters walks and strikeouts.

I wouldn't call them missing, but it is also not encumbered with WHIP, OPS, ERA+, etc., so if you're looking for that, this book is not for you.

Arrived earlier than I thought it would. Brand new and in perfect condition. When I ordered, it was "last one." Three days later, the friend I was giving it to ordered one also from Amazon, also the "last one." So much for my surprise! However, all is well.....he kept mine and gave his away.

We have been buying Who's Who in Baseball for many years. We count on this publication to catch up on players we're not familiar with, which player went where, and what was his record. This annual publication is a fountain of information. However, we did look recently for a player who was on a major league roster last year, and he was not in this book. This is the general criterion for inclusion in Who's Who....being on a major league roster the previous season. A small disappointment. But nevertheless, this book is on our coffee table every year until the World Series is over!

My wife and I have been buying the "Who's Who in Baseball" for the last six years and have found it to be the easiest reference to use for individual player stats. We keep it right on the end table where we watch the games all season for quick reference. It is a very convenient and practical size and I've not seen anything else in print that is any easier to use. I would highly recommend this publication to anyone who considers themselves a Major League Baseball fan.

2010 Who's Who in BaseballStill our favorite baseball reference book, and it has been for many years. It's also sized to keep at hand and remains constant and comprehensive in its content and layout making it easy to follow.