Baseball Desk Reference [Hardcover]

DK Publishing (Author), Lawrence T. Lorimer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2002

The quintessential guide for every baseball connoisseur. A comprehensive, visually appealing chronicle of the sport, The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Baseball Desk Reference is the perfect companion for any baseball fan -- whether an interested hometown supporter or a full-fledged baseball aficionado. Written in collaboration with the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, this extremely readable volume includes hundreds of photographs, illustrations, and table, making the Baseball Desk Reference both fun to browse and easy to use. Section I. The American Pastime is a reflection on the heritage and history of baseball, with an illustrated timeline of the life of the sport. Section II. The Big Leagues includes lifetime statistics on the Top 1000 players, pitchers, and managers of all time, plus team histories and year-by-year league and postseason statistics. Section III. Levels of the Game explores baseball in all its multifaceted glory, with information on the minor leagues, college baseball, Negro Leagues, youth leagues, women in baseball, and international baseball. Section IV. Lore and Lingo looks at the wonderful contribution of baseball to language, literature, song, and story -- all that celebrates the sport of baseball.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Produced by sports editor Lorimer and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, this richly illustrated volume contains a treasure trove of useful information. The first section presents a brief analysis of "the American Pastime," with a time line, a history of baseball's Valhalla, and a look at baseball mechanics. Section 2 offers short biographical sketches of baseball businessmen; short, year-by-year accounts of the game's history; and an exploration of baseball franchises. This portion of the book also includes brief profiles, containing both texts and statistics of more than 700 of baseball's greatest performers and managers. Ty Cobb, for example, is shown to have led the league in key batting areas more frequently than any other major leaguer, while Walter Johnson, Warren Spahn, and Lefty Grove were the top moundsmen, as indicated by their collection of individual pitching titles. Photographic images of Hall of Fame plaques, complete with the actual inscriptions, are placed next to the biographical sketches. The sometimes ignored on-base percentage statistic is featured, while lists of the top lifetime and single-season earned run averages are intelligently divided into the dead ball and live ball eras. Section 3 examines the international, college, and youth components of the game, along with women and baseball, the Negro leagues, and the minors. The final section, "Lore and Lingo," is particularly intriguing; it explores the media, "Baseball Song and Verse," museums and libraries, baseball dialect, baseball movies, literature about the sport, and collectibles. This book offers a vast array of information not included in other baseball collections. Recommended for all public libraries. R.C. Cottrell, California State Univ., Chico
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an educational institution dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the historical development of the game and its impact on our culture. Located in Cooperstown, New York, the museum attracts nearly one million baseball fans every year. Established in 1939 to honor the game's heroes and to recall its greatest moments through the presentation of artifacts, photographs, and memorabilia, the institution has reinforced this commitment through the publication of The National Baseball Hall of Fame Baseball Desk Reference.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 608 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789483920
• ISBN-13: 978-0789483928
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.8 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,779,530 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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