Customer Reviews

Bert Sugar's Baseball Hall of Fame: A Living History of America's Greatest Game

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If you're a diehard baseball fan, but have never had the opportunity to personally visit the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY; you're in luck. Bert Sugar has compiled a treasure chest of the sweetest Hall of Fame memories available, and you won't even have to leave your easy chair to experience it.

Even if you've been to the Hall of Fame a number of times, you'll more than likely be amazed at all the stuff you missed; and the good news is, you can linger as long as you want. There are no crowds to fight; it's a leisurely & wonderful trip through the glorious paradise of baseball heaven. It doesn't get any better.

Even if you've never seen a baseball game in your life, you'd probably get a kick out of perusing this beautifully crafted piece of work. Its historical significance can't be overstated; it's the quintessential baseball book. Period.

If you're looking to surprise the ultimate baseball fan on their next birtday or other special occasion, you can't go wrong here. But don't hold out 'til Christmas. Six months is way too long to wait for this gem.

Bert Sugar has proven that baseball is truly the greatest game on earth; and he's got 272 pages of proof. What else can be said? How sweet it is!

I've never been to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. I'm a big fan of the game (White Sox!) and I'd love to go someday. I grew up on the south side of Chicago and watched players like Luis Aparicio, Nellie Fox and Early Wynn play so well. I've got all of the players' autographs from that '59 team which made it to the World Series. Great memories.

Times are tough, so a trip to see my guys in Cooperstown, along with the other greats of the game will have to wait. That's why I'm so grateful for this wonderful book. I couldn't put it down. Bert Sugar did a fantastic job of compiling all the memorabilia that you'd find in Cooperstown, so I like to think of this as almost as good as going. It's really Cooperstown on a budget!

Mr. Sugar had a great idea, but the illustrations are often not of Hall of Fame exhibits, but from other sources. The long section reprinting all of the Hall of Fame placques is a bit hard to read and the placques are displayed better on the HOF postcard set available directly from the Baseball Hall of Fame. Despite mionor reservations, this is now the best book for capturing the Hall of Fame experience. Whether you have visited the HOF or not, this is a very good book to own!

I have been a passionate baseball fan since childhood, among the few in my elementary school on the South Side of Chicago who cheered for both the Cubs and the White Sox. Over the years, I saw more than 100 games at Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park, then watched the Braves in Milwaukee while in college, the Yankees while in graduate school and then teaching in Connecticut. Later still, Red Sox games at Fenway Park before relocating from Boston to Dallas. Thereafter, I attended more Ranger games at the old park than I have at the new one but still watch as many games on television as my circumstances permit. Only once, many years ago, I was able to visit Cooperstown and spent the better part of the day at the Half of Fame. Regrettably, I was unable to return the next day and haven't been back since.

All that said, if you can't get to Cooperstown, the next best way to "visit" the baseball museum there is to read Bert Randolph Sugar's lively narrative and examine the 500+ color and b/w photos provided by Bruce Curtin. The production values of this volume are outstanding. It is difficult for me to imagine that there are any items that weren't photographed, any significant items that Sugar neglects to mention. I had no idea that Sugar was an avid baseball fan. I was aware of him only as someone who is an authority on professional boxing. His writing style has Snap! Crackle! & Pop! and he has a keen eye for significant details. Clearly he has conducted extensive research on the history of baseball. Opinions are divided about many issues such as the origin and development of what may still be "the national pastime" but Sugar wisely avoids bogging down in any contriversies and concentrates on bringing the Hall of Life to life to the extent he can, substantially assisted by Curtin.

Over the years, I have read several dozen books (with and without photos) about the history of baseball and the history of individual teams as weell as biographies of owners, managers, and players, historical commentaries on the World Series and (yes) the Hall of Fame. Many of them have great value (e.g., anything written by Roger Angell and George Will) and I appreciate them but there is none that I have enjoyed reading/seeing more than Bert Sugar's Baseball Hall of Fame. The museum is "his" only in terms of the access he creates for others and the pleasure as well as edification he provides for them. Hopefully, I will be able to return to Cooperstown with a few of my grandchildren. Until then, they and I can return again to the volume prominently displayed in the living room.

This book was purchased for a 13 yr boy who loves baseball. It was probably the best gift I ever purchased for him. The whole family is enjoying it.

The book was used but in excellent condition. It arrived very promptly by mail soon after it was ordered. I was completely satisfied.

Babe Ruth, in Sugar's opinion the greatest player who ever played the game said 'Baseball is the only real game in the world'. It may not be the only real game but it is probably the one about which there are the most statistics, history, stories of colorful personalities. All this is Sugar's favorite territory (Along with boxing) and as he takes the reader on a guided tour through the Cooperstown 'Hall of Fame' he also illuminates much about of the history and the lore of the game.
Baseball fans who also like to look in books, and there are too more good books about baseball than perhaps any other sport, will truly enjoy the tour.

I have been a baseball fan for almost 50 years!! I have been to the Baseball Hall of Fame three times. Bert Sugar is very comprehensive. The photographs of the exhibits at the Hall of Fame are impressive. Its like having your own private tour of the Baseball Hall of fame. An excellent book!!

This is the best book on The National Baseball Hall of Fame yet! This is as close as you can get without going there. After ready this, you'll want to go there yourself. I've been there dozens of times and this would make a perfect gift for any baseball fan.

The book is everything I hoped it would be. Since I may never visit the Cooperstown Hall of Fame, this is the next best thing. Photography is excellent. Highly recommended for the baseball affecionado!