The Best of Baseball Digest: The Greatest Players, The Greatest Games, the Greatest Writers from the Game's Most Exciting Years [Hardcover]

John Kuenster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 18, 2006

Here's a baseball feast of some 116 articles drawn from the most popular baseball magazine of them all, from the 1940s to the present—stories from the leading baseball writers about the greatest players and the greatest games from baseball's most exciting years. The book is illustrated with more than 80 photographs, many of them rarely seen. Readers can relive Willie Mays's great World Series catch; Roger Maris's 61st home run; Bob Feller's Opening Day no-hitter; Reggie Jackson's three homers on three swings in the 1977 World Series; Kirk Gibson's gimpy-leg, game-winning home run in the 1988 Series—and many, many more. They're all related by the best baseball writers the game has known: Red Smith, Heywood Broun, Arthur Daley, John P. Carmichael, Roger Kahn, James T. Farrell, Jimmy Cannon, Leonard Koppett, Tom Meany, Jim Murray, Ira Berkow, George Vass, Milt Richman, Murray Chass, Melvin Durslag, Tom Boswell, Bob Verdi, Mike Royko, Bob Broeg, John Steadman, Furman Bisher, and many others. For a baseball treat that will please any fan and can keep the Hot Stove League stoked throughout the winter, The Best of Baseball Digest is the sure ticket.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Baseball Digest debuted in 1942, the brainchild of Herb Simons, a Chicago baseball writer. Kuenster, who has been the magazine's editor since 1969, has selected a fascinating set of articles from the venerable monthly that address baseball issues large and small, from Jackie Robinson's demolition of the color barrier to a 2005 interview with 86-year-old Virgil Trucks, who pitched two no-hitters in 1952 despite winning just five games in that season. The selections from the early years include a few as-told-to pieces by the stars of the era, such as Nellie Fox's collaboration with Milton Richman, "How to Stay Alive at Second Base." There are also a few charming oddities, such as an article by a doctor presenting anecdotal evidence that interest in baseball trivia can have a palliative effect on disease. The contributors include virtually every significant baseball journalist from the last half of the twentieth century, including Jim Murray, Leonard Koppett, Al Hirshberg, Furman Bisher, Dick Dozer, Joe Falls, and Jimmy Cannon, to name just a few. This is a must wherever baseball fans gather. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Any baseball fan should have this book in their library. (Bob Feller )

This is my favorite book to read about baseball, including so much of its history. (Jimmy Piersall )

Baseball Digest has provided us with great stories since 1942, my first full season with the St. Louis Cardinals. This book features plenty of good baseball reading. (Stan Musial )

A wonderful collection of photographs and stories by the best baseball writers of our time. (Jim Brosnan )

A fascinating set of articles.... A must wherever baseball fans gather. (Wes Lukowsky Booklist )

Anyone who has enjoyed an issue of Baseball Digest will find The Best of Baseball Digest a must-read. (Henry Kisor Chicago Sun-Times )

John Kuenster…mines a rich writerly vein and fields an all-star literary line-up. (Mike Lillich Indianapolis Star )

A handsome compilation…from a magazine that was the mainstay of many boys' lives. (Martin Levin Shelf Life )

"An entertaining look at the history of baseball... Both light reading and a worthwhile glimpse at baseball journalism." (Salt Lake Tribune )

Terrific collection of the little magazine's best work. (Dan McGrath Chicago Tribune )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Ivan R Dee; First edition. edition (January 18, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566636558
• ISBN-13: 978-1566636551
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #953,194 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Over sixty years of classic baseball stories by the game's leading writers and players, April 3, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best of Baseball Digest: The Greatest Players, The Greatest Games, the Greatest Writers from the Game's Most Exciting Years (Hardcover)

Baseball fans who have a literary love of the sports will appreciate over sixty years of classic baseball stories by the game's leading writers and players in The Best Of Baseball Digest. This is no light treatment: over a hundred articles gathered from issues from the 1940s to modern times appear here, along with over eighty photos: many of them rare. Relive the major plays, players and events of the baseball world in a powerful 'you are there' account; one of the best baseball collections available.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Miss Out On This Volume of Baseball's Rich History, August 30, 2008

By 

C. W. Emblom "Bill Emblom" (Ishpeming, Michigan USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Best of Baseball Digest: The Greatest Players, The Greatest Games, the Greatest Writers from the Game's Most Exciting Years (Hardcover)

Baseball Digest published a similar volume several years ago entitled Baseball: From Cobb to Catfish which I am fortunate to have in my library. This new edition contains some of the same articles that were included in the previous one. The stories are short, and feel free to read them in any order. One of my very favorites, which is repeated in this book, is the one by Joe Falls, then of the Detroit Free Press when he went to interview Eddie Cicotte who was living in retirement in the Detroit area. Both knew the subject of the Black Sox scandal would come up. It is an A+. It is, indeed, a treasure to be able to have these stories available for those who were too young to be around to appreciate the great moments in baseball's rich history in addition to the talented writers that were around to chronicle these events. I have purchased ten additional copies of this book to have available to give as gifts when the appropriate time arrives. If you enjoy baseball history I would strongly suggest you pick up one or more copies of this book.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Solid Drive Over The Center Field Wall For A Grand Slam, May 19, 2008

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Bicycle Day - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Best of Baseball Digest: The Greatest Players, The Greatest Games, the Greatest Writers from the Game's Most Exciting Years (Hardcover)

Since its start in the early-1940s, Baseball Digest has been a credible source for current information and historical recollections on the sport.

This compendium is a terrific tour of the coverage in print and photographs that has been chronicled over the many years. This is an absolute must for a baseball fan or for any reader who is seeking accurate history on the life and times of "The Grand Old Game."