Biographical Dictionary of American Sports [Three Volumes]: Set Baseball, Revised and Expanded Edition [Hardcover]

David L. Porter (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2000 | ISBN-10: 031329884X | ISBN-13: 978-0313298844 | Edition: Rev Exp Su

A standard source of first referral, Porter's multivolume Biographical Dictionary of American Sports now adds a long-awaited revised and expanded edition of the popular 1987 Baseball volume and its supplements. This 3-volume work profiles over 1,450 baseball luminaries, including current stars, former major league players, managers, umpires, executives, and Negro League and All-American Girls Professional Baseball League stars. All entries from earlier volumes are revised and updated, and 477 new figures are added. A handy reference, this comprehensive work provides more biographical information on these baseball professionals than any other reference available. Contributed by baseball historians, educators, and journalists, each profile highlights biographical data, career records, accomplishments, and honors; discusses the subject's accomplishments; and provides bibliographic information. These volumes will be an invaluable reference for baseball aficionados and all libraries.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Reviewed with Baseball (Total Sports Illustrated).

Although many books about baseball focus on the statistics, these two items give us the stories behind the numbers. Neither replaces the large and useful statistical compilations, but both will add depth to baseball reference collections.The two titles were compiled by knowledgeable editors with the help of numerous contributors. Both include all major league players to be elected to the Hall of Fame, as well as prominent individuals who made an impact on baseball off the field. Both are arranged alphabetically by last name, and most entries are between 300 and 500 words. However, the similarities end there. These works are quite different in approach and often contain different information about the individuals discussed.Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: Baseball (the dictionary also includes volumes on football and basketball) was first published in 1987. This new edition contains 1,450 signed entries. Individuals were chosen because of their "impressive statistical records" or because they "made a major impact on professional baseball" and include major league players; prominent minor league, Negro League, and Girls League players; and various executives, coaches, managers, and umpires. Although the bulk of each entry is devoted to a discussion of major on-the-field achievements, most entries begin with a family background and end with some discussion of the person's life after baseball. Team achievements are liberally interspersed with individual achievements. For the reader who wants to dig deeper, the detailed bibliography at the end of each entry is a valuable resource. The entries are followed by a set of useful appendixes that list entries by place of birth and by main position played, as well as managers, executives, umpires, Hall of Famers, and Negro and Girls League players. The Negro and Girls League appendixes can be especially helpful because their players are much less well known. The extensive index lists individuals with entries, or mentioned in entries, and teams by city.With its significant treatment of non-major league players, this title treats baseball as a large-scale American phenomenon and distinguishes itself from Baseball: The Biographical Encyclopedia in its coverage of many more minor and Negro League players. Although some prominent minor leaguers are included in Baseball, emphasis is definitely on the majors. There are entries for "the 2000 most significant and influential people in baseball history," among them one-hit wonder Mark Fidrych, entertainer Max Patkin ("The Clown Prince of Baseball"), and journalists Harry Caray and Vin Scully. Almost every entry provides a career statistics summary, and all feature a small picture of the individual. The editors have often chosen to include interesting quotes and other off-the-field information that makes the people treated seem more interesting. There are no index, appendixes, or bibliography.Although the approach of each title is different, both are entertaining and useful and have their place in libraries that serve patrons who are interested in baseball and the people who make it what it is. Baseball: The Biographical Encyclopedia will be most at home in school and public library collections, although academic libraries with a large baseball collection may also find it useful. Any library that wants to have a serious baseball reference section will need the Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: Baseball. The addition of 475 entries means that it is worth replacing the 1987 edition. REVWR
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Review

“Useful and enjoyable for baseball enthusiasts, this title is recommended for large sports collections and libraries serving a baseball-loving public.”–Choice

“With its significant treatment of non-major league players, this title treats baseball as a large-scale American phenomenon and distinguishes itself from [other books] in its coverage of many more minor and Negro League players....Entertaining and useful....Any library that wants to have a serious baseball reference section will need the Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: Baseball.”–Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 2064 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press; Rev Exp Su edition (April 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031329884X
• ISBN-13: 978-0313298844
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 3.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,760,089 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)