Diamonds: The Evolution of the Ballpark [Paperback]

Michael Gershman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 23, 1995

Ballparks are repositories of family memory, unique places that link generations. Until now, no single volume has focused on the historical development of these special spaces, from the crossroads of neighboring cornfields to the intersections of state highways. In Diamonds, Michael Gershman carefully traces the often curious genesis of these cultural landmarks that mirror, in many respects, the evolution of our urban landscape. All the great parks - Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, Sportsman's Park, Ebbets Field, Shibe Park, Crosley Field, the Polo Grounds, Comiskey Park, Forbes Field, Tiger Stadium - and lesser-known gems - Baker Bowl, South End Grounds, Palace of the Fans, and Hilltop Park - are celebrated with a rich blend of meticulously researched history, illuminating anecdotes, rare photographs, and evocative illustrations. Diamonds also tells the story of more modern baseball palaces - Candlestick Park, the Astrodome, and Camden Yards - and describes parks that were proposed but ne

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The first modern concrete and steel stadium, Philadelphia's Shibe Park, was opened in 1909. Following in quick succession were more ballparks with their distinct personalities, among them the Polo Grounds in Manhattan, Boston's Fenway Park, Wrigley Field in Chicago and Brooklyn's Ebbets Field. In the '60s and '70s, Houston's Astrodome and similarly constructed stadiums, which Gershman describes as "concrete doughnuts," sprang up from Philadelphia to Seattle. Gershman is brutal in some assessments, likening the Metrodome in Minneapolis to a "circus tent on steroids" and Seattle's Kingdome to "a Tomahawk missile launch site." But, he suggests, the opening last year of Baltimore's enormously popular Camden Yards signals a move to recapture the flavor of an era past. In fact, the model for the Milwaukee Brewers projected park bears a remarkable resemblance to Ebbets Field. The 250 black-and-white photographs that Gershman ( The Score Board Book of Baseball Cards ) has assembled are exceptional. Many are rare, including one spine-tingler of Babe Ruth looking down the right field line at the old Polo Grounds. We get to see ballparks under construction (Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park), and are shown how some of these were remodeled to take the shape they hold in the memories of many readers. This book is for those who can recall the thrill of seeing their first big league game as a kid, and would like to revisit that special place again. Author tour.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

From the genesis of baseball's first recorded game at Elysian Fields, to the radical departure of the Houston Astrodome, to the splendor of Camden Yards, Gershman takes the reader on a journey through the venues that have housed America's favorite pastime. The most interesting chapters treat the early parks, explaining that they were constructed along trolley lines for easy access and that many were not built for baseball but were adapted for the sport. Also enlightening are the segments on the "Jewel Boxes," like Boston's Fenway Park--with its famed retaining wall, the "Green Monster"--and the analysis of modern facilities, such as the awe-inspiring megaplex Skydome. The lack of a crisp writing style is overshadowed by the large number of photographs and sketches. Recommended for general sports collections.
- Jeffrey Gay, Bridgewater P.L., Mass.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 259 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books (March 23, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395735246
• ISBN-13: 978-0395735244
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,817,204 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book, but misleading title, April 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Diamonds: The Evolution of the Ballpark (Paperback)

This is a nice read, filled with nifty anecdotes, and very well researched.

But, its more about the history of baseball in general and not on its playgrounds.

I would say that if you want a history of baseball, this is a good book, but if you're looking for a nice coffeetable book with lots of color pictures, look elsewhere (the photos are all black and white) and likewise if you are looking for a book focusing on the architectural elements, look elsewhere.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book about ballparks I have ever read, May 13, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Diamonds: The Evolution of the Ballpark (Paperback)

Michael Gershman has done an extraordinary amount of research and it shows! This is a beautifully written and informative account of the evolution of the baseball stadium. A must have for any true baseball historian.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Look elsewhere, August 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Diamonds: The Evolution of the Ballpark (Paperback)

The book has lots of terrific pictures, but if you're looking for something to tell you what the inside of Ebbets Field or Crosley Field looked like, this book is short on such details. There are many stories mined from the usual resources recounting what led to the building of the ballparks, and great moments inside them, but "Diamonds" is near useless for getting a sense of detail about these ballparks.