Diamonds in the Rough: The Untold History of Baseball [Paperback]

Joel Zoss (Author), John Bowman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1996

"The book is filled with facts and stories, all a testament to research of a high order, and all told with wit and grace". -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Altogether wonderful . . . . I challenge any fan to read Diamonds in the Rough and not come away with a hundred gems he did not own before. Erudite, properly skeptical, and unfailingly lively—in short, a hit. I rise to my feet in admiration and gnash my teeth that I did not write it."—John Thorn, author of Total Baseball: The Ultimate Baseball Encyclopedia

(John Thorn )

“The range [of topics] is mind-boggling, and even for those who like to think they know the game, there is much that is new in this eclectic collection of anecdotes, folk tales, and basic history. . . . As baseball history and Americana, Diamonds in the Rough offers something for everyone.”—Orlando Sentinel

(Orlando Sentinel )

“The most up-to-date study of baseball’s early history.”—Fox Butterfield, New York Times

(Fox Butterfield New York Times )

“One of the greatest baseball books of all time.”—Allen Barra, New York Observer

(Allen Barra New York Observer ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

"Altogether wonderful . . . I challenge any fan to read Diamonds in the Rough and not come away with a hundred gems he did not own before. Erudite, properly skeptical, and unfailingly lively--in short, a hit. I rise to my feet in admiration and gnash my teeth that I did not write it."—John Thorn, author of Total Baseball: The Ultimate Baseball Encyclopedia. "One of the greatest baseball books of all time."—Allen Barra, New York Observer. "The range [of topics] is mind-boggling, and even for those who like to think they know the game, there is much that is new in this eclectic collection of anecdotes, folk tales, and basic history. . . . As baseball history and Americana, Diamonds in the Rough offers something for everyone."—Orlando Sentinel. "The most up-to-date study of baseball’s early history."—Fox Butterfield,New York Times.

Pairing their detailed, informative research with a sophisticated anecdotal approach, Joel Zoss and John Bowman have written a fascinating, original, literate, and concise compendium of the history and issues surrounding America's national pastime. Addressed are such diverse topics as the origins of the game, the contributions of minorities and women, the evolution of umpiring, baseball's influence on literature and music, substance abuse, on- and off-field tragedy, and the game's international presence. Diamonds in the Rough is an invaluable and stimulating resource both for those who already study the game and for those who would like to learn its revealing history.

Novelist Joel Zoss and historian John Bowman have collaborated on a number of baseball books, including The American and National Leagues: A Complete History and The Pictorial History of Baseball. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 433 pages
• Publisher: Contemporary Books (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809232340
• ISBN-13: 978-0809232345
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,273,058 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Information for the casual or hardcore fan, July 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Diamonds in the Rough: The Untold History of Baseball (Paperback)

This book looks at a wide variety of avenues of the baseball world. There are chapters on umpires, women in baseball, deaths related to baseball, international baseball, the music and literature of baseball, baseball during wartime and other baseball related subjects. The book is written in such a way that I found that the chapters do not have to be read in the order they are presented. The book is full of history, interesting to read and a must for any baseball fan.

4.0 out of 5 stars Rough Collection, October 2, 2011

By 

Ohioan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Diamonds in the Rough: The Untold History of Baseball (Paperback)

This book is a collection of baseball facts and anecdotes, covering the entire history of the game and pretty much all aspects of the game as well. You can open the book at random and read something interesting on just about every page. On the other hand, the book doesn't cover any subject in real depth. That's not it's intention, though. Think of this as a rough (unpolished) collection of fascinating baseball information, worth looking into.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Buy, January 8, 2011

By 

guitarguy - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Diamonds in the Rough: The Untold History of Baseball (Hardcover)

I ordered a book, it not only came in perfect condition...when I went to my friend (co-author), to have it signed, it turned out to be a first edition...He took it to show everyone in the room. He was even more excited than I! Thanks for a great buy!