Customer Reviews

Great Baseball Feats, Facts, and Firsts: Revised 1997 Edition

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I still have my dingy 1989 copy, which helped me get through a boring summer that year! (I was only 14 at the time)

Still, all these years later, even though some of the records have changed, and there are new ballparks and teams, I still refer to my old copy all the time, especially in December and January, when it seems like spring training will never arrive!

Not just a trivia book (though fear not; you will certainly find plenty of that, such as the last wood stadium, the best one-eyed players, the toughest batter to strike out on Tuesday when the bells ring)- more of a baseball history book, humorously told and colored with fabulous stories- truth is crazier than fiction, after all. I am overjoyed to see that this book has been updated... can't wait for the 2001 copy.

A great book!

I've picked up four editions of this book over the years, including the 1999 one. It's interesting to me, and fun, to watch how Nemec manages to incorporate new records and new developments in the game and at the same time maintain the book's basic structure. He even added a new era a couple of years ago--but so neatly I wasn't even aware of it at first. It also brought out the first study I've ever seen on pitchers' batting records. I'd guess there'll be another new edition in 2000, and it'll be interesting once again to see how all the wild new developments in this past season are interwoven.

You can turn to almost any page in this book and find something unique. In addition, it has most of the traditional lists of leaders and record-holders. My favorite feature is Nemec's choice of the "Most Interesting Teams" in each era.

I read the original edition of this book back in 1987 or 1988. It apparently has been updated and reissued almost every year since. As a writer myself, I well recognize the ingenuity that went into this book. Not only is it every bit as chock full of baseball lore as it promises to be, but it is brilliantly organized.

If you're passionate about the game of baseball, and want to know every relevant nugget of historical information conceivable; you're in luck.

It's all right here, compliments of David Nemec & Scott Flatow. The authors are a couple of genuine baseball historians who have compiled this wonderful reference guide for guys like me to peruse for hours on end.

If you love baseball, its statistical history and rich folklore, you've got to have this book; arguably, the most comprehensive reference guide ever produced. Quite simply, if you want to know just about everything there is to know about our National Pastime, look no further; it's all right here.

This is a great book to take to a game with you. I do and read it between innings or, like today, during rain delays. Some unusual stuff here that's new to me anyway. Like "The 10 Worst Pinch Hitters". Only one ex-Oriole, Woody Held. Never realized he was that bad until I saw him in this book.

Anybody can write a baseball record book, but David Nemec writes a contextual record book. For example, he won't just tell you that Rogers Hornsby's 0.424 batting average was the highest single-season mark in history; he'll tell you who holds the highest batting average in a season, position by position. He'll tell you who holds the record since African Americans entered the Major Leagues. He'll tell you who had the WORST batting averages at each position. Moreover, Nemec lists fielding and pitching records for both individuals and teams.

Great Baseball Feats, Facts, and Firsts is the first and finest record book any baseball fan should read.

This book is the baseball fan's dream. Packed with almost every record imaginable, even to statistics about the umpires, it is an organized chronicle of the firsts in baseball. Records for minor league teams and by a teenager are also included. Hours can be spent in poring over the contents of this book; it is both a history of the game and a giver of credit to many players who rarely get it. I enjoyed every page.

If you're like me and thousands and thousands of other baseball fans, you love arguing about who was the best player at a particular feat, be it home runs, batting average, stolen bases, etc. The updated version of this book covers this and much more. Everything among standard records is here, along with time capsules of the period from the 1870s until now, and summaries of each season's World Series. For example, the National League originally wanted to vote in the DH back in the 1930's, but the American League didn't want it! There are enough records listed in this book to keep virtually all "stat-heads" happy. Records by position, obscure records, even a section on all-time minor league records, they're all here.

One minor flaw I noticed in the 2003 edition. Nemec doesn't always keep things completely updated. A mention of Gregg Jefferies, the ex-Met lists him as still active, even though he retired a couple seasons ago. Last season Shawn Green broke the single game total bases mark in an early season game, and yet Joe Adcock is still listed as the holder of that record.

Still, if you love baseball records you will love this book. It's full of those and quite a bit more.

This book contains the most discriminating baseball facts
imaginable. It is written for the baseball buff. For instance,
the first night game of baseball was recorded on 9-2-1880.
Mack holds the record as the longest manager in baseball's
history. Babe Ruth has the most bases. If there is any
fact concerning baseball, it will be listed here in all
likelihood. This book would make a wonderful gift for
any baseball enthusiast. There are previous versions
so that it has been battle-tested over the years.
Without question, the work is a collector's item.