The Story of Baseball: Third Revised and Expanded Edition [Hardcover]

Lawrence S. Ritter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 1999 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

"This solid, absorbing introduction to the history, mechanics, and magic of baseball has been expanded and updated, with the addition of several chapters incorporating new baseball lore and current faces. A winner in any season."--"Horn Book."

"A splendid volume for fans of all ages. a solid hit." --"The New York Times"

"A grand slam all the way!" --"School Library Journal"

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8-This is the third revision of a standard sports title first published in 1983, and then revised in 1990. Here, Ritter takes baseball's story through the events of the 1990s, ending with the 1998 great home-run record race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Of course, the other part of the story during this past decade deals mostly with labor strife and organizational turmoil, and the author does a good job of succinctly laying out the details of these complex matters. An entirely new chapter deals with the market for baseball cards and other memorabilia. The photographs have also been updated, with pictures of today's stars mixed in with those from past decades. As with the other editions, the first part takes readers through a well-written and entertaining history of the game. The second part deals with aspects of the game such as strategy, hitting, pitching, and base running. There's even a section on signs and signals-something missing from many of the other books that cover the sport. The clear writing and excellent organization have made this title a top choice in the past; this edition, bringing the "story" up to the present day, is a most welcome addition.
Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library,
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 6^-12. From an 1846 game in Hoboken to last year's McGwire-Sosa race for the record books, Ritter's update of his 1990 book once again takes in the game's personalities, statistics, and strategies. The majority of the changes are found in the two chapters on modern times: top players today have been substituted for favorites from the 1980s, and there's a take on the effects of the 1994 strike. The original format has been retained: the first half is a chronological look at major league history; the second is an assessment of game elements--pitching, fielding, etc. Although some of the chapters may be a bit statistics-heavy for the casual fan, they are sprinkled with enough entertaining anecdotes and gossip to keep the reader engaged. An enjoyable mix for player and spectator alike. Randy Meyer

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 3 edition (April 28, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688162649
• ISBN-13: 978-0688162641
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,697,952 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Needs an editor, February 20, 2000

By 

Ben Walsh - See all my reviews

This review is from: Story of Baseball, The (2nd edition) (Paperback)

This book does a decent job and covers a lot of ground, from history to fielding fundamentals to famous players and records. However, it seemed rushed and somewhat shallow. A third edition of a book should *not* include blatant errors. Ty Cobb's Hall of Fame plaque may give him 4,191 hits, but the current verdict is well established at 4,189. A Cobb anecdote ("how would you bat against today's pitching?") is told wrongly. The Seattle Pilots are said now to be the Mariners, when in fact the Pilots are now the Milwaukee Brewers ... that sort of thing.

The author also has an obsession with categorizing players which he pursues in cart-before-the-horse fashion. Some players are "place hitters" and only about 5% of their hits are home runs. Some players are "power hitters" and homer in 20% of hits. Attributes are then assigned to these mystic beasts. "Power pitchers" and "control pitchers" are also introduced, and these animals MUST have certain attributes, too. Why divide batters into these armed camps instead of considering the continuums across the spectra of ability and achievement is beyond me, but he does. At length. Again. And again. Every point is made and underscored at least three times before proceeding - a condescension to the younger audience that the book does not need. The writing is clear and uncomplicated.

A decent editor who could have caught errors, questioned the writer on his occasional lapses into silliness and told him to stop repeating himself would have helped a great deal.

There are far better books out there on the subject, but for a younger fan or someone new to the game this provides a servicable introduction.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Story of Baseball, September 23, 2009

By 

J. Kilbourne - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Story of Baseball (Paperback)

The Story of Baseball is quite simply the best book I have ever read on the subject and will appeal to young and old alike. It is very readable and filled with interesting facts and anecdotes about the sport.

4.0 out of 5 stars ONE MORE FOR YOUNG BASEBALL BUFFS, February 27, 2004

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Story of Baseball: Third Revised and Expanded Edition (Hardcover)

With a foreword by Ted Williams this readable, generously illustrated volume is a trove of stories, historical data, and traditions. Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Roger Maris, Mark McGwire and all the greats relive some of baseball's most memorable moments.
Ritter, an acknowledged expert in this field, shares his knowledge as he examines and analyzes hitting, pitching and fielding.