Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
As good as a reference work can get, July 15, 2001
Given that _no_ book of baseball statistics can possibly be without errors (or controversies!), this book surpasses all its competition. My most recent edition of this is the eighth edition (complete through the 1989 season). I wanted to buy the latest version, but given that this copy only goes through 1995 (and the supplement through 1996), you can imagine my disappointment. Nevertheless...This book is remarkable, especially for the scope of what it attempts. Most baseball references only have lifetime records and statistics for the American and National Leagues. This book has complete statistics for all _six_ major leagues throughout history, team lineups, standings, and season records for each of those leagues, managers' records, every trade made in baseball, every postseason series, every All Star game, a National Association register, and an admirable (albeit understandably incomplete) register of Negro League players. Finally, I can think of only one reason a baseball fan might be disappointed with The Baseball Encyclopedia. As a book of statistics, this is a reference work, and not a collection of colorful stories. There are scores of great baseball books out there to enjoy. However, one of the great joys of baseball is that whether you're looking at this year's stars or those from the 19th century, statistics can paint a very vivid picture of anyone. The Baseball Encyclopedia displays that picture better than any other work. Reading about Babe Ruth's mighty swing is one thing, but seeing the numbers in black and white is staggering. Especially when you realize he had 94 pitching wins as well. Whew!
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"The Baseball Encyclopedia", March 24, 2000
This is the bible by which all other baseball encyclopedias are measured. My main criticism is that it is not kept up to date. I have the tenth edition which only goes through the '95 season (date of this review 24 March 2000). Some of the features are of little interest to me: trades, lifetime rosters, and home-road performances. I did enjoy some features in previous editions which have since been deleted, such as the difference in winning percentages between pitchers and the teams they played for. This was a really revealing stat! Some pitchers considered outstanding by most of us actually had lower winning percentages than the teams they played for, and some, Walter Johnson for example, who played for dreadful teams most of his career, are even greater than their indivdual stats would indicate! This is not a perfect book, and some information can be better obtained elsewhere, but it is still the gold standard, and I certainly will purchase the next edition, if I live that long.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Time for a new edition!, July 11, 1999
By A Customer
It's very informative and useful, as always. BUT, it's too old. 1998 was a great and classic season and it's time for an update. And if someone buys the hardcover, the yearly update editions should be included free. (It doesn't have 1997 nor, I believe, 1996, either).
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