Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball (Paperback)

~ (Author) "On August 13, 1910, there was a baseball game of perfect symmetry..." (more)
Key Phrases: tieing run, baseball person, high seam, National League, American League, World Series (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In Men at Work, political pundit George Will breaks baseball down, parsing it into essential tasks: hitting, fielding, pitching, and managing. Why do some succeed grandly while others are more apt to whiff? By analyzing the way Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken, Orel Hershiser, and Tony LaRussa approach the game and do what they do, he finds striking similarities in intelligence, dedication, drive, and desire.

From Publishers Weekly

In this book for the hard-core baseball fan, Will persuades such notables as Tony La Russa, Orel Hershiser and Tony Gwynn to offer details on the finer points of the game. "The author tends to retell well-known baseball history a little too often," said PW. "But as a sports journalist, he shows himself to be a master at enticing players into particularly enlightening discussions."
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: It Books (April 24, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060973722
• ISBN-13: 978-0060973728
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #109,273 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An inside look into the game of baseball., July 4, 2001

By	ROBERT KINGSLEY (Fort Collins, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you have ever wondered how the players and managers prepare to do the amazing things we see every day of the baseball season this is the book for you! I have loved the game for my entire life, but I never realized so much preparation goes into every little aspect of the game. George Will covers each part of the game - pitching, hitting, and fielding - by observing and interviewing some of the greats of the game; Hershiser on pitching, Gwynn on hitting, Ripken on fielding, and Larussa on putting it all together.

George Will quoted Wes Westrum in this book - "Baseball is like church. Many attend, but few understand." This book increased my understanding of the game and as a result has added to my enjoyment of baseball. I see things I didn't see before I read this book - the nuances of the game have become more clear.

I did not believe I could love the game more, but after reading this book, I do! I would highly recommend this book to both students of the game and to newcomers looking to understand the game.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best baseball book available..., November 15, 2002

By	Azim Jessa (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews

So insightful and so true, even 10 years after the book was published. A must for any fan of THE GAME.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Will breaks down a complex game into four manageable pieces., October 10, 1997

By	[e-mail] (Carbondale, Illinois) - See all my reviews

Ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors as the coaches meet before a game, or how much sign stealing really ocurrs? The answers to these questions and much more about the behind-the-scenes goings on of the great game of baseball are in this magnificent book by the conservative political columnist George F. Will. Will takes you behind closed doors with Tony LaRussa, the best manager in the game. He also takes you to the pither's mound with Orel Hershiser, to the batter's box with Tony Gwynn, and to the shortstop's position with Cal Ripken, Jr. And when he gets you there, he explains every thing that is going on in everyone's head and he does it with stunning detail, and first-hand knowledge that will keep you begging for more after you finish. Will's book is a must have for even the casual baseball fan.