Fair Ball: A Fan's Case for Baseball (Paperback)

by Bob Costas (Author) "It's easy to be lulled into thinking that everything's fine with baseball, because the moments that everyone remembers are still accumulating, as galvanizing as ever..." (more)
Key Phrases: comprehensive revenue sharing, divisional races, interleague play, World Series, Players Association, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This isn't a commentator's diatribe against the sport, but rather a fan's case for baseball. What do I want? I think the same thing that most baseball fans want: To see the game prove worthy of our devotion.

Bob Costas loves baseball. And he's worried about the state of the game--superstar players abandoning the teams that helped them rise to greatness, the awkward interleague play system, the pennant-race-weakening wild cards, and the payroll disparity that effectively eliminates two-thirds of the teams in the league from having any chance to win the World Series--even before opening day. Costas addresses these problems and offers provocative solutions in Fair Ball.

Costas makes it clear from the outset that he's not a romantic, baseball-should-be-played-in-flannel traditionalist; indeed, some of his ideas--comprehensive revenue sharing and salary caps and floors--will be seen as radical by many team owners and players. Others are more standard--no more wild card, and farewell to the DH--but all are thoughtful and cogently argued.

Throughout Fair Ball Costas's affection for the national pastime softens his occasionally strident tone. Ultimately, all baseball fans want the same thing; Costas's ideas, if adopted, would go a long way toward returning the game to full health. --Sunny Delaney --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly
Emmy Award-winning sports announcer Costas is a natural for audio; his confident, animated voice is enjoyable to listen to (though the rapid-fire speed of his delivery takes a little while to get used to), and he's comfortable behind the microphone. His passion for baseball comes through in every line. This audio is a soapbox for Costas, allowing him to present his strong opinions about exactly what's wrong with baseball today. Like a lawyer presenting his final summation, he intelligently argues his case. He believes 1993 was the turning point: the year that Major League Baseball made radical (and in Costas's opinion, misguided) changes, including the realignment of the divisions, that allow weaker teams to enter the playoffs and potentially end up as World Series contenders. Costas also argues strongly for salary caps and revenue sharing to lessen the unfair advantage currently enjoyed by wealthy, large-market teams. This audio's conversational pace and clear production make it a sure bet for baseball fans interested in the future of the game. Based on the Broadway hardcover (Forecasts, Mar. 27). (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Broadway; 1 edition (April 3, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767904664
• ISBN-13: 978-0767904667
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (95 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #174,076 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a Comprehensive Plan to fix Baseball, July 23, 2000

By	J. Liesenfelt (Florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Fair Ball: A Fan's Case for Baseball (Hardcover)

Bob Costas has taken the time (and laying his reputation on the line) to put forth a case to put the Game/Business of Major League Baseball on the right track to insure its place of prominence in the sporting world. The result of his efforts is a well thought out, capable and possibly, doable plan to fix the problems that have been growing since the strike of 94/95.

Granted, not all of the ideas are original to Mr. Costas, but he places all the ideas together, something I haven't come across before. As stated earlier, Mr. Costas premise is that the future stability of baseball has been further weaken by the owner's decisions since the last strike. Among Mr. Costas' solutions are: a revenue sharing arrangement, including local the team's media revenues and gate receipts; a salary cap complete with a floor; no radical realignment of the divisions; and the elimination of the Wild Card.

Along the way Mr. Costas chides both the owners and the players for their selfish, self-motivated attitudes, which left unchecked, just hurt the game.

One drawback to the book is the last chapter in which Mr. Costas discusses nine minor points that are best left out of the book, as the subjects do not fit the book's theme, with the exception of the debate on the DH.

In the Introduction, Mr. Costas states that his effort is to draw distinctions between progress and mere change. Mr. Costas' book does just that and is a good starting point for all baseball fans to discuss the future needs of the game.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Costas For Commissioner, May 6, 2000

By	David M. Garrett (San Antonio, Texas USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Fair Ball: A Fan's Case for Baseball (Hardcover)

Bob Costas presents an intelligent, well reasoned, and objective analysis of the state of baseball. From revenue sharing and realignment to the barber shop debates over the DH, Pete Rose, and the size of the strike zone, Costas outlines a prescription to both revitalize the great American pasttime yet keep it in balance with its long tradition. Fans of the big market teams will find his pill hard to swallow; but having grown up around Kansas City and St. Louis baseball, it seems medication worth considering. Costas steps away from the passioned positions of owners and players to present a plan that will, in the long run, make The Game better. I highly recommend this short, readable book. You may not agree with Costas or like him, but anyone who respects baseball will find his ideas worth consideration. Hey, Bud Selig, are you out there?

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't read it if you are a Yankee fan, April 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fair Ball: A Fan's Case for Baseball (Hardcover)

I joked with my buddy earlier this year that I am going to stop rooting for the Yankees because I think the Yankees winning another World Series would be as much fun as winning a pickup game of softball in which you get to choose the eight other players you want first rather than alternating picks. After reading this book, I became even more disenchanted with the Yankees and the unlevel playing field that exists in MLB. What is great about this book is that Costas not only makes the case of what is wrong with the system but provides very rational solutions to improve it. I would love to hear Bud Selig's thoughts on why Costas' solutions shouldn't be implemented other than George Steinbrenner, Rupert Murdoch and Ted Turner don't think it is a good idea.