Koppetts Concise History of Major League Baseball Book + PRICE WATCH * Amazon pricing is not included in price watch

Koppetts Concise History of Major League Baseball Book

The why behind Hall of Fame sportswriter Leonard Koppett's Concise History is almost as impressive as the authoritative and fascinating volume itself. Given that baseball's best pitch is the richness of its lore, Koppett was appalled that upon their arrival in the majors, contemporary stars like Yankee first baseman Don Mattingly knew nothing of Lou Gehrig, and Ken Griffey Jr. had little more awareness of Jackie Robinson than his name. If the players themselves don't appreciate the legacy or importance of what they're part of, what chance do the rest of us have? Koppett's mission is to change that. What makes the Concise History such a valuable addition to an already packed baseball bookshelf is that it's an original. First and foremost, its strong, narrative push spans the divide between statistical encyclopedias and the chronicles that generally focus on individual years or teams or issues. It's quite thorough--reaching back to the 1840s and covering the game up through the 1998 sale of the Dodgers--clearly linking the game of baseball to the business of baseball. It covers trends as well as players and events, and, in one of its most useful features, offers succinct seasonal recaps at the end of each chapter. Koppett's a fine writer with a well-established voice, which he uses to analyze as well as report; he's no fence straddler on the more complex questions like free agency, franchise moves, collusion, realignment, and the replacement of family ownership by conglomerates. Like a good home run race, it's a book unique to this particular game, and there's nothing quite like it anywhere. --Jeff SilvermanRead More

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  • Product Description

    First Time in Paperback, Updated and Expanded With a New Chapter for the 2004 Edition That Covers Through the 2003 Season

    Shocked to discover how little contemporary baseball stars knew of their sport?s rich lore, acclaimed baseball writer Leonard Koppett set out to change all that in one fell swoop. Koppett's Concise History of Major League Baseball, first published in 1998, now updated through the 2003 season and available in paperback for the first time, this great baseball book makes the entire treasure of the game?s history available in one richly enjoyable volume. Opening to literally any page, readers will find lively narratives on the shape and significance of each baseball season from the sport?s nineteenth century beginnings through 2003's scintillating postseason, as well as quantitative summaries of statistics that chronicle changes in the game. Each chapter recounts trends, players, and events during different eras, offers succinct seasonal recaps, and summarizes the highlights of each baseball era.

    On the origins and evolution of on-the-field play?from the 1880s origin of pitching high and tight then low and away, to today?s ballplayers? use of body armor at bat?plus statistics and record-breaking achievements, Koppett?s got it covered. On the introduction of night baseball, radio and TV broadcasting, free agency, and the divisional play-offs, Koppet?s got it covered, too. And if readers want to know just whose interests have been served with each new development in the life of major-league baseball, Koppett?s the man.

    This is the only book of its kind--an instantly accessible and concise history of baseball by a Hall of Fame sportswriter that spans the divide between statistical encyclopedias and specialized narratives on individual seasons, teams, and players. In this first update since the original edition, David Koppett has taken his late father's copious notes and expanded the book with new sections on interleague play, home run races and records, newly opened ballparks, changes in umpiring, the Commissioner's office, the 2002 labor agreement, and summaries for every season since 1995.

  • 0786712864
  • 9780786712861
  • Leonard Koppett
  • 9 February 2004
  • Avalon Publishing Group
  • Paperback (Book)
  • 528
  • 1st Updated and Expanded Edition
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