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All-Star Baseball Books Worthy of the World Series
Famous rivalries, miraculous wins, and the raucous history of the MLB.
Published on June 16, 2023
The Baseball 100
Joe PosnanskiThis deep dive into the 100 greatest players in baseball history goes far beyond stats, recounting stories of family, controversy, and the struggle for greatness. Posnanski’s inclusion of great players and those neglected by history will surprise die-hard fans and engross passive observers. Read it in full, or pick and choose the chapters about your favorite players.
Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast)
836 podcast episodes
Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast)
836 podcast episodesWitty banter meets critical analysis in this twice-weekly podcast hosted by Jimmy “Jomboy” O’Brien, Jake Storiale, and former player Trevor Plouffe. Learn about stats, players, and the latest games, plus get an insider’s perspective — while laughing as if you’re hanging out with friends.
The Boys of Summer: The Classic Narrative of Growing Up Within Shouting Distance of Ebbets Field, Covering the Jackie Robinson Dodgers, and What's Happened to Everybody Since
The Boys of Summer: The Classic Narrative of Growing Up Within Shouting Distance of Ebbets Field, Covering the Jackie Robinson Dodgers, and What's Happened to Everybody Since
Roger KahnBefore Ohtani, Tatís, and Betts, players named Clem, Pee Wee, Preacher, and Duke ruled the diamond. “The Boys of Summer” follows their dramatic 1955 season on the Brooklyn Dodgers. Feuds, curses, and edge-of-your-seat ball games culminate in a World Series for the ages with the Dodgers facing down their archrivals, the New York Yankees. THE classic World Series book.
The Bad Guys Won: A Season of Brawling, Boozing, Bimbo Chasing, and Championship Baseball with Straw, Doc, Mookie, Nails, the Kid, and the Rest of the 1986 Mets, the Rowdiest Team Ever to Put on a New York Uniform--and Maybe the Best
The Bad Guys Won: A Season of Brawling, Boozing, Bimbo Chasing, and Championship Baseball with Straw, Doc, Mookie, Nails, the Kid, and the Rest of the 1986 Mets, the Rowdiest Team Ever to Put on a New York Uniform--and Maybe the Best
Jeff PearlmanBaseball is America’s sweetheart sport, but what happens when the winners are anything but loveable? This zinger of a title (one of our all-time favorites) perfectly captures the juicy heart of the rollicking story it tells. You’ll love to hate these “bad guy” as they chase the World Series title.
The Chicago Cubs: Story of a Curse
Rich CohenThe Chicago Cubs went almost 100 years without a World Series title. Long-time Cubs fanatic Cohen weaves his personal experiences rooting for a severe underdog team with the franchise’s history of strikeouts that culminates miraculously in the Cubs’ 2016 championship win. This story of a curse broken is the pinnacle of sports storytelling.
24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid
Willie MaysIn his memoir, all-time great Willie Mays deftly blends baseball stories and life lessons with the ease he once demonstrated tracking down fly balls in center field. In 24 chapters, which correspond to his famous uniform number, Mays recounts his challenges and victories, both on and off the field.
The Cactus League: A Novel
Emily Nemens“The Cactus League” is the greatest baseball novel since “The Art of Fielding.” It’s less about the workings of the game and the mythos surrounding this staple of American culture, and more a dissection of how the big business of baseball affects far more than lushly paid players. In what are essentially nine interconnected short stories (a natural number), you see the lives of coaches, players, an organist, concession stand workers, and many more from a fresh perspective.
Ball Four
Jim BoutonThough his reputation suffered for it, Bouton’s memoir exposed the secrets of MLB locker rooms and dugouts — full of immoral, boisterous, and shameless behavior. Boldly human and blatantly irreverent, this book offers light-hearted and heartbreaking stories from his time as a pitcher with the New York Yankees, Seattle Pilots, Houston Astros, and Atlanta Braves.
How Baseball Happened: Outrageous Lies Exposed! The True Story Revealed
Thomas W. Gilbert“No one invented baseball, just as no one invented other cultural phenomena like rock and roll, bachelor parties, or brunch,” Gilbert writes in this history of baseball’s early-1800s origins. Pick-up games with ever-shifting rules, played by adults with day jobs, that eventually attracted crowds of spectators, are the foundation of America’s fun, enduring pastime.
Big Data Baseball: Math, Miracles, and the End of a 20-Year Losing Streak
Travis SawchikIf you enjoyed “Moneyball,” wait until you read about the data that ended the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 20-year losing streak. Manager Clint Hurdle puts a team of analysts to work, challenging assumptions and finding the key to a winning season. While backed by numbers, this is ultimately a story of teamwork, on and off the field.
Summer of '49
David HalberstamThe iconic pennant battle between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox enraptured fans, fanatics, and fairweather observers alike. Halberstam’s retelling is bigger than baseball, offering a human-first story during simpler times in America. You’ll feel like you’re in the stands, experiencing the mounting tension game after game.
Big Papi: My Story of Big Dreams and Big Hits
David OrtizDavid Ortiz, aka “Big Papi,” was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022, which was his first year of eligibility and speaks to the magnitude of his accomplishments. In this memoir, Ortiz tells his remarkable story, from growing up poor in the Dominican Republic to becoming one of baseball’s greatest hitters who helped end the Boston Red Sox's 86-year World Series drought. Hearing about Big Papi’s big dreams coming true — and getting a glimpse at his charitable work off the field — is inspiring.
I Never Had It Made
Jackie RobinsonThis moving memoir from Jackie Robinson inspired the movie “42.” The baseball legend’s hard-hitting account reveals the struggles and obscene bigotry he faced as the first black player to bust open major league’s racial barrier. Baseball wouldn’t be the beautiful game we love today without the tenacious courage of Robinson.
Our Team: The Epic Story of Four Men and the World Series That Changed Baseball
Luke EpplinCleveland teammates Larry Doby and Satchel Paige were the first Black players to win a World Series in 1948 (the last time Cleveland won the championship), yet their accomplishments have brought little fanfare in the history books, while Jackie Robinson’s story has sustained a media frenzy. Epplin is here to set the record straight and spotlight the talent and eccentricities of Cleveland’s post-World War II team, focusing on Doby, Paige, Bill Veeck (owner), and Bob Feller (pitcher).
The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood
Jane LeavyFrom baseball hero to national disappointment, Mickey Mantle’s life was fraught with ups and downs, wins and losses. Leavy’s biography touches on all of it — setting records, battles with alcoholism, and family trauma. A balanced and compelling story about one of MLB’s greatest legends.
Babe: The Legend Comes to Life
Robert W. CreamerThe history of baseball is incomplete without George Herman Ruth, better known as “Babe.” Creamer’s biography is detailed yet fast-paced, straightforward yet entertaining. Learn about Ruth’s journey from orphaned child to MLB legend, plus the history of the game and the culture of America during his lifetime.
Eight Men Out: The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series
Eliot AsinofUnderpaid and underappreciated, the Chicago White Sox threw the 1919 World Series in a gambling scandal that shocked the nation and ruined the reputation of America’s favorite pastime. This retelling makes the heartbreak of fans feel personal and complex, extending beyond the “Black Sox” to crooked gamblers, biased sportswriters, and greedy league owners.