Baseball Confidential

by Bruce Nash, Allan Zullo

From left field to home plate, from the dugout to the bullpen---baseball is exposed! For the first time, here is the fascinating story of the secret game played on the field---of sneaky decoys and phantom tags, corked bats and doctored balls, stealing signs and stealing strikes. And here is life off the field---the media hogs and chow hounds, kangaroo courts and clubhouse tantrums, hot-footers and tobacco spitters. Find out what baseball players really think about the game and each other---from the boys of summer themselves! Welcome to the secret world of major league baseball. From showboats to gamers, from brush-back artists to clubhouse pranksters---here is the behind the scenes lowdown, based on a comprehensive survey of today's players! Roger Clemens, George Brett, Dave Winfield, Tony Gwynn, Kirby Puckett and Ozzie Smith!

Genres: Baseball

223 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1988

Reviews

[Bryan Whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

The biggest drawback to this work is that, as far as I know, it hasn’t been updated since 1988. It’s a fascinating tour of the behind-the-scenes action of our national pastime (even the behind-the-scenes action that takes place on the field during the game). And though I relish hearing anecdotes from and about the guys I used to love (and hate) when I was a kid, it sure would be nice to have a similar work or an updated version of this one that clues us in on some of the foibles of current players.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author of this book interviewed a bunch of major league players to find out what goes on in the dugout, in the bullpen, and in the locker room. Shenanigans and hilarity result. I found it entertaining and amusing, and I care not a whit for sports. I also learned a particular insult, though, while not very creative, is still pretty funny in my opinion: "Fuck you, you fucking fuck!" - said to a Yankees player by an irate fan after the player wouldn't sign an autograph.

[Donald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, if you are a baseball nut like me. But it's just a snapshot of the game, limited to the players and teams from 1987. I was a teenager then, so I dug it.

[Ronald · Rating 3 out of 5]

the book I read was written by Nash and Zullo; read SOME TIME in 1999

[Owen Zoll · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dry humor; crude; hungry, and not much else. Recommended for sports movie scouting directors and sports fans who have to use the bathroom

[Ron Kaplan · Rating 3 out of 5]

anecdotes,culture