New Thinking Fan's Guide to Baseball

by Leonard Koppett

Explains the ins and outs of baseball, from the game on the field to behind-the-scenes topics such as the media, scouts, and spring training

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Nonfiction

384 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1991

Reviews

[Rodger Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book slowly through the year -- essentially a chapter or two each time I finished a novel (the book has 33 chapters). The first edition dates to 1967, but this one came out in 2001. Given how much I've read about baseball over the decades, I'm not sure I learned as much as a reader in the 1970s might have, but it was worth my time. The book does not fully take advantage of the sabermetric revolution that influenced so much baseball writing after Bill James started producing his Abstracts.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this book has been around since 1991 (actually, the original version is from 1967), the book is well worth reading.

All sorts of things in baseball have changed since the writing of this book. But the writer makes some great points. In the beginning of the book, he outlines a lot of things that baseball fans may have picked up over the years. Umpire positions, facts about the various positions. Importance of fielders. And there is a lot toward the end of the book that comes from his involvement in being a sports writer. He writes about Hall of fame voting (By the way, William Hulbert is in the Hall of Fame, so no worries there). He also gives his thoughts on the difference between newspaper writers and television announcers, and on other ideas such as playing on Astroturf.

Overall, a lot of great information about the game of baseball.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite simply one of the best baseball books I've read. An in-depth guide to understanding every nuance of baseball in an easy to read, yet detailed, examination of each facet of the game. If you love baseball, this book is for you. If you would like to understand why the person you love loves baseball, this book is for you. If you just don't get baseball, this book will help you understand why we love baseball.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book for baseball novices, but also some info for die-hards... not included of course are any modern day ways of breaking down games and talent--read publications by Baseball Prospectus for that, or better yet, subscribe to their site... the best $4 a month a baseball fan could spend.

[Michael West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love this book. If you're a baseball fan, you owe it to yourself to read this.