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Strange But True Baseball Stories
Amusing, amazing and offbeat moments in baseball history.
186 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1973
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 11, 2022
A fun and easy reading book. Short stories about strange happenings and accidents of baseball players. It probably is for a YA audience since it is written in plain English and short sentences. Written in 1966 it chronicles stories from the 1910s through the 1950s. Fun and interesting reading for real baseball history fans.
April 17, 2015
Furman Bisher, longtime sports editor for the Atlanta Journal, wrote this book for kids back in 1966. I had a copy back in the day; it was perhaps my favorite book when I was about twelve years old.
I'm no longer part of the target audience, but I pull it off the shelf every once in a while, and it's still an enjoyable read. Some of the stories are well-known to baseball fans, like the exploits of the 1914 "Miracle Braves," and the unforeseen consequences of Wally Pipp's pregame headache in 1925. (The manager gave Pipp his requested day off, but his replacement was young Lou Gehrig, who then played in every Yankee game until 1939.) But I most enjoyed the stories from the depths of the minor leagues, like the account of the dog who ran the bases with his friend Roberto Ortiz of the Charlotte Hornets in 1941, and so made the box scores in the next day's papers. ("Y - Yellow Dog ran with Ortiz in the 9th.") And I would have like to seen the 1951 game when the Fitzgerald team of the Georgia State League, in response to the jeers of the crowd ("Put in the batboy!"), put twelve-year-old Joe Reliford in the game, where he acquitted himself well.
Even though the book is somewhat dated now, it still works. The best endorsement I can give it is an explanation of why I no longer have my original copy. A few years back, I gave it to a twelve-year-old boy, who didn't like reading, as something that might entertain him on a long car trip. The next day I got the report that he had read the entire book between Atlanta and Knoxville.
I'm no longer part of the target audience, but I pull it off the shelf every once in a while, and it's still an enjoyable read. Some of the stories are well-known to baseball fans, like the exploits of the 1914 "Miracle Braves," and the unforeseen consequences of Wally Pipp's pregame headache in 1925. (The manager gave Pipp his requested day off, but his replacement was young Lou Gehrig, who then played in every Yankee game until 1939.) But I most enjoyed the stories from the depths of the minor leagues, like the account of the dog who ran the bases with his friend Roberto Ortiz of the Charlotte Hornets in 1941, and so made the box scores in the next day's papers. ("Y - Yellow Dog ran with Ortiz in the 9th.") And I would have like to seen the 1951 game when the Fitzgerald team of the Georgia State League, in response to the jeers of the crowd ("Put in the batboy!"), put twelve-year-old Joe Reliford in the game, where he acquitted himself well.
Even though the book is somewhat dated now, it still works. The best endorsement I can give it is an explanation of why I no longer have my original copy. A few years back, I gave it to a twelve-year-old boy, who didn't like reading, as something that might entertain him on a long car trip. The next day I got the report that he had read the entire book between Atlanta and Knoxville.
May 10, 2014
You know how you remember certain events from your childhood no matter how old you are? This book is one of them as I remember it was the first baseball book I ever read and the first one I bought with my allowance from the Scholastic book sales in school. Heck even without rereading the book I remember a few of the stories in it: how Pete Gray became a major league player with just one arm, Stan Musial starting out as a pitcher and a freak play forced him to switch to the outfield (that seemed to work out for him), Harvey Haddox pitching 12 perfect innings and losing the game in the 13th...ahh, memories. This is a very good children's baseball book and if you are lucky enough to still have a copy...pass it down to a child or grandchild.
March 29, 2018
One of the fond memories of childhood was getting this little gem from the Scholastic Book Club.
June 2, 2021
With a major league baseball season of over 150 games and at least 16 teams in the majors, there has been ample opportunity for unusual events to take place. What is described here is more in the area of memorable rather than strange. For example, the famous Bill Veeck publicity stunt of having Eddie Gaedel bat in a game is not strange. To many, it was a brilliant move to attract nationwide attention to what was a lousy team that drew few fans.
The fact that Stan Musial started out as a pitcher until he hurt his throwing arm and became one of the best hitters of all-time is also not strange. Several other players started out at one position and then became great at another. Actor Chuck Connors was a baseball player of dubious distinction until he became an actor. Again, not all that unusual, and certainly not strange.
Having said that, this is a nice book of historical events in baseball. It shows how the game reflects the world around it and that the people that have played it were human. The most unusual story is how Ty Cobb literally discovered himself as a baseball prospect.
The fact that Stan Musial started out as a pitcher until he hurt his throwing arm and became one of the best hitters of all-time is also not strange. Several other players started out at one position and then became great at another. Actor Chuck Connors was a baseball player of dubious distinction until he became an actor. Again, not all that unusual, and certainly not strange.
Having said that, this is a nice book of historical events in baseball. It shows how the game reflects the world around it and that the people that have played it were human. The most unusual story is how Ty Cobb literally discovered himself as a baseball prospect.
June 2, 2017
1.) I read this book because it was recommended by my Dad. It was a book that he had as a kid and he let me read at my house. He never wanted me to take it out because he didn't want it lost. It was his favorite book and present from my Grandpa to my Dad.
2.) This book is a non-fiction book. It is a bunch of stories of crazy things that happened in the MLB. These things have never happened since and it's just some crazy stories. For example, there is a story about a midget who got a major league contract as a publicity stunt. The stories are very crazy and comical too.
3.) I liked the book a lot. I love baseball, so it was a perfect fit for me. I love reading non-fiction too, so that helped me get into it as well. When I read non-fiction and just makes me think that these stories actually happened and that makes me enjoy the book even more.
4,) I recommend this book to anyone who likes baseball. If you aren't a sports person then this is definitely not a book for you. This book is also a book for younger kids. It's a book to enjoy and it's comical.
2.) This book is a non-fiction book. It is a bunch of stories of crazy things that happened in the MLB. These things have never happened since and it's just some crazy stories. For example, there is a story about a midget who got a major league contract as a publicity stunt. The stories are very crazy and comical too.
3.) I liked the book a lot. I love baseball, so it was a perfect fit for me. I love reading non-fiction too, so that helped me get into it as well. When I read non-fiction and just makes me think that these stories actually happened and that makes me enjoy the book even more.
4,) I recommend this book to anyone who likes baseball. If you aren't a sports person then this is definitely not a book for you. This book is also a book for younger kids. It's a book to enjoy and it's comical.
December 8, 2023
The title pretty much says it all here. This is a collection of stories about strange but true events that happened in baseball. The book is older, written in 1966, so a lot of these stories are about a very different age of baseball. This means that a lot of these stories just wouldn't happen today, because sports today is quite different than it was.
I think this is a book geared more towards kids, so the stories aren't very hard to read or very long. There are some pretty interesting stories in here though. I'm not a huge sports fan or anything, but it was interesting to read stories of odd circumstances, remarkable perseverance, or just surprising talent.
It's not a book that I would probably ever want to read again, but it made for an interesting book to read through once.
I think this is a book geared more towards kids, so the stories aren't very hard to read or very long. There are some pretty interesting stories in here though. I'm not a huge sports fan or anything, but it was interesting to read stories of odd circumstances, remarkable perseverance, or just surprising talent.
It's not a book that I would probably ever want to read again, but it made for an interesting book to read through once.
June 24, 2019
I found this book when I was cleaning up my dad's house. This is a nice little book full of true short stories. I think almost anyone would enjoy reading this one.
September 26, 2015
Having been written in 1966, this book will probably contain accounts of players and events you haven't heard of, such as the only pitcher to pitch two no-hit games back to back, who played in the Majors with an artificial leg or one arm, the "shoe-shine" pitch, and the famous actor who finally chose television over the big leagues, and many others. Not exactly "strange" but the stories were unique. Recommended for both the young person interested in baseball as well as the seasoned fan.
October 10, 2010
its just what the title said "strange but true baseball stories"
it had the most unexpected stories.
it had the most unexpected stories.
January 1, 2015
Enjoyed reading when younger.
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October 22, 2016read in summer 1967
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews