History of Baseball in 100 Objects

by Josh Leventhal

The only book of its kind to tell the history of baseball, from its inception to the present day, through 100 key objects that represent the major milestones, evolutionary events, and larger-than-life personalities that make up the game

A History of Baseball in 100 Objects is a visual and historical record of the game as told through essential documents, letters, photographs, equipment, memorabilia, food and drink, merchandise and media items, and relics of popular culture, each of which represents the history and evolution of the game.

Among these objects are the original ordinance banning baseball in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1791 (the earliest known reference to the game in America); the "By-laws and Rules of the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club," 1845 (the first codified rules of the game); Fred Thayer's catcher's mask from the 1870s (the first use of this equipment in the game); a scorecard from the 1903 World Series (the first World Series); Grantland Rice's typewriter (the role of sportswriters in making baseball the national pastime); Babe Ruth's bat, circa 1927 (the emergence of the long ball); Pittsburgh Crawford's team bus, 1935 (the Negro Leagues); Jackie Robinson's Montreal Royals uniform, 1946 (the breaking of the color barrier); a ticket stub from the 1951 Giants-Dodgers playoff game and Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round The World" (one of baseball's iconic moments); Sandy Koufax's Cy Young Award, 1963 (the era of dominant pitchers); a "Reggie!" candy bar, 1978 (the modern player as media star); Rickey Henderson's shoes, 1982 (baseball's all-time-greatest base stealer); the original architect's drawing for Oriole Park at Camden Yards (the ballpark renaissance of the 1990s); and Barry Bond's record-breaking bat (the age of Performance Enhancing Drugs).

A full-page photograph of the object is accompanied by lively text that describes the historical significance of the object and its connection to baseball's history, as well as additional stories and information about that particular period in the history of the game.

Genres: History, Baseball, Sports, Nonfiction

496 pages, Hardcover

First published March 17, 2015

Reviews

[Kelly Sedinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've come to really like this mini-genre of "A History of X in Y Objects". I love the telling of history through real, tangible items (for the most part...a couple items here aren't tangible at all, but that's fine). Baseball's history is long, labyrinthine, and it touches on a lot of the bigger themes in American history itself. The game is almost a microcosm of America, in a lot of ways. This is an engaging trek through baseball's history, from its mythical origins (if Abner Doubleday isn't a myth, I don't know what is) up to almost the present day.

[Jessica Fellows · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good stories but felt somewhat like reading an encyclopedia of baseball. I think better stories could have been told if they picked 50 objects maybe. Lots of the objects the story really had nothing to do with the object. Picking a uniform jersey so you can tell a story about a player.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. I especially enjoyed the last 1/3, when it covered events that I remembered.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. I checked it out from the library and I honestly do not want to give it back. I am a big reader, but I am also super visual--this book covers both areas beautifully. It is filled with objects that are important to baseball history and it is glorious. Each photo is accompanied by a description of the item's importance and relationship to baseball history. It is informative without being overly heavy and the photography is gorgeous. I would recommend this to any baseball fan as a must have.

[Steve Holden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love baseball. I love history. It always fascinates me to see American History through the game of baseball. The game has evolved as we have as a culture over time. This book is real easy to get into and enjoy. It can easily be engaged to be read cover to cover, or selectively reading over a specific artifact or era. Good book for the library of a baseball fan!

[Dave]

A fun journey through "baseball archeology" A special interest were the chapters about the way the game began. Legend says Abner Doubleday was inspired to invent the game. A myth that is probably not true

[Mike Glaser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helped to remind me why I enjoy the game of baseball so much. A large proportion of the book deals with the pre-twentieth century history of the game so be prepared for a lot of discussion of town all.

[Cal Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love baseball and this book tells me every thing that you need to know about the sport from how it started to the dead ball era, all the way up to the present.

[Julian Douglass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book on the 100 objects that made baseball the way it is today. I love that each object had a sub story in it instead of just describing the object and letting it be. Does a really good job in explaining the origins of baseball as well as some of the myths surrounding the game. I don't think he is much of a traditionalist as he does seem to be pro-DH and thinks that players "allegedly" to steroids in the 1990's despite mountains of evidence that players did in fact juice. Other than those two minor details, Mr. Leventhal writes a great history on the object that made the game