Koppett's Concise History of Major League Baseball

by Leonard Koppett

Baseball's greatest asset is the richness of its lore, and Leonard Koppett has made the entire treasure of the game's history accessible in one enjoyable volume. In his lively narratives on the shape and significance of each season from baseball's nineteenth-century beginnings to the updated and expanded sections on the last decade, Koppett explains the changes in baseball-the-game and baseball-the-business that forged the major leagues we know today. Each chapter recounts trends, players, and events during different eras; offers succinct seasonal recaps, and summarizes how the consequences of that particular baseball era set the stage for the next. On the origins and evolution of on-the-field play—from the 1880s origin of pitching high and tight then low and away, to modern-day use of body armor at bat—plus statistics and record-breaking achievements, Koppett's got it covered. On business and organizational controversies, such as the introduction of night baseball, radio and TV broadcasting, free agency, strike actions, divisional play-offs, and the policies of owners and commissioners, Koppett's got it covered. One-stop reading for the most essential stories, statistics, and opinions on the major leagues, Koppett's Concise History of Major League Baseball is the most original baseball reference available.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Nonfiction, History

528 pages, Paperback

First published September 24, 1998

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Koppett's Concise History of Major League Baseball is a sweeping survey of our National Pastime. Leonard Koppett takes the reader from baseball's disputed origins all the way to free agency. Reading through this 500+ page book (and they're big pages, trust me) puts all of problems of today's game - rules changes, free agency, threats of strikes, steriods, etc. - in true perspective.

I highly recommend it to anyone who considers himself or herself a fan of the game, but a word of warning - don't try to bite it all off in one weekend. Koppett's Concise History is best taken in bits and pieces.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every true fan should read this one.

[Esoderek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want to know about baseball? Get this book. It takes you season by season from the rustic origins in NY in 1846 to 1994 (or to 2003 if you got the newer version like I did), detailing not only who won and who batted what, but also what happened behind the scenes.

It's major downfall is the grandness of its scope. I found that after the 50's, I started to lose interest, which is odd because as it went on, the players themselves started becoming more and more familiar. But not much changed behind the scenes, aside from the greed and tension, which doesn't exactly make a thrilling read.

But still, a must-have for any baseball fan.

[Zeeple · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.