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Why Is The Foul Pole Fair?:
The All-American game is highlighted in a collection of offbeat baseball lore, from player's tales and statistical delights to crazy groundskeepers and famous onlookers, humorously recounted by author during a day at the ballpark with his son.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 25, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 13, 2014
I picked this up at the library on a whim. It reminded me of my wife, who is the one in my life who asks so many questions about sports that I just don't know the answer to.
Overall, I thought it was a very well-done book. I'd probably try another of the author's titles as I enjoyed his style. He is definitely very thorough in his research.
The framework of the book is an afternoon the author spent at the ballpark in Cincinnati with his son. He uses the various things he observes during the game as a way to present his exhaustive research on various bits of baseball minutiae. For example, discovering that the seats he purchased for the game are bathed in the hot sun leads to a discussion on ballpark architecture.
He covers a variety of interesting topics in this book, from the history of the baseball card to the evolution of catcher's gear and on through detailed breakdowns of common ballpark foods such as the hot dog and Cracker Jack. Somehow he has come up with the answer to questions I'd never even thought to ask, but that are interesting nonetheless.
Really the only negative thing was that it made me feel sad that I don't care nearly as much about baseball as I did in my childhood. The days of collecting baseball cards, studying box scores in the morning paper, and sitting around watching random Chicago Cubs games on WGN (and enjoying them) are long gone.
Overall, I thought it was a very well-done book. I'd probably try another of the author's titles as I enjoyed his style. He is definitely very thorough in his research.
The framework of the book is an afternoon the author spent at the ballpark in Cincinnati with his son. He uses the various things he observes during the game as a way to present his exhaustive research on various bits of baseball minutiae. For example, discovering that the seats he purchased for the game are bathed in the hot sun leads to a discussion on ballpark architecture.
He covers a variety of interesting topics in this book, from the history of the baseball card to the evolution of catcher's gear and on through detailed breakdowns of common ballpark foods such as the hot dog and Cracker Jack. Somehow he has come up with the answer to questions I'd never even thought to ask, but that are interesting nonetheless.
Really the only negative thing was that it made me feel sad that I don't care nearly as much about baseball as I did in my childhood. The days of collecting baseball cards, studying box scores in the morning paper, and sitting around watching random Chicago Cubs games on WGN (and enjoying them) are long gone.
December 30, 2019
Highly variable. Many of the short essays on baseball history are well researched, asking questions I never thought to and drawing on a wide range of sources to demonstrate the development of the game. While at other times the author seems stuck and he will conclude some pressing question by drawing anecdotal evidence from his friends or his childhood or just defer to generalizations.
Additionally, there’s a good amount of fluff. Between then Dan Barry-imitative dad jokes, the vague sense of old man yelling at cloud, and the reiterated 1950’s sandlot stories, it’s hard to know what you’re getting with any one chapter.
And while this isn’t the book’s fault, a lot has changed in 17 years so some of the sections that rely on opinion or then-current references fail to connect.
For the reader who wants to find answers to questions like the one the title poses, this is worth checking out. But you shouldn’t feel bad about skimming over sections of ephemera to get to the good stuff in between.
Additionally, there’s a good amount of fluff. Between then Dan Barry-imitative dad jokes, the vague sense of old man yelling at cloud, and the reiterated 1950’s sandlot stories, it’s hard to know what you’re getting with any one chapter.
And while this isn’t the book’s fault, a lot has changed in 17 years so some of the sections that rely on opinion or then-current references fail to connect.
For the reader who wants to find answers to questions like the one the title poses, this is worth checking out. But you shouldn’t feel bad about skimming over sections of ephemera to get to the good stuff in between.
July 20, 2025
I enjoyed this chatty book about how some of the rules and traditions associated with baseball came to be. Some of this is a little outdated, as rules have changed since the writing, but it was still worth the read. Read this on my bus commute, it is the perfect book for this, you don't really have to hang on to information from section to section.
I learned a lot from this book, from uniform and name origins to how the concessioners made money.
One of the sections that was the most eye-opening was the story of the groundskeepers, who often work 12 hour days when the team is at home.
The story of the bases was also interesting. If you are interested in the history and the ephemera around baseball (greatest game ever) you will enjoy this book.
I learned a lot from this book, from uniform and name origins to how the concessioners made money.
One of the sections that was the most eye-opening was the story of the groundskeepers, who often work 12 hour days when the team is at home.
The story of the bases was also interesting. If you are interested in the history and the ephemera around baseball (greatest game ever) you will enjoy this book.
June 7, 2017
I LOVED this little book! Around a story of a father and son attending a MLB game, the author weaves the history of uniforms, mitts, baseball caps, chest protector, shin guards, catcher's mask, hot dogs, Cracker Jacks--you name it! A great coffee table book!
August 6, 2024
I must have read this book through seven times when I was little and devoured anything related to baseball and fun facts. A book that has BOTH!? Count me in. Lots of good memories with this one, I need to snag a copy for old times sake.
December 7, 2010
I thought that this was a great book; but then I'm a baseball fan, so I may be biased. Staten discusses what may be described as "baseball origins" in the context of a 2002 game between the Florida Marlins and the Cincinnati Reds at what was once called Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. It was interesting to read about how gloves, turnstiles and baseballs are made and how they evolved over time. I didn't know, for example, that "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", that seventh-inning stretch tradition, was originally part of a story about a guy and his girl discussing where to go on a date. There's a lot of interesting facts about baseball in this book's 290 pages.
April 9, 2020
Briefly: Fluff
Though it sounds like a basic trivia book, this book actually is told in narrative form, interweaving a dad’s trip to the ballpark with his son with baseball stories from his youth and random facts about baseball. The book is at its strongest when discussing the early days of baseball and its evolution into the game of today. Worth a quick read to discover the random odds-and-ends of baseball—how bats are made, where “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” came from, how the number of restrooms needed in a baseball stadium is calculated, the origin of the box score—though has little to offer of deeper baseball knowledge.
Though it sounds like a basic trivia book, this book actually is told in narrative form, interweaving a dad’s trip to the ballpark with his son with baseball stories from his youth and random facts about baseball. The book is at its strongest when discussing the early days of baseball and its evolution into the game of today. Worth a quick read to discover the random odds-and-ends of baseball—how bats are made, where “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” came from, how the number of restrooms needed in a baseball stadium is calculated, the origin of the box score—though has little to offer of deeper baseball knowledge.
October 15, 2025
Second time reading this, but my first time was at least 20 years ago, so a lot of the references are outdated, relative to today's game. But there was a lot of historical research doneon this book, and it still stands up (for example, stadium design, or the evolution of catcher's equipment). The monetary references, tnough are astounding - it is interesting to see that the average fan spent around $15 at a ball game in 2001; today, one beer costs that much, or more.
Somit's a good read if you take into acount the timeframe in which it was written; it's also a good look at how the game has changed in almost 25 years.
Somit's a good read if you take into acount the timeframe in which it was written; it's also a good look at how the game has changed in almost 25 years.
October 13, 2010
Fun book, even if it didn't fully explain the whole tobacco/sunflower seed thing. (yes, i knew it was to prevent drymouth, but why are baseball players so much more susceptible to that than say football players or soccer players? i'm still in the dark.) It's packed with lots of little tidbits of info -- really too much for me to absorb in one reading. i'll bet i reread it a couple of times in the future.
September 12, 2015
This was a very nice read for a baseball fan. The approach -- going through a real baseball game with his son and exploring baseball history and ephemera as it comes up -- makes this fun to read, rather than just being an "improbable" type trivia book. And the things he explores, and the history of baseball it reveals, are about things that I found I really wanted to know. Well worth the time; I'm sorry I waited so long to read it.
July 5, 2010
The reference to the width of seats at baseball stadiums (18") and how it was "scientifically" measured (credit goes to Earnest Hooton) is quite fascinating! Note that newer stadiums have 20" wide seats, whereas the seats at Wrigley and Fenway are 16" in width.
Other interesting trivia:
- The standard height for grass height is 1-1/4"
- Average balls used per game is 47
Other interesting trivia:
- The standard height for grass height is 1-1/4"
- Average balls used per game is 47
October 13, 2010
I know. It sounds like a mindless baseball book. It's more about the trappings of baseball as it's played now. How many toilets are necessary in a 50,000 seat stadium? How best to manage the incoming crowd? Baseball cards, bats, team names, field lighting and grooming: how they all got where they are today is discussed.
April 8, 2018
A wonderful series of very organic digressions and asides about the big and little things in baseball, framed by a game Staten attended with his son in Cincinnati. I liked this book a whole hell of a lot more than I thought I would, finding it to be both genuine, and excellently written. For true baseball fans only!
July 26, 2007
Good book for baseball trivia/minutiae buffs. Learn a lot of useless but fun information.
September 5, 2009
A great baseball read. I recommend reading it around, say February, to get geared up for the new season.
May 20, 2014
definitely a book for a baseball fan who has wondered about the little details of baseball.
August 13, 2016
Little hard to get into but overall the book had good information about the history of baseball tied in with a good old ball game.
February 14, 2008
Answers some questions you might have about baseball, but not as well done as it could have been.
May 8, 2008
I probably would have enjoyed this more 40 years ago, when I was the target audience's age.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews