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The Baseball: Stunts, Scandals, and Secrets Beneath the Stitches
The Baseball is a salute to the ball, filled with insider trivia, anecdotes, and generations of ball-induced insanity—f rom Zack Hample, the bestselling author of Watching Baseball Smarter
• Which Hall of Famer once caught a ball dropped from an airplane?
• Why do balls get stamped with invisible ink?
• What’s the best ticket to buy for catching a foul ball?
• Which part of the ball once came from dog food companies?
• How could a 10,000-year-old glacier help a pitcher grip the ball?
In this enlightening, entertaining, and often wildly funny book, Zack Hample shares ballpark legends and lore, explores the history of the baseball souvenir craze, and also details the evolution of the ball. Finally, Hample—who has snagged more than 4,600 balls from 48 different major league stadiums—offers up his secret methods for snagging your own ball from major league games.
Features a ballhawk glossary, profiles of legendary ballhawks, top 10 lists, and black-and-white photos throughout.
• Which Hall of Famer once caught a ball dropped from an airplane?
• Why do balls get stamped with invisible ink?
• What’s the best ticket to buy for catching a foul ball?
• Which part of the ball once came from dog food companies?
• How could a 10,000-year-old glacier help a pitcher grip the ball?
In this enlightening, entertaining, and often wildly funny book, Zack Hample shares ballpark legends and lore, explores the history of the baseball souvenir craze, and also details the evolution of the ball. Finally, Hample—who has snagged more than 4,600 balls from 48 different major league stadiums—offers up his secret methods for snagging your own ball from major league games.
Features a ballhawk glossary, profiles of legendary ballhawks, top 10 lists, and black-and-white photos throughout.
356 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
36 people are currently reading
261 people want to read
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July 16, 2015
UPDATE - 7/16/2015
If you read my original review, infra, then you already know that Zack Hample is not on my Christmas card list. I am updating to let you know that while many of you do not believe in GOD, I, at least, believe heartily in the God of Symmetry. Symmeteria, I think the Greeks called her. And Symmeteria has spoken. Douchebags of the world, unite!
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____
Not a book about baseball; a book about THE BASEBALL. Ok, so it necessarily is about baseball, too, but this is really a homage to the ball itself. So, you can learn here how the ball is made, how the ball has changed, whether it is or was ever 'juiced' or not, who was killed by a baseball, does a curveball really curve, who is believed to have thrown the fastest pitch, who killed a bird as it coincidentally swooped in front of a batter and why players don't try to catch baseballs dropped from airplanes any more. You can also learn what TV shows have episodes involving foul balls and which celebrities have snagged foul balls, from Doug Flutie, who always takes a glove to a game, to Justin Bieber.
I'm a baseball fan, so I knew a lot of this already, including the river where they get the mud from that they rub on new baseballs before every game. Regardless, stories about baseball, and even baseballs, are invariably fun, even if you've heard them before.
But there's a second part or theme to this book. See, the author, Zack Hample, is what's known as a 'ballhawk'. Ballhawks are people who go to baseball games for the primary purpose of getting a baseball. Doesn't matter how. They can find it in the stands when they enter (an Easter Egg), catch a batting practice or game foul ball or homer, or just have a player or coach toss them one. As Hample explains, he can be at a great game between two teams fighting for the post-season, a nail-biter, but if he only gets one batting practice ball that day, he's bummed. On the other hand, if he's at a meaningless game between two last place teams but gets (as he once did) 32 balls, then all's right with the world.
I begrudge no one their hobbies, their collections, their fetishes. But the Ballhawk belongs in the Ring of Hell that includes drivers that stay in the passing lane WHEN THEY ARE ONLY GOING THE SPEED LIMIT, parents who babytalk in public, fat guys who write diet books (Dr. Phil), the rock group Bread ("Baby, I'm-A Want you"), mindless whistlers and, well, insurance salesmen.
See, as I said, I am a baseball fan. I go to a lot of games. And it's cool getting a ball. I've gotten balls and missed some. But I think there's a protocol to be followed. It's okay, more than okay I confess, to go early, stand in the left-field bleachers, and, wearing a glove, try and catch batting practice home runs. I've done that, although the glove is mostly ornamental and prophylactic. I try to stand apart and give myself some room if a ball comes in my general area. It is here where I meet my natural enemy: the Ballhawk. Assholes like Zack Hample. See, for the Ballhawk, it is insufficient to try and catch a ball hit in what is called their general vicinity. Ballhawks are typically guys in their 20s and 30s. They are taller and more athletic than me. Not having been around when the Kennedys were assassinated, they have no historical context to fall back on and, hence, no scruples. The Ballhawks in Pittsburgh, at PNC Park, where the Pirates unconvincingly ply their trade, are locals, other Pirates' fans. But in their ridiculous backpacks, where they will safeguard their treasure, they have a change of clothes. They always wear a shirt and ballcap for the visiting team. So they wear their Hunter Pence t-shirt and Phillies cap and beg the cross-state rivals for balls. Or...they run 30, 40 feet, over seats and aisles and young children to catch one more ball, a ball perhaps that was heading for some young fan, or even an old guy with a glove, too cool to run himself. When BP is over, the Ballhawks go change into Pirates' gear. Some fans. The obvious fact that these guys probably have horrible sex lives is really of little comfort to me. So, I hate you Zack Hample, and all your ballhawking scum lot.
If you read my original review, infra, then you already know that Zack Hample is not on my Christmas card list. I am updating to let you know that while many of you do not believe in GOD, I, at least, believe heartily in the God of Symmetry. Symmeteria, I think the Greeks called her. And Symmeteria has spoken. Douchebags of the world, unite!
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____
Not a book about baseball; a book about THE BASEBALL. Ok, so it necessarily is about baseball, too, but this is really a homage to the ball itself. So, you can learn here how the ball is made, how the ball has changed, whether it is or was ever 'juiced' or not, who was killed by a baseball, does a curveball really curve, who is believed to have thrown the fastest pitch, who killed a bird as it coincidentally swooped in front of a batter and why players don't try to catch baseballs dropped from airplanes any more. You can also learn what TV shows have episodes involving foul balls and which celebrities have snagged foul balls, from Doug Flutie, who always takes a glove to a game, to Justin Bieber.
I'm a baseball fan, so I knew a lot of this already, including the river where they get the mud from that they rub on new baseballs before every game. Regardless, stories about baseball, and even baseballs, are invariably fun, even if you've heard them before.
But there's a second part or theme to this book. See, the author, Zack Hample, is what's known as a 'ballhawk'. Ballhawks are people who go to baseball games for the primary purpose of getting a baseball. Doesn't matter how. They can find it in the stands when they enter (an Easter Egg), catch a batting practice or game foul ball or homer, or just have a player or coach toss them one. As Hample explains, he can be at a great game between two teams fighting for the post-season, a nail-biter, but if he only gets one batting practice ball that day, he's bummed. On the other hand, if he's at a meaningless game between two last place teams but gets (as he once did) 32 balls, then all's right with the world.
I begrudge no one their hobbies, their collections, their fetishes. But the Ballhawk belongs in the Ring of Hell that includes drivers that stay in the passing lane WHEN THEY ARE ONLY GOING THE SPEED LIMIT, parents who babytalk in public, fat guys who write diet books (Dr. Phil), the rock group Bread ("Baby, I'm-A Want you"), mindless whistlers and, well, insurance salesmen.
See, as I said, I am a baseball fan. I go to a lot of games. And it's cool getting a ball. I've gotten balls and missed some. But I think there's a protocol to be followed. It's okay, more than okay I confess, to go early, stand in the left-field bleachers, and, wearing a glove, try and catch batting practice home runs. I've done that, although the glove is mostly ornamental and prophylactic. I try to stand apart and give myself some room if a ball comes in my general area. It is here where I meet my natural enemy: the Ballhawk. Assholes like Zack Hample. See, for the Ballhawk, it is insufficient to try and catch a ball hit in what is called their general vicinity. Ballhawks are typically guys in their 20s and 30s. They are taller and more athletic than me. Not having been around when the Kennedys were assassinated, they have no historical context to fall back on and, hence, no scruples. The Ballhawks in Pittsburgh, at PNC Park, where the Pirates unconvincingly ply their trade, are locals, other Pirates' fans. But in their ridiculous backpacks, where they will safeguard their treasure, they have a change of clothes. They always wear a shirt and ballcap for the visiting team. So they wear their Hunter Pence t-shirt and Phillies cap and beg the cross-state rivals for balls. Or...they run 30, 40 feet, over seats and aisles and young children to catch one more ball, a ball perhaps that was heading for some young fan, or even an old guy with a glove, too cool to run himself. When BP is over, the Ballhawks go change into Pirates' gear. Some fans. The obvious fact that these guys probably have horrible sex lives is really of little comfort to me. So, I hate you Zack Hample, and all your ballhawking scum lot.
March 30, 2011
one would think, perhaps, with all the many thousands of books written about baseball over the decades (now centuries?), there would be little to add in the way of novelty or insight regarding the greatest game ever devised by man. zack hample's new book, the baseball: stunts, scandals, and secrets beneath the stitches, however, would prove one were mistaken in such a presumption. behind the history, the rivalries, and the legends of the game is the often overlooked object that makes it all possible in the first place: the baseball.
hample, a well-known ballhawk who has snagged nearly 4,700 baseballs at major league stadiums around the country since his first in 1990, is obviously an ardent lover of all things related to the game, and his passion is evident throughout the book. the baseball is divided into three parts: the first two chronicle "the cultural and historical awesomeness of baseballs" and the third offers how-to tips and advice on procuring balls at major league games. hample includes chapters on the souvenir craze, the baseball in pop culture, and those unfortunate few actually killed by baseballs.
in one early chapter, the baseball provides a nearly year-by-year account of the intriguing and often controversial evolution of the baseball, and if there is one constant to be gleaned from its history, it's that claims of adulterated or "juiced" balls have persisted practically since the game began. later, hample recounts his trip to the rawlings baseball factory in costa rica, as well as the exacting standards employed during the ball's manufacturing. for many, the seventy-some instructional pages on how to catch, find, chase, and be thrown baseballs at major league games will be the most exciting (and relevant) part of the book.
hample writes well enough, and his enthusiasm and humor make for an entertaining read. the baseball is sure to captivate even those with but a mild interest in the national pastime. for those more devoted fans, however, something rejuvenating awaits within this book's pages, something that may well have you daydreaming about the unforgettable experience of a summer afternoon at the ballpark- and the singular thrill of a home run or foul ball arcing its way towards your seat.
hample, a well-known ballhawk who has snagged nearly 4,700 baseballs at major league stadiums around the country since his first in 1990, is obviously an ardent lover of all things related to the game, and his passion is evident throughout the book. the baseball is divided into three parts: the first two chronicle "the cultural and historical awesomeness of baseballs" and the third offers how-to tips and advice on procuring balls at major league games. hample includes chapters on the souvenir craze, the baseball in pop culture, and those unfortunate few actually killed by baseballs.
in one early chapter, the baseball provides a nearly year-by-year account of the intriguing and often controversial evolution of the baseball, and if there is one constant to be gleaned from its history, it's that claims of adulterated or "juiced" balls have persisted practically since the game began. later, hample recounts his trip to the rawlings baseball factory in costa rica, as well as the exacting standards employed during the ball's manufacturing. for many, the seventy-some instructional pages on how to catch, find, chase, and be thrown baseballs at major league games will be the most exciting (and relevant) part of the book.
hample writes well enough, and his enthusiasm and humor make for an entertaining read. the baseball is sure to captivate even those with but a mild interest in the national pastime. for those more devoted fans, however, something rejuvenating awaits within this book's pages, something that may well have you daydreaming about the unforgettable experience of a summer afternoon at the ballpark- and the singular thrill of a home run or foul ball arcing its way towards your seat.
i'm still not quite sure how to describe it, but if there's one thing i've learned from going to hundreds of games and snagging thousands of balls and meeting tens of thousands of fans, it's that there's something about baseball that makes people crazy. this book is a celebration of the ball- and of those people."
April 27, 2011
I would dearly love to give this book two reviews, in large part because it is two different books poorly smashed together.
The first two parts (or, the first 200 pages) are a historical look at the baseball - the object itself, rather than the sport that it shares a name with. Sure, you can't separate the two, but at the same time, the importance of the physical baseball can be easily overlooked. Going back to the days when baseballs were valuable enough that it was written into the league rules that the winning team got to keep the ball from the game, Hample shares all kinds of facts that, while not previously unknown, have not been put together as a book.
And that was all well and good - a fun read for a baseball dork/history geek like myself.
Then we reached part three.
In which Zack Hample decides to remind his readers why he managed to get a book published.
For those who don't know, Hample is semi-notorious in baseball circles for, as he puts it, "snagging more than 4,600 baseballs from 48 different major league stadiums". And, lucky reader, he's going to tell you his tricks, so that you, too, can shout at major league baseball players during batting practice in the hope that they will toss you a baseball.
That part gets a 1, for being stupid (catching a baseball at a game is neat, especially if it's a home run ball. making it your profession is a little skeevy) and for the self-satisfaction just wafting off the page.
Without part three, I probably would have given this one a four. Alas, Zack Hample managed to ruin Zack Hample's book.
The first two parts (or, the first 200 pages) are a historical look at the baseball - the object itself, rather than the sport that it shares a name with. Sure, you can't separate the two, but at the same time, the importance of the physical baseball can be easily overlooked. Going back to the days when baseballs were valuable enough that it was written into the league rules that the winning team got to keep the ball from the game, Hample shares all kinds of facts that, while not previously unknown, have not been put together as a book.
And that was all well and good - a fun read for a baseball dork/history geek like myself.
Then we reached part three.
In which Zack Hample decides to remind his readers why he managed to get a book published.
For those who don't know, Hample is semi-notorious in baseball circles for, as he puts it, "snagging more than 4,600 baseballs from 48 different major league stadiums". And, lucky reader, he's going to tell you his tricks, so that you, too, can shout at major league baseball players during batting practice in the hope that they will toss you a baseball.
That part gets a 1, for being stupid (catching a baseball at a game is neat, especially if it's a home run ball. making it your profession is a little skeevy) and for the self-satisfaction just wafting off the page.
Without part three, I probably would have given this one a four. Alas, Zack Hample managed to ruin Zack Hample's book.
March 19, 2018
Right away, if you aren't a baseball fan and at least somewhat knowledgeable about the game, skip this book. If you're still reading this review, know that the book is not about the game, its about the ball. That's right - the baseball. Zack Hample is what's known as a 'ballhawk'. That's a fan (almost always guys), who try to catch, snag, or otherwise acquire major league baseballs during games, spring training, batting practice, and so on. Some of the die-hards, including Hample, have acquired thousands. His book is about ballhawking, the baseball and its history, and baseball trivia - LOTS of baseball trivia. Fans will find some parts interesting and some not so much. I liked most of the trivia. Its the kind of book that you can read a page or 5 pages or ten, put it down and pick it up a week or month later and carry on. Hence, the perfect 'reading-room' book, if you catch my drift. My one piece of advice is don't spend a lot to purchase this one.
October 4, 2021
Love him or hate him, Zack Hample knows baseball...and baseballs. This one is a lot of fun!
December 11, 2020
I read this book because I have a love for the sport of baseball. I was given this book by my brother who is going to college for baseball, he said that it was interesting how baseball is referenced in pop culture. I play baseball as well so any baseball book that I read is easy to read and often more enjoyable than certain books that I cannot relate to. This book exceeded my expectations in the area of how meticulously described how baseball is often a base for episodes in television series like The Simpsons, Seinfeld, and CSI: NY. The author Zach Hample (who is an avid baseball fan) critiqued the way the shows described baseball, with him often pointing out the inaccuracies of the scenes. The area of the book where I saw importance was in the section captioned "The Evolution Of The Ball. He goes in-depth telling the story of the ball from the ball's very origins to its present-day form which spans from 1847-2011. This story should be read by anyone who plays or has a deep love for the sport of baseball. It can also be read by those who want to expand their knowledge of the sport and its deep history. The age requirements and demographic is for people above the age of 5, although those still in elementary school will have some difficulty reading this book.
November 8, 2019
The Baseball is a book filled with stats, and facts about baseball. The author, Zach Hample is what’s considered a “ballhawk” someone who has one goal in mind. To receive as many balls as possible at each game. This book includes methods to receive a ball and how to prepare. It also gives a lot of facts about other ballhawks and moments in history.
I would recommend this book to any baseball fan or anyone that wants a better chance at receiving a ball at any major league game. In my case, I started to read this book on a trip and caught two batting practice balls at one game in Baltimore. The reading level is pretty easy, probably middle school and up. Once I started this book I could not stop because each page could include a new fact or method on the baseball or how to get a baseball.
I would recommend this book to any baseball fan or anyone that wants a better chance at receiving a ball at any major league game. In my case, I started to read this book on a trip and caught two batting practice balls at one game in Baltimore. The reading level is pretty easy, probably middle school and up. Once I started this book I could not stop because each page could include a new fact or method on the baseball or how to get a baseball.
December 8, 2020
In the book 'The Baseball: Stunts, Scandals, and Secrets Beneath the Stitches' the author Zack Hample talks deeply and is informative on the history of how the baseball was made. Hample also talks about famous baseballs that have been sold. My favorite part in the book is when Zack talks about is baseball collecting experience because it is something that seems like a really fun hobby and it is something I am interested in. I would recommend this book to someone who is interested in learning about the history of The Baseball.
August 16, 2020
Of all the history of baseball, major league and otherwise, the archives of statistics are all about the players. This book tells us about the baseball itself; its evolution into what it is today eventually branching out to the obtaining and collecting of these baseballs. Hample provides us with all the tips that anyone would need to know as to how to obtain baseballs at major league (mostly) facilities. A unique and interesting look at an essential part of the game.
July 16, 2023
The history of the ball was very interesting to learn about. Working in my first baseball season, I was surprised how much I did not know and gained an appreciation for the ball that makes thr game possible.
Zack Hample is the main detractor, he is clearly not an author, and his style is not for me. His research is fantastic but his writing can come off as bullish or even arrogant.
Like other reviews, the first half was a winner, the second a dud.
Zack Hample is the main detractor, he is clearly not an author, and his style is not for me. His research is fantastic but his writing can come off as bullish or even arrogant.
Like other reviews, the first half was a winner, the second a dud.
May 24, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It is a book that is for fans of baseball. If you don’t like baseball then this is not the book for you. My favorite part of the book is the section that talk about how to catch baseballs at major league game. Overall I really enjoyed this book.
July 12, 2021
This an interesting book. I would rate the history portion of the development of the ball at a "5" . I did not find the second half of the book about ballhawking to be interesting, and would rate that part as "1 or 2" .
July 22, 2021
Good book. Finally finished it due to losing power in my house and having nothing else to do. I liked it. There was some parts that are boring and wordy, and there are other parts that are really attention-grabbing. A good read for baseball fans, though maybe a little outdated by now.
Read
November 20, 2023The history of baseball (both the sport and the ball itself) is way more chaotic than I'd realized, and I enjoyed this deep-dive into the constant controversies surrounding such a seemingly simple object. Engagingly written and well-researched.
December 6, 2021
There seems to be a general consensus that the history portion of this book rates a '5', while the author's ball-hawking experiences rate a '1'. I agree.
June 30, 2025
If the author had stopped after writing the first half of the book, it would be 4 stars. It really deteriorates to crap in the second half.
September 28, 2025
Bathroom; Got from Sue and Chris
December 24, 2025
Tough to rate. The first 2/3s of the book is a fabulous treatment of the history of the ball used at the canter of the game. The last 1/3 is about ball-hawking and is not very interesting.
April 4, 2023
Known for his impressive ability to catch baseball during Major League Baseball games, Zack Hample is a well-known author and baseball collector. His book The Baseball serves as a reference for baseball's background, strategy, and aesthetics. One of Hample's book's strengths is his ability to explain his love for the sport and the joy he gets from his collection of baseballs. He offers a lot of knowledge on various topics, including the mechanics behind baseball creation and the methods he employs to catch them during games. Both casual fans and serious collectors would find Hample's writing style entertaining and funny, making the book a fun and educational read. Hample's obsession with baseball collecting may turn off some readers. I enjoyed reading this book, but Zack has a weird background and incident that I couldn't understand. I first found Zack on Youtube and became one of his subscribers. Zack seems like an incredible person and lives almost a perfect life. Zack would get to travel the world catching home runs and even giving some away to younger kids near him. Later on, on national TV, he was in the talks of actually being a mean person taking balls from young ones and almost taking advantage of them. When I saw their evidence, I was baffled; after this point, I had mixed emotions about him and how he was doing his job, I respect Zack and what he has accomplished, but I just don't know what to think about him. Zacks's book is a quick read and offers a lot of knowledge on various topics that should be a must-read for someone who loves baseball.
June 8, 2011
I like to think that I know a lot about Baseball and I do. But I don't know everything. The history of the game is well over 100 years old and is next to impossible to know everything out there about the game. This is the reason why I gave The Baseball a chance. It seemed like it was going to open up a Pandora's box of more never-before-heard-of tidbits about the game.
Well, there were quite a few things that I had never heard of till I read this book. But there were also plenty of things that were rehashed given the fact that some of the stories were well-known and most baseball fans would have already known about prior to this book.
This book did not live up to what I thought it was going to be. It started off one way and then turned into something else all together. The first four chapters to me is where the fun is. All the stories here are extremely engaging even if you have heard of them before. After this, it's all down hill. The rest of the book is devoted to the making of a Baseball and how it's put together. And then it gets to what the book is really about: Ballhawkers.
Ballhawkers are those people that are at games for the sole purpose of getting as many baseballs as humanely possible, be it during batting practice or snagging foul balls and home runs during the actual games. Once I realize that the best part of the book was already long gone, it dawned on me that this book is nothing more than self congratulatory "how to become a successful" ballhawker. I say self congratulatory because it's really about the author Zack Hample bragging about how many baseball's he has snagged over his lifetime. Hell, there is a section devoted entirely to other Top 10 Ballhawkers in a Q & A section. This was just a little redundant and unnecessary and a waste of time. This and a lot of other useless things are in the book for the sole purpose of padding the pages as much as possible to make the book "legit" in size.
A good chunk of the book goes into the ins and outs of where to position yourself for the balls as well as what Baseball parks are the best and worst for ballhawkers. One section of the book, Zack completely dropped the ball in regards to the history of Commemorative Baseballs through the years regarding stamps and stitches from the All-Star games,World Series, Playoffs and other special occasions He touts how cool and different these balls are from regular season balls, and yet, all the photos are in black and white. Dude, if your going to have a chapter on this, at least have color pictures to back up what it is your going ga-ga over.
I would only recommend this book to those that are already ballhawkers. Nope, I wouldn't recommend it to them either. Check it out at the Library for just the first four chapters only.
Well, there were quite a few things that I had never heard of till I read this book. But there were also plenty of things that were rehashed given the fact that some of the stories were well-known and most baseball fans would have already known about prior to this book.
This book did not live up to what I thought it was going to be. It started off one way and then turned into something else all together. The first four chapters to me is where the fun is. All the stories here are extremely engaging even if you have heard of them before. After this, it's all down hill. The rest of the book is devoted to the making of a Baseball and how it's put together. And then it gets to what the book is really about: Ballhawkers.
Ballhawkers are those people that are at games for the sole purpose of getting as many baseballs as humanely possible, be it during batting practice or snagging foul balls and home runs during the actual games. Once I realize that the best part of the book was already long gone, it dawned on me that this book is nothing more than self congratulatory "how to become a successful" ballhawker. I say self congratulatory because it's really about the author Zack Hample bragging about how many baseball's he has snagged over his lifetime. Hell, there is a section devoted entirely to other Top 10 Ballhawkers in a Q & A section. This was just a little redundant and unnecessary and a waste of time. This and a lot of other useless things are in the book for the sole purpose of padding the pages as much as possible to make the book "legit" in size.
A good chunk of the book goes into the ins and outs of where to position yourself for the balls as well as what Baseball parks are the best and worst for ballhawkers. One section of the book, Zack completely dropped the ball in regards to the history of Commemorative Baseballs through the years regarding stamps and stitches from the All-Star games,World Series, Playoffs and other special occasions He touts how cool and different these balls are from regular season balls, and yet, all the photos are in black and white. Dude, if your going to have a chapter on this, at least have color pictures to back up what it is your going ga-ga over.
I would only recommend this book to those that are already ballhawkers. Nope, I wouldn't recommend it to them either. Check it out at the Library for just the first four chapters only.
March 29, 2015
This is a great book to read while waiting for Opening Day to arrive. It's just the sort of book that can whet the appetite for the baseball season to begin.
Zack Hample is a master ballhawk. A ballhawk, by definition, is someone who is an expert at chasing down baseballs at major league baseball games (and even some spring training games). In The Baseball, Hample gives us a great look at that little white ball that we all obsess so much over. This is not a book about baseball, the game. This is a book about THE baseball.
Part One gives us a glimpse of baseballs in the news, from the souvenir craze to people who have actually been killed either by baseballs, or in the chase for them. (Fortunately, that last chapter is relatively small.) There are World Series balls, Barry Bonds home runs, Hank Aaron home runs, Sammy Sosa home runs, foul balls, various stunts by players and others, and even a chapter on "Foul Balls in Pop Culture." Unfortunately, there is a picture of Justin Bieber in that chapter.
Part Two gives us some history, with a great chapter on the evolution of the baseball, from 1847 to 2011. The interesting thing about that chapter is that there have always been controversies about the hotness of the ball, with allegations that the ball is juiced in some eras. The ball manufacturers swear that the ball has been made the same for a long time, now, with no specific changes that would make the ball hotter or less so. There is a great chapter on Rawlings and how the ball is made, followed by one about how they are stored and prepared for games, including a part about the infamous "Lena Blackburne Rubbing Mud." Yes, for those who are not aware, mud is rubbed onto the surface of every single baseball used in MLB play. But not just any mud. It is secret mud, from a secret location, somewhere in New Jersey.
Finally, in Part Three, Mr. Hamble gives us some tips on how to snag baseballs, from the master, himself. There are tips about various ballparks, along with some etiquette, what to do, what not to do, what you can get away with, how to talk to the players to convince them to give you a ball, and so on. He lists his favorite ballparks for getting balls (and our local Rangers Ballpark is one of his top ten). He gives a rundown of the top 10 ballhawks that he knows about.
Bottom line is that this is just a fun book about the baseball. I learned a lot, as I read it, and I was entertained by it, as well. Hample's writing style is fun, even when describing the lengthy history of the baseball and its evolution.
I recommend this book for any true fan of the game.
Zack Hample is a master ballhawk. A ballhawk, by definition, is someone who is an expert at chasing down baseballs at major league baseball games (and even some spring training games). In The Baseball, Hample gives us a great look at that little white ball that we all obsess so much over. This is not a book about baseball, the game. This is a book about THE baseball.
Part One gives us a glimpse of baseballs in the news, from the souvenir craze to people who have actually been killed either by baseballs, or in the chase for them. (Fortunately, that last chapter is relatively small.) There are World Series balls, Barry Bonds home runs, Hank Aaron home runs, Sammy Sosa home runs, foul balls, various stunts by players and others, and even a chapter on "Foul Balls in Pop Culture." Unfortunately, there is a picture of Justin Bieber in that chapter.
Part Two gives us some history, with a great chapter on the evolution of the baseball, from 1847 to 2011. The interesting thing about that chapter is that there have always been controversies about the hotness of the ball, with allegations that the ball is juiced in some eras. The ball manufacturers swear that the ball has been made the same for a long time, now, with no specific changes that would make the ball hotter or less so. There is a great chapter on Rawlings and how the ball is made, followed by one about how they are stored and prepared for games, including a part about the infamous "Lena Blackburne Rubbing Mud." Yes, for those who are not aware, mud is rubbed onto the surface of every single baseball used in MLB play. But not just any mud. It is secret mud, from a secret location, somewhere in New Jersey.
Finally, in Part Three, Mr. Hamble gives us some tips on how to snag baseballs, from the master, himself. There are tips about various ballparks, along with some etiquette, what to do, what not to do, what you can get away with, how to talk to the players to convince them to give you a ball, and so on. He lists his favorite ballparks for getting balls (and our local Rangers Ballpark is one of his top ten). He gives a rundown of the top 10 ballhawks that he knows about.
Bottom line is that this is just a fun book about the baseball. I learned a lot, as I read it, and I was entertained by it, as well. Hample's writing style is fun, even when describing the lengthy history of the baseball and its evolution.
I recommend this book for any true fan of the game.
April 13, 2011
The newest offering from my favorite baseball geek, Zack Hample. Lots of interesting stories about baseball (not the game, the actual ball) scandals, legends, injuries, etc. Fun, obscure stuff like a rule that indicates how expensive and valuable a baseball in the 1870s was---if the ball couldn't be found, or landed somehwere inconvenient, play stopped and all the players started hunting. If it couldn't be found after 5 minutes, the ump called for a new one. A far cry from the MLB balls today which are only used in a few plays at most.
Also a cool chapter on the physical making of a ball (20,000 cows a year for the leather, but, as Hample states, those cows don't die to make baseballs, they die because people like to eat them...) The history that might be boring is made otherwise by Hample's wit and enthusiasm.
I was a little disappointed when, just over halfway through the book, the history and factual stuff ended and the remainder was devoted to Hample's advice on how to snag baseballs at games (he's snagged around 4500) and bios of other 'ballhawks'. Also, at the end he devotes 11 full pages to name every single MLB player/staff who has ever given him a baseball. I realize this was a labor of love for him, and snagging balls is his love, but I enjoyed the more substantial parts, and wished for more of them.
Also a cool chapter on the physical making of a ball (20,000 cows a year for the leather, but, as Hample states, those cows don't die to make baseballs, they die because people like to eat them...) The history that might be boring is made otherwise by Hample's wit and enthusiasm.
I was a little disappointed when, just over halfway through the book, the history and factual stuff ended and the remainder was devoted to Hample's advice on how to snag baseballs at games (he's snagged around 4500) and bios of other 'ballhawks'. Also, at the end he devotes 11 full pages to name every single MLB player/staff who has ever given him a baseball. I realize this was a labor of love for him, and snagging balls is his love, but I enjoyed the more substantial parts, and wished for more of them.
December 6, 2012
My brain is officially full of wacky baseball crap.
Like what's in a baseball (rubber, cork, lots of yarn)
Where it's made (Costa Rica, baseball sewers can do as many as 200 a week)
How to snag baseballs (turns out "please" is effective)
Honestly, at times this book was ridiculously uninteresting. At times, I was thinking if I dropped my ereader, then I wouldn't have to finish this book. Honestly, don't give a hoot about the top ten ballhawks (people who snag baseballs at games). And wow, that history of the baseball almost made me weep with pain.
Other times, it was really interesting, like how the first baseballs were sewn, what causes the differences in how baseballs act, and why the Rockies keep their baseballs in a humidor. (Obviously, "interesting" might be a subjective term.)
So it's a mix. The minutia can get brain numbing, and then one little minute fact will make you keep reading because suddenly you're interested again.
Oh and the author...wow, does he like baseball.
Like what's in a baseball (rubber, cork, lots of yarn)
Where it's made (Costa Rica, baseball sewers can do as many as 200 a week)
How to snag baseballs (turns out "please" is effective)
Honestly, at times this book was ridiculously uninteresting. At times, I was thinking if I dropped my ereader, then I wouldn't have to finish this book. Honestly, don't give a hoot about the top ten ballhawks (people who snag baseballs at games). And wow, that history of the baseball almost made me weep with pain.
Other times, it was really interesting, like how the first baseballs were sewn, what causes the differences in how baseballs act, and why the Rockies keep their baseballs in a humidor. (Obviously, "interesting" might be a subjective term.)
So it's a mix. The minutia can get brain numbing, and then one little minute fact will make you keep reading because suddenly you're interested again.
Oh and the author...wow, does he like baseball.
January 4, 2013
A book that's sure to be entertaining for some, though I felt it was terribly uneven. If you're a "ballhawk," or an aspiring one, this book, on the whole, is for you. If you're interested in how baseballs--the physical objects themselves--and how they figure in popular culture, then the opening pages, the first section, are for you. If you're like me, a baseball history nerd, then the middle section is your cup of tea. The chapters about how the baseball is made (an incredible process!!) and how baseballs have evolved since the 1860s (and how this has affected the evolution of the game) are just really great reads.
Unfortunately, those two chapters are the only ones that held my interest for any period of time. The others, I found myself skimming. Hample is a good writer, an interesting character his own self, and has a real knowledge of the game. I think this book just tries to do too much, to go in too many directions, to be too many things to too many people, to work as a whole. The parts are solid, and even excellent. The whole feels messy and unsatisfying.
Unfortunately, those two chapters are the only ones that held my interest for any period of time. The others, I found myself skimming. Hample is a good writer, an interesting character his own self, and has a real knowledge of the game. I think this book just tries to do too much, to go in too many directions, to be too many things to too many people, to work as a whole. The parts are solid, and even excellent. The whole feels messy and unsatisfying.
April 30, 2011
Raise your hand if you've ever been sucked in by a cover. C'mon now, admit it.
Well, the cover on this one is fantastic - a bit dramatic, very direct, and with a nudge that says "imagine the stories this baseball could tell".
At which point, I was a goner.
The book failed to live up to the cover, as happens so often in these cases. The first two parts, dealing with the history and production (modern and otherwise) of the baseball - the actual, hold-it-in-your-hands baseball, rather than the sport - were interesting, and written with a nice sense of humor.
Then Zack Hample took a hundred or so pages to remind everyone what the real purpose of baseball (the sport) apparently is: that he has caught more major league baseballs than you.
So, my recommendation: if you are a fan of history, baseball, or baseball history, read the first 200 pages. Then put it down and save yourself the trouble.
Well, the cover on this one is fantastic - a bit dramatic, very direct, and with a nudge that says "imagine the stories this baseball could tell".
At which point, I was a goner.
The book failed to live up to the cover, as happens so often in these cases. The first two parts, dealing with the history and production (modern and otherwise) of the baseball - the actual, hold-it-in-your-hands baseball, rather than the sport - were interesting, and written with a nice sense of humor.
Then Zack Hample took a hundred or so pages to remind everyone what the real purpose of baseball (the sport) apparently is: that he has caught more major league baseballs than you.
So, my recommendation: if you are a fan of history, baseball, or baseball history, read the first 200 pages. Then put it down and save yourself the trouble.
September 23, 2016
I read "The baseball" by Zach Hample. Since I have been playing baseball for as long as I can think of, It was a great read for me. Zach provided expert insight to areas of the game that I never would have though to read about and he told exciting stories about catching home runs, foul balls and even general shenanigans that happened on the field. I gave the book 4 stars because in order for someone to enjoy the book, they would have to know a lot about baseball beforehand, which isn't something that everyone would have. The pictures provided in the book also made reading easier. Seeing some things is easier than describing them sometimes and Zach took advantage of this. I would recommend this book to any die-hard baseball fan or maybe someone that wants to learn a little more about the game than they already knew. This was a quality read and I would read it again. The book had 339 pages and I'm putting it under the "GOOOOOAL! " space.
July 28, 2011
I wouldn't call this a great book, but I did thoroughly enjoy reading it. I would have enjoyed it even more if more of the information presented had been new to me. The author's style is fairly encyclopedic regarding the baseball itself before transitioning to a basic technical style to instruct the reader in ball-hawking. The book is well researched so there is a lot of fascinating trivia. Unfortunately the book lacked any literary appeal for me. I don't intend this to be overly harsh as I am glad I read the book, but it does little to romanticize the baseball. Instead it depends on the reader's pre-existing enthrallment with the minutiae of baseball. That said, as a collector of baseballs, I am one such reader; so it was a perfect gift for me!
June 29, 2012
This book is, essentially, a documentary about the baseball itself. It covers the history of the ball, along with the many variations on the orb. The most interesting piece to me is the middle section, detailing a visit to the secret Rawlings baseball factory. (Yes, it really is a secret.)
The author is a collector of balls. He's a ball-hawk, roaming the ballpark with his glove in the hopes of snagging yet another foul ball or home run. So, to him, the final third of the book, full of tips and tricks to snagging a ball of your own, probably reads like pure genius.
Alas, to me it read like filler, padding out the book from it's tasty cork core.
Still, it's a worthy read if you like baseball, the game. But be warned that you may be tempted to set it down towards the end.
The author is a collector of balls. He's a ball-hawk, roaming the ballpark with his glove in the hopes of snagging yet another foul ball or home run. So, to him, the final third of the book, full of tips and tricks to snagging a ball of your own, probably reads like pure genius.
Alas, to me it read like filler, padding out the book from it's tasty cork core.
Still, it's a worthy read if you like baseball, the game. But be warned that you may be tempted to set it down towards the end.
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