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Why We Love Baseball: A History in 50 Moments
A masterful ode to the a countdown of 50 of the most memorable moments in baseball’s history, to make you fall in love with the sport all over again.
Posnanski writes of major moments that created legends, and of forgotten moments almost lost to time. It's Willie Mays’s catch, Babe Ruth’s called shot, and Kirk Gibson’s limping home run; the slickest steals; the biggest bombs; and the most triumphant no-hitters. But these are also moments raw with the humanity of the game, the unheralded heroes, the mesmerizing mistakes drenched in pine tar, and every story, from the immortal to the obscure, is told from a unique perspective. Whether of a real fan who witnessed it, or the pitcher who gave up the home run, the umpire, the coach, the opposing player—these are fresh takes on moments so powerful they almost feel like myth.
Posnanski’s previous book, The Baseball 100 , portrayed the heroes and pioneers of the sport, and now, with his trademark wit, encyclopedic knowledge, and acute observations, he gets at the real heart of the game. From nineteenth-century pitchers’ duels to breaking the sport’s color line in the ’40s, all the way to the greatest trick play of the last decade and the slide home that became a meme, Posnanski’s illuminating take allows us to rediscover the sport we love—and thought we knew.
Why We Love Baseball is an epic that ends too soon, a one-of-a-kind love letter to the sport that has us thrilled, torn, inspired, and always wanting more.
Posnanski writes of major moments that created legends, and of forgotten moments almost lost to time. It's Willie Mays’s catch, Babe Ruth’s called shot, and Kirk Gibson’s limping home run; the slickest steals; the biggest bombs; and the most triumphant no-hitters. But these are also moments raw with the humanity of the game, the unheralded heroes, the mesmerizing mistakes drenched in pine tar, and every story, from the immortal to the obscure, is told from a unique perspective. Whether of a real fan who witnessed it, or the pitcher who gave up the home run, the umpire, the coach, the opposing player—these are fresh takes on moments so powerful they almost feel like myth.
Posnanski’s previous book, The Baseball 100 , portrayed the heroes and pioneers of the sport, and now, with his trademark wit, encyclopedic knowledge, and acute observations, he gets at the real heart of the game. From nineteenth-century pitchers’ duels to breaking the sport’s color line in the ’40s, all the way to the greatest trick play of the last decade and the slide home that became a meme, Posnanski’s illuminating take allows us to rediscover the sport we love—and thought we knew.
Why We Love Baseball is an epic that ends too soon, a one-of-a-kind love letter to the sport that has us thrilled, torn, inspired, and always wanting more.
377 pages, Hardcover
First published September 5, 2023
About the author
Joe Posnanski
20 books448 followersJoe Posnanski is a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of eight books, a Writer at Large at Esquire, and the co-host of The PosCast with Michael Schur. He writes a newsletter called JoeBlogs. He has been named national sportswriter of the year by five different organizations including the Associated Press Sports Editors and the National Sports Media Association. He also won two sports Emmys as part of NBC's digital Olympic coverage.
His newest book is Why We Love Baseball, which will be published by Dutton on Sept. 5, 2023. His last book, The Baseball 100, won the Casey Award as the best baseball book of 2020.
His newest book is Why We Love Baseball, which will be published by Dutton on Sept. 5, 2023. His last book, The Baseball 100, won the Casey Award as the best baseball book of 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 595 reviews
February 2, 2024
"When you use words like 'mystique' and 'aura' . . . those are dancers in a nightclub. They are not things we concern ourselves with on the ball field." -- Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Curt Schilling, on page 189
An exuberant and entertaining look at 'the national pastime' - so wonderfully called because "it was both rough and refined, traditional and modern, and highlighted individual prowess while relying on team cooperation", per the Smithsonian Associates - sportswriter Posnanski's joyous Why We Love Baseball actually has a misnomer in its numeric subtitle. He admits in his introduction that there are really 108 moments, but he also notes that it achieves a certain symmetry as there are the same number of stitches on the cover of a regulation ball. Although adhering mostly to personalities and events in the MLB from the 1930's onward, Posnanski on occasion reaches way back into the sport's early days (such as the Cincinnati Reds being considered the first professional team, founded just a few years after the Civil War) and/or the long-defunct Negro Leagues (which featured many crazily talented young men who should've had their chance in the majors). He also exceeds at being fair by mentioning all thirty of the current franchises at some point in the text. It was often humorous in historical context, such as his thoughts on the ascension of southpaw pitching aces with "the 1980's was a wonderful decade for the crafty lefties . . . You didn't go anywhere in the 80's without your Members Only jacket, a Van Halen cassette, and a crafty lefty", as well as being heartfelt, such as the recounting of Montreal Expos fans intentionally generating a thunderous and thus sound-vibrating ovation in autumn 1993 so that deaf slugger Curtis Pride would realize he was being acknowledged for his crushing hit that scored two runs. There is an old baseball axiom that "some days you win, some days you lose, and some days it rains." I'd say Posnanski has chalked up a home run with this effort.
An exuberant and entertaining look at 'the national pastime' - so wonderfully called because "it was both rough and refined, traditional and modern, and highlighted individual prowess while relying on team cooperation", per the Smithsonian Associates - sportswriter Posnanski's joyous Why We Love Baseball actually has a misnomer in its numeric subtitle. He admits in his introduction that there are really 108 moments, but he also notes that it achieves a certain symmetry as there are the same number of stitches on the cover of a regulation ball. Although adhering mostly to personalities and events in the MLB from the 1930's onward, Posnanski on occasion reaches way back into the sport's early days (such as the Cincinnati Reds being considered the first professional team, founded just a few years after the Civil War) and/or the long-defunct Negro Leagues (which featured many crazily talented young men who should've had their chance in the majors). He also exceeds at being fair by mentioning all thirty of the current franchises at some point in the text. It was often humorous in historical context, such as his thoughts on the ascension of southpaw pitching aces with "the 1980's was a wonderful decade for the crafty lefties . . . You didn't go anywhere in the 80's without your Members Only jacket, a Van Halen cassette, and a crafty lefty", as well as being heartfelt, such as the recounting of Montreal Expos fans intentionally generating a thunderous and thus sound-vibrating ovation in autumn 1993 so that deaf slugger Curtis Pride would realize he was being acknowledged for his crushing hit that scored two runs. There is an old baseball axiom that "some days you win, some days you lose, and some days it rains." I'd say Posnanski has chalked up a home run with this effort.
November 26, 2023
Lots of people call me the biggest Yankee fan they know. Read the first draft of Richie the Caseworker and you’ll understand. But they’d be shocked to know that when I have a good book to read or something else to do…I don’t watch them play. Or, I’ll read during the commercials, or even between pitches. Gasp!
There’s nothing quite like being there, though. So, about 12 times a year, mostly Sundays, as part of the season ticket package I’ve had for 28 years (yes, I'm that old), I take in the magic of this complicated, slow, odd, heartbreaking, ritualistic and beautiful game.
It’s also a game rich in history, and with it, controversy, shock and awe, and racism overcome. Posnanski delivers it all.
The chapters reminded me of a funny colleague, an elder statesman with dozens and dozens of stories to tell. And me, I love stories. So, although Posnanski and I are about the same age, I got the feel of sitting cross legged in front of a nice old man, closing my eyes, and dreaming of legends on the field. The images are bright, detailed, and exciting. It’s journalism for the rest of us, not communicated with pomp or undue poetry. No, this is the fan sitting next to you, saying, “Hey, can I tell you about the time this guy did this?” It feels like a culmination of all his work over decades of experience. And I can hear the gratitude in his voice, the luck he feels in living a life writing about a kid’s game.
Posnanski must’ve tracked down every player, manager, owner, and fan from here to Japan, and he gives each respect and humanism. Again, the storytelling acumen comes in: I’m amazed at his ability to show us why these moments mattered.
Perhaps most of all I enjoyed the lesser-known stories, like the New Mexico guy who hit all those homers in a minor league…and never played a single MLB game. Or the amazing catch made by a Japanese outfielder.
I also loved hearing new takes on old tales: the Babe's called shot, Ron Swoboda’s catch, Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard ‘Round the World.” (And when I read the chapter of Willie Mays’ “Catch,” I was thrilled to have already known the story, thanks to Andre!) And there are things I never knew, like Jason Heyward’s rain delay speech in Game 7 of the 2016 Series. There are even chapters about baseball fiction: why the mound visit in Bull Durham is so funny, and a question of whether Dottie dropped the ball on purpose in “A League of Their Own.”
I had no qualms about the order of the moments. I might have swapped numbers 1 and 2, but when getting to the end I understood his reasoning.
Throughout the book there’s the acknowledgement of racism, a sense of what might have been had it not taken half a century to see a Black man play in the majors. I got the image of Posnanski standing still, hands on hips, saying, “We can’t talk about how great this game is without recognizing this huge imperfection.” More power to him.
I even got over the blatant Yankee-hating, even though it took all the way to page 355 to admit it. I get it, I live in the Death Star, OK? But he knows, as I sure do, that you can have a book about baseball’s greatest moments without Lou Gehrig’s speech, Reggie hitting those 3 homers in the World Series, or Derek Jeter’s “flip play.” And yes, I was OK with him insinuating that had Giambi slid, he’d have been safe.
HOWEVER…
Posnanski, or maybe his copy editor, made two egregious errors late in the game that nearly cost him the trophy. I nearly fell off the elliptical when I read them. If you’re a Cardinals or Pirates fan, get your torch and pitchfork.
Page 347: Bob Gibson did not appear in the 1978 World Series. He struck out 17 Tigers in Game 1 in ‘68.
Page 352: Willie Stargell did not hit a massive two-run shot in Game 7 of the ’78 Series. That’s because he never played for the Yankees or Dodgers, the actual combatants. No, “Pops” was the MVP of the 1979 Series against the Orioles, the first Series I remember seeing on TV.
I know, they’re just typos. I see it like this: top of the ninth. Posnanski gets an easy grounder and flings it into the stands. Then, he gets a double-play ball and boots it. But he saves it with some slick play (a dazzling last chapter and fine epilogue) and Cleveland hangs on for the W.
“Love” is the right word here. You can watch the game, or you can let it seep into your pores. If the latter, the love will show up sooner or later. Books like this prove it: Posnanski puts on a marvelous celebration of the game I love.
Even if he’s a Yankee-hater. See what a good guy I am?
There’s nothing quite like being there, though. So, about 12 times a year, mostly Sundays, as part of the season ticket package I’ve had for 28 years (yes, I'm that old), I take in the magic of this complicated, slow, odd, heartbreaking, ritualistic and beautiful game.
It’s also a game rich in history, and with it, controversy, shock and awe, and racism overcome. Posnanski delivers it all.
The chapters reminded me of a funny colleague, an elder statesman with dozens and dozens of stories to tell. And me, I love stories. So, although Posnanski and I are about the same age, I got the feel of sitting cross legged in front of a nice old man, closing my eyes, and dreaming of legends on the field. The images are bright, detailed, and exciting. It’s journalism for the rest of us, not communicated with pomp or undue poetry. No, this is the fan sitting next to you, saying, “Hey, can I tell you about the time this guy did this?” It feels like a culmination of all his work over decades of experience. And I can hear the gratitude in his voice, the luck he feels in living a life writing about a kid’s game.
Posnanski must’ve tracked down every player, manager, owner, and fan from here to Japan, and he gives each respect and humanism. Again, the storytelling acumen comes in: I’m amazed at his ability to show us why these moments mattered.
Perhaps most of all I enjoyed the lesser-known stories, like the New Mexico guy who hit all those homers in a minor league…and never played a single MLB game. Or the amazing catch made by a Japanese outfielder.
I also loved hearing new takes on old tales: the Babe's called shot, Ron Swoboda’s catch, Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard ‘Round the World.” (And when I read the chapter of Willie Mays’ “Catch,” I was thrilled to have already known the story, thanks to Andre!) And there are things I never knew, like Jason Heyward’s rain delay speech in Game 7 of the 2016 Series. There are even chapters about baseball fiction: why the mound visit in Bull Durham is so funny, and a question of whether Dottie dropped the ball on purpose in “A League of Their Own.”
I had no qualms about the order of the moments. I might have swapped numbers 1 and 2, but when getting to the end I understood his reasoning.
Throughout the book there’s the acknowledgement of racism, a sense of what might have been had it not taken half a century to see a Black man play in the majors. I got the image of Posnanski standing still, hands on hips, saying, “We can’t talk about how great this game is without recognizing this huge imperfection.” More power to him.
I even got over the blatant Yankee-hating, even though it took all the way to page 355 to admit it. I get it, I live in the Death Star, OK? But he knows, as I sure do, that you can have a book about baseball’s greatest moments without Lou Gehrig’s speech, Reggie hitting those 3 homers in the World Series, or Derek Jeter’s “flip play.” And yes, I was OK with him insinuating that had Giambi slid, he’d have been safe.
HOWEVER…
Posnanski, or maybe his copy editor, made two egregious errors late in the game that nearly cost him the trophy. I nearly fell off the elliptical when I read them. If you’re a Cardinals or Pirates fan, get your torch and pitchfork.
Page 347: Bob Gibson did not appear in the 1978 World Series. He struck out 17 Tigers in Game 1 in ‘68.
Page 352: Willie Stargell did not hit a massive two-run shot in Game 7 of the ’78 Series. That’s because he never played for the Yankees or Dodgers, the actual combatants. No, “Pops” was the MVP of the 1979 Series against the Orioles, the first Series I remember seeing on TV.
I know, they’re just typos. I see it like this: top of the ninth. Posnanski gets an easy grounder and flings it into the stands. Then, he gets a double-play ball and boots it. But he saves it with some slick play (a dazzling last chapter and fine epilogue) and Cleveland hangs on for the W.
“Love” is the right word here. You can watch the game, or you can let it seep into your pores. If the latter, the love will show up sooner or later. Books like this prove it: Posnanski puts on a marvelous celebration of the game I love.
Even if he’s a Yankee-hater. See what a good guy I am?
December 30, 2023
Sometimes I’m weirdly reluctant to read a new book from one of my favorite authors. What if I’m disappointed? I don’t want to be disappointed!
I finally got around to this one, and it did not disappoint. As described in the subtitle, the book tells the story of the 50 greatest moments in baseball according to Joe Posnanski.
But it’s not limited to 50 moments. In typical Posnanski style, he goes on tangents with things like “top 5 barehanded plays” to supplement the list (on this list, by the way, I am mad at him for not including Omar Vizquel’s barehanded snag to preserve Chris Bosio’s 1995 no-hitter on the last play of the game). Other fun tangents: “Five Trick Plays”, “Five Meltdowns”, “Five Blunders”, and many more.
I really liked the diversity of stories. If you were to base this just on moments that were most memorable to fans, it would be disproportionately filled with game-winning hits in the playoffs and would get boring after a while. But I’d think of Posnanski’s list like he is a curator at a museum, and he picked different moments that highlight different ways that make baseball special. There are funny moments, heartwarming moments, and sad moments. He goes off the beaten path to tell stories about women in baseball, minor league baseball, Japanese baseball, and of course Negro League baseball. Some of the moments I never heard of. Some of the moments were stories I’d heard many times before, but I still loved hearing Joe tell it again.
I was going to end this by mentioning a few of my favorite stories, but in the interest of time I’ll limit it to one: No 25: Ball Conks off Canseco’s Head. Please, please take a minute to search the YouTube video of the ball bouncing off Jose Canseco’s head for a home run and re-watch it (or experience it for the first time).
I finally got around to this one, and it did not disappoint. As described in the subtitle, the book tells the story of the 50 greatest moments in baseball according to Joe Posnanski.
But it’s not limited to 50 moments. In typical Posnanski style, he goes on tangents with things like “top 5 barehanded plays” to supplement the list (on this list, by the way, I am mad at him for not including Omar Vizquel’s barehanded snag to preserve Chris Bosio’s 1995 no-hitter on the last play of the game). Other fun tangents: “Five Trick Plays”, “Five Meltdowns”, “Five Blunders”, and many more.
I really liked the diversity of stories. If you were to base this just on moments that were most memorable to fans, it would be disproportionately filled with game-winning hits in the playoffs and would get boring after a while. But I’d think of Posnanski’s list like he is a curator at a museum, and he picked different moments that highlight different ways that make baseball special. There are funny moments, heartwarming moments, and sad moments. He goes off the beaten path to tell stories about women in baseball, minor league baseball, Japanese baseball, and of course Negro League baseball. Some of the moments I never heard of. Some of the moments were stories I’d heard many times before, but I still loved hearing Joe tell it again.
I was going to end this by mentioning a few of my favorite stories, but in the interest of time I’ll limit it to one: No 25: Ball Conks off Canseco’s Head. Please, please take a minute to search the YouTube video of the ball bouncing off Jose Canseco’s head for a home run and re-watch it (or experience it for the first time).
August 6, 2024
These aren't the most famous fifty moments, but Posnanski does a great job giving you the stories behind a mix of famous and obscure stories from baseball's (not just MLB) history. And the framework he uses for each moment isn't always what you'd expect. He comes to each moment looking for the most interesting story.
My favorite chapters:
41 - Ponderous Joe Goes Deep
40 - The Pine Tar Homer
39 - Striking Out Sadaharu Oh
36 - Nolan and the Table Leg
26 - Alexander Strikes Out Lazzeri
24 - Mr. October
16 - The Shot Heard Round the World
11 - Don Larsen's Perfect Game
10 - Satch vs. Josh
My favorite chapters:
41 - Ponderous Joe Goes Deep
40 - The Pine Tar Homer
39 - Striking Out Sadaharu Oh
36 - Nolan and the Table Leg
26 - Alexander Strikes Out Lazzeri
24 - Mr. October
16 - The Shot Heard Round the World
11 - Don Larsen's Perfect Game
10 - Satch vs. Josh
January 22, 2024
Pure joy in book form.
Bonus points for the correct opinion that A League of Their Own is the best baseball movie ever made.
Bonus points for the correct opinion that A League of Their Own is the best baseball movie ever made.
November 16, 2023
Any baseball can tell you about his or her favorite moments in the game and they will probably tell you that this is one reason they love (or at least like) baseball. Best selling author Joe Posnanski has gathered 50 such moments and wrote about them in this fun book for any baseball fan.
As one who likes to listen to audio books that are narrated by the author, I felt that because one will get Posnanski’s take on these moments with his voice inflections it was more meaningful than reading the book. In addition, between chapters about these moments there were other items sprinkled liberally through the book such as the funniest moments, great bare-handed catches and other such nuggets. The narration by Ellen Adair for these sections was just as good as Posnanski’s and gave a nice break in hearing the same voice.
As there is with any list of the best, the greatest or other subjective subjects, one might argue about Posnanski’s choices and many readers/listeners will want to exclaim “Where’s my favorite moment?” That doesn’t really matter for this book as anyone who enjoys the game will recall many of them and smile. That is true whether a person was alive to witness the event live or on television or even if they just know about it through stories passed down through the generations – each moment is a wonderful one to someone.
The players and teams are various and while not ever team is mentioned in these 50 moments, there is a chapter for the most popular one for each team as Posnanski reached out to fans to send him their favorites. While the one I sent did not make the top 50, it did get mentioned for my favorite team so that was a good thing (Kirby Puckett’s home run in game 6 of the 1991 World Series). This is a must read or must listen for any baseball fan.
As one who likes to listen to audio books that are narrated by the author, I felt that because one will get Posnanski’s take on these moments with his voice inflections it was more meaningful than reading the book. In addition, between chapters about these moments there were other items sprinkled liberally through the book such as the funniest moments, great bare-handed catches and other such nuggets. The narration by Ellen Adair for these sections was just as good as Posnanski’s and gave a nice break in hearing the same voice.
As there is with any list of the best, the greatest or other subjective subjects, one might argue about Posnanski’s choices and many readers/listeners will want to exclaim “Where’s my favorite moment?” That doesn’t really matter for this book as anyone who enjoys the game will recall many of them and smile. That is true whether a person was alive to witness the event live or on television or even if they just know about it through stories passed down through the generations – each moment is a wonderful one to someone.
The players and teams are various and while not ever team is mentioned in these 50 moments, there is a chapter for the most popular one for each team as Posnanski reached out to fans to send him their favorites. While the one I sent did not make the top 50, it did get mentioned for my favorite team so that was a good thing (Kirby Puckett’s home run in game 6 of the 1991 World Series). This is a must read or must listen for any baseball fan.
September 10, 2023
An exceptionally fun and thoroughly detailed love letter to baseball.
Joe Posnanski, who also wrote The Baseball 100 (a countdown of sorts of the sport’s best players in history), here gives us a survey of 50 things that make baseball wonderful, ranging around in time and content.
I liked the structure of the book as well as the tone, and was impressed with Posnanski’s choices on what to include. There are plenty of excellent in-game moments of course, but also getting recognition are many non game action topics that are worthy subjects in the pantheon of great baseball happenings.
If you’re a big fan of the sport there won’t be many topics here that you know nothing about going in, but I found that in almost every instance, Posnanski gave me a few tidbits that were new to me even if the event was one with which I was already familiar. And because of the way that the content is presented, even those topics which were already intimately familiar to me still felt fun to read about.
The balance of subject matter is notably good, ranging around to cover most teams in a manner that feels democratic, and doing the same with different periods in baseball history.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Joe Posnanski, who also wrote The Baseball 100 (a countdown of sorts of the sport’s best players in history), here gives us a survey of 50 things that make baseball wonderful, ranging around in time and content.
I liked the structure of the book as well as the tone, and was impressed with Posnanski’s choices on what to include. There are plenty of excellent in-game moments of course, but also getting recognition are many non game action topics that are worthy subjects in the pantheon of great baseball happenings.
If you’re a big fan of the sport there won’t be many topics here that you know nothing about going in, but I found that in almost every instance, Posnanski gave me a few tidbits that were new to me even if the event was one with which I was already familiar. And because of the way that the content is presented, even those topics which were already intimately familiar to me still felt fun to read about.
The balance of subject matter is notably good, ranging around to cover most teams in a manner that feels democratic, and doing the same with different periods in baseball history.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
July 24, 2023
If I could give it 6 or 7 or even 10, I would! Anyone who ever went to or watched a baseball game should read this book.
March 17, 2024
Started as a library book, but it was so good I had to buy it halfway through.
Few things make me happier than a well written baseball history book. Posnaski gets it right. From the joy of the game, to the classic moments, to the niche moments only fans of specific teams remember…this book really does tell the story of why we love baseball.
My only gripe is under the Tampa Bay Rays section he somehow missed Akinori Iwamura’s final out in the 2008 ALCS to send the Rays to the World Series. That’s my favorite moment for a number of reasons…surprised the fan vote didn’t suggest it.
Few things make me happier than a well written baseball history book. Posnaski gets it right. From the joy of the game, to the classic moments, to the niche moments only fans of specific teams remember…this book really does tell the story of why we love baseball.
My only gripe is under the Tampa Bay Rays section he somehow missed Akinori Iwamura’s final out in the 2008 ALCS to send the Rays to the World Series. That’s my favorite moment for a number of reasons…surprised the fan vote didn’t suggest it.
August 22, 2023
This was a lot of fun. At one point, Posnanski defines his criteria for great baseball moments: (I+D+E)*A, where I is importance, D is distinctiveness, E is emotion, and A is Awesomeness. But in addition to the important and the awesome, we also get the weird and the funny and the poignant too. The moments and the players you expect are here--Babe Ruth, Sandy Koufax, Cal Ripken, Jr, Shohei Ohtani--but I was more entertained and moved by the unexpected additions: the mostly forgettable players who had one unforgettable moment, some of them in college or the minor leagues or Japan. In addition to the main 50 moments chronicled, we get bonus moments on categories like best trick plays, biggest blunders, or one-handed catches.
Another thing I loved about this one was that, in addition to Posnanski's take on the moment, which includes several fun digressions like favorite baseball card poses, we also get some perspectives of others who were there: spectators, teammates, opposing players, announcers, umpires. And, as with most memorable moments, the stories they tell don't always match up to the actual recorded events, but that adds to the mythical and emotional impact of some of them. So Posnanski will notice a first base coach's outsized reaction to a moment and track down that story, or will notice the forgotten home run that tied the game, that set up the memorable game-winning home run and tell the story of that player, too.
Of course, Red Sox fan and Poscast co-host Michael Schur gets to weigh in with one of my favorite descriptions: "Game 2 was a typical Yankee strangulation affair, where some dumb pitcher you barely know (Jon Lieber?) three-hits you, some dumb role player takes Pedro Martinez deep (John Olerud, are you kidding me? He's a thousand years old!), and then Mariano Rivera puts a pillow over your face in the ninth inning and shushes you as the air drains from your lungs."
I got tickets to see Posnanski and Schur in conversation in Kansas City and I'm hoping for a live version of some ridiculous and random Poscast-style draft, to go along with some memorable moments that maybe just missed the cut.
Another thing I loved about this one was that, in addition to Posnanski's take on the moment, which includes several fun digressions like favorite baseball card poses, we also get some perspectives of others who were there: spectators, teammates, opposing players, announcers, umpires. And, as with most memorable moments, the stories they tell don't always match up to the actual recorded events, but that adds to the mythical and emotional impact of some of them. So Posnanski will notice a first base coach's outsized reaction to a moment and track down that story, or will notice the forgotten home run that tied the game, that set up the memorable game-winning home run and tell the story of that player, too.
Of course, Red Sox fan and Poscast co-host Michael Schur gets to weigh in with one of my favorite descriptions: "Game 2 was a typical Yankee strangulation affair, where some dumb pitcher you barely know (Jon Lieber?) three-hits you, some dumb role player takes Pedro Martinez deep (John Olerud, are you kidding me? He's a thousand years old!), and then Mariano Rivera puts a pillow over your face in the ninth inning and shushes you as the air drains from your lungs."
I got tickets to see Posnanski and Schur in conversation in Kansas City and I'm hoping for a live version of some ridiculous and random Poscast-style draft, to go along with some memorable moments that maybe just missed the cut.
October 15, 2023
The writing isn’t quite as good as Podnanski’s 100 Best Baseball Players. And not each selection held great interest.
But the ones that do are chilling and thrilling. “Jackie and Yogi,” “Perfection,” “Waving at the Ball Like a Madman” were my three favorite moments.
Baseball fans will like this. For others, turn to Podnanski’s previous book.
But the ones that do are chilling and thrilling. “Jackie and Yogi,” “Perfection,” “Waving at the Ball Like a Madman” were my three favorite moments.
Baseball fans will like this. For others, turn to Podnanski’s previous book.
February 20, 2024
Lots of good baseball stories, just in time for Spring Training!
July 5, 2024
A great book with lots of fun stories
July 25, 2024
4.5 stars
This was a wonderful book, probably the best baseball book of the past few decades. The great baseball writers on my list include Roger Kahn and David Halberstam. Now definitely add Joe Posnanski to the list. He has such a vast knowledge of sports and is a poignant writer with humor.
If you like trips down memory lane and you like baseball history too then this will have you laughing and maybe even crying from nostalgia.
This was a wonderful book, probably the best baseball book of the past few decades. The great baseball writers on my list include Roger Kahn and David Halberstam. Now definitely add Joe Posnanski to the list. He has such a vast knowledge of sports and is a poignant writer with humor.
If you like trips down memory lane and you like baseball history too then this will have you laughing and maybe even crying from nostalgia.
January 30, 2024
This is the second baseball book I’ve read, and I think I learned that I don’t actually enjoy reading about baseball. I love watching baseball. I love listening to stories about baseball. But it’s not my favorite genre to read on a page.
(One fun thing was that the author asked Michael Shur - his close friend and Red Sox mega fan - write a chapter. The unfortunate side-effect was that after reading that, I wanted the whole book to be written by Shur.)
(One fun thing was that the author asked Michael Shur - his close friend and Red Sox mega fan - write a chapter. The unfortunate side-effect was that after reading that, I wanted the whole book to be written by Shur.)
May 5, 2024
I ❤️ baseball. It’s only fitting that I finished this book on the same day I grabbed a random t-shirt to wear and it was my Baseball is the Best shirt. And my sandwich order was #406, to match Ted Williams’ 1941 recorded-setting batting average.
This book took me longer to read because for each baseball moment that happened, I hopped over to YouTube to watch the clip and got lost watching old highlights.
This book is filled with so many great stories, great tidbits, great moments, and it filled my baseball-loving heart with joy.
“Sport is agony. We agree to suffer endlessly in exchange for the mere possibility of sublime rapture. Sometimes we even get it.”
“[In 2022,] Shohei Ohtani (the batter) was intentionally walked 14 times. Shohei Ohtani (the pitcher) didn’t intentionally walk anybody.”
“[On September 27, 1927, Babe Ruth hit his 57th homer on his way to hitting his single-season record of 60.] On the same day, a white leghorn hen in Omaha named Babe Ruth laid her 152nd egg in as many days, setting a different sort of record. Aren’t you glad you check in on the footnotes?”
This book took me longer to read because for each baseball moment that happened, I hopped over to YouTube to watch the clip and got lost watching old highlights.
This book is filled with so many great stories, great tidbits, great moments, and it filled my baseball-loving heart with joy.
“Sport is agony. We agree to suffer endlessly in exchange for the mere possibility of sublime rapture. Sometimes we even get it.”
“[In 2022,] Shohei Ohtani (the batter) was intentionally walked 14 times. Shohei Ohtani (the pitcher) didn’t intentionally walk anybody.”
“[On September 27, 1927, Babe Ruth hit his 57th homer on his way to hitting his single-season record of 60.] On the same day, a white leghorn hen in Omaha named Babe Ruth laid her 152nd egg in as many days, setting a different sort of record. Aren’t you glad you check in on the footnotes?”
September 16, 2023
When kids ask me about my favorite sport (and I work in education, so please don't think I'm a creep when I talk about talking to kids), I say baseball has always been my favorite sport. They look at me like I'm crazy, or some sort of freak out of a sci-fi movie, but it's true: America's pastime speaks to me in ways that all the other major sports do not. I love football and basketball, I can appreciate a well-played hockey game or NASCAR race, and I'm sure that golf is lovely if you're one of the poor deluded souls who seriously thinks that it's a sport (it's a game. A perfectly fun game, but a game nonetheless). No, baseball isn't what it once was in the national landscape, and any number of things (from the sport's supposed antiquity to the real notion that steroids have rendered records moot) can be blamed for this. But one area where baseball has never lost its power is in the literary realm: most of the classic and best-written books about sports have been about baseball. Joe Posnanski, who contributed to that legacy with "The Baseball 100" a few years back, has returned with another instant classic, and possibly my favorite sports-related book of the year so far.
"Why We Love Baseball: A History in 50 Moments" is the sort of book that I love; spanning the entire era of Major League Baseball (as well as its international cohort), this is a record of moments that show why those of us who fell in love with the sport continue to love it long after it was fashionable. Going from 50 to 1, with many obvious moments but also some unusual and little-known ones, Posnanski spins a history of the sport that encompasses the obscure as well as the famous, and it's all as entertaining as a double-header at Wrigley Field on a beautiful summer's day.
The list is, of course, subjective to Posnanski's whims, and that's what's so great about it; he rarely goes the expected route even when discussing well-known moments. Yes, the Buckner play is in here, but from the perspective of the Mets. Babe Ruth's called shot gets highlighted, and it's not quite as easy to solve one way or the other. Satchel Paige versus Josh Gibson is more entertaining when told through the eyes of Buck O'Neil, who knew both men. And the greatest moment of all has just as much pain and heartbreak to it as elation.
This is a fun, wonderful book, much like Posnanski's previous book "The Baseball 100." It's not so much a "I do/do not agree with" rankings book as it is an eye-opening and very funny look at the peculiar sport which has fallen in the estimation of many, but which still has a firm grip on many imaginations. "Why We Love Baseball" is a love letter to the game, and a gift for those of us who still hold baseball close to our hearts, no matter how little we follow the modern-day game. Baseball will always be my favorite sport, and Posnanski has hit another one out of the ballpark.
"Why We Love Baseball: A History in 50 Moments" is the sort of book that I love; spanning the entire era of Major League Baseball (as well as its international cohort), this is a record of moments that show why those of us who fell in love with the sport continue to love it long after it was fashionable. Going from 50 to 1, with many obvious moments but also some unusual and little-known ones, Posnanski spins a history of the sport that encompasses the obscure as well as the famous, and it's all as entertaining as a double-header at Wrigley Field on a beautiful summer's day.
The list is, of course, subjective to Posnanski's whims, and that's what's so great about it; he rarely goes the expected route even when discussing well-known moments. Yes, the Buckner play is in here, but from the perspective of the Mets. Babe Ruth's called shot gets highlighted, and it's not quite as easy to solve one way or the other. Satchel Paige versus Josh Gibson is more entertaining when told through the eyes of Buck O'Neil, who knew both men. And the greatest moment of all has just as much pain and heartbreak to it as elation.
This is a fun, wonderful book, much like Posnanski's previous book "The Baseball 100." It's not so much a "I do/do not agree with" rankings book as it is an eye-opening and very funny look at the peculiar sport which has fallen in the estimation of many, but which still has a firm grip on many imaginations. "Why We Love Baseball" is a love letter to the game, and a gift for those of us who still hold baseball close to our hearts, no matter how little we follow the modern-day game. Baseball will always be my favorite sport, and Posnanski has hit another one out of the ballpark.
January 10, 2024
EXACTLY what I was looking for in this book. After reading a heavy 500+ page novel (demon copperhead), I knew I needed something fun, light hearted, and interesting. This is a book by an absolutely baseball nerd who tells a great story. Made me excited for the 2024 season and taking my kids to more Braves games.
October 5, 2023
8 stars.
After reading The Baseball 100 last year and loving it (a major understatement), I couldn’t wait for Posnanski’s love letter to baseball called Why We Love Baseball. I didn’t look at the Table of Contents; I didn’t want to ruin the surprise of each chapter. And I’m glad I didn’t. I read the Kindle version of this book and flew through the 377 pages in just a few days.
Posnanski has been seeped in the baseball world for a long time, and the depth of his experiences, relationships, and knowledge make his writing—and this book—one-of-a-kind. He brings the humor and humanity out of nearly every story. One good example is for Hank Aaron’s 715th Home Run. Posnaski talked about the two teenagers who ran out of the stands to run the bases alongside Aaron, exploring how they decided to run onto the field, their lives after their fifteen seconds of fame (immoralized forever on video), and even mentioning that “Aaron’s bodyguard did consider shooting them.”
I also appreciated how Posnanski dug out some incredible stories from the minor leagues, international baseball, and even women’s baseball to remind us that baseball is bigger than just the big leagues.
Every fan of baseball history should read this book. You’ll laugh, you’ll tear up, and have a good list of anecdotes to impress your friends next time at the ballpark.
After reading The Baseball 100 last year and loving it (a major understatement), I couldn’t wait for Posnanski’s love letter to baseball called Why We Love Baseball. I didn’t look at the Table of Contents; I didn’t want to ruin the surprise of each chapter. And I’m glad I didn’t. I read the Kindle version of this book and flew through the 377 pages in just a few days.
Posnanski has been seeped in the baseball world for a long time, and the depth of his experiences, relationships, and knowledge make his writing—and this book—one-of-a-kind. He brings the humor and humanity out of nearly every story. One good example is for Hank Aaron’s 715th Home Run. Posnaski talked about the two teenagers who ran out of the stands to run the bases alongside Aaron, exploring how they decided to run onto the field, their lives after their fifteen seconds of fame (immoralized forever on video), and even mentioning that “Aaron’s bodyguard did consider shooting them.”
I also appreciated how Posnanski dug out some incredible stories from the minor leagues, international baseball, and even women’s baseball to remind us that baseball is bigger than just the big leagues.
Every fan of baseball history should read this book. You’ll laugh, you’ll tear up, and have a good list of anecdotes to impress your friends next time at the ballpark.
October 20, 2023
After reading Joe Posnanski's "Baseball 100" in 2022 and really enjoying it, I was looking forward to his next baseball effort. "Why We Love Baseball" is even better for the way it combines emotional, meaningful, historical, and humorous prose.
Ostensibly, "Why We Love Baseball" is Posnanski's collection of his 50 greatest moments in baseball history. But with this author, such structure is only a jumping-off point. As is stated in the opening pages, there are many more than 50 baseball reminisces here.
Such lack of adherence to structure is far more feast than famine, however, as Posnanski delivers some of the most effortlessly readable prose I've ever ingested from a baseball tome. Seeing as how this is essentially recapping nonfictional events that all baseball fans have likely heard about--sometimes a thousand times over--this is a remarkable feat. The pages absolutely flew by as Posnanski's combination of tear-inducing sincerity, chuckle-drawing hilarity, and perfectly calibrated gravitas was masterful.
The fact there is little "original material" in "Why We Love Baseball" other than Posnanski's tone and prose, the book is amazingly effective at entertainment, education, and emotion.
Ostensibly, "Why We Love Baseball" is Posnanski's collection of his 50 greatest moments in baseball history. But with this author, such structure is only a jumping-off point. As is stated in the opening pages, there are many more than 50 baseball reminisces here.
Such lack of adherence to structure is far more feast than famine, however, as Posnanski delivers some of the most effortlessly readable prose I've ever ingested from a baseball tome. Seeing as how this is essentially recapping nonfictional events that all baseball fans have likely heard about--sometimes a thousand times over--this is a remarkable feat. The pages absolutely flew by as Posnanski's combination of tear-inducing sincerity, chuckle-drawing hilarity, and perfectly calibrated gravitas was masterful.
The fact there is little "original material" in "Why We Love Baseball" other than Posnanski's tone and prose, the book is amazingly effective at entertainment, education, and emotion.
January 5, 2024
This is probably the best baseball book I’ve ever read. The stories in the book made me fall in love with baseball all over again. Any time I get sad or disappointed about my team losing I just need to listen to this book again and be reminded why I love baseball so much.
December 20, 2023
Audiobook (12 hours) narrated by Joe Posnanski, and Ellen Adair.
The narration of Why We Love Baseball is just OK.
The audio quality is flat and uneven between the two narrators. There's a noticeable change in the overall quality and tone when the book switches from Joe Posnanski to Ellen Adair, with Ellen having the lesser quality audio. While there isn't any unappealing distortion or erroneous noises, it's hard to believe that this was recorded in 2023.
Both narrators are obviously knowledgeable about baseball. There are no mispronunciations or teleprompter type readings where it sounds like the narrator has no clue what they themselves are saying, so that is really good. It is a pet peeve of mine when someone is paid to announce, discuss, or otherwise speak about a sport that they know little to nothing about. When reading a book about a sport, it is very likely that the reader is a huge fan. Appreciating the fans enough to put people in front of the mic who do a service to the sport is respectful. In this case Joe Posnanski is also the author, so even if we don't know that he is a sports writer we know that he enjoys the sport enough to write about it. Ellen Adair is a regular analyst on MLB for the Phillies. Although I don't recall hearing her broadcasts, she sounded like she knew what she was narrating about.
So, a little bit of a positive, a little bit of a negative.
Throughout the book, Posnanski mentions how he spoke with this person or that and asked people, usually players or broadcasters, for their take on a certain play or situation. Many times he then used their words to described what happened. It would have been awesome if we could have gotten even some of these narratives voiced by those who contributed their accounts to the book. Alternatively the addition of the teams radio broadcasters or even vocal clips of some of the plays.
Maybe that is asking too much, I don't know, but as a fan that is what would really bring a book like this over the top.
All that being said, despite the overall audio quality not being as high as what I normally listen too from books released in the last five or so years, it was clear and easily understood and could be listened too from 1x to 2x speed, as preferred.
The book itself was pretty great. Joe Posnanski was careful to include something from all of the current and past teams of the MLB as well as some teams in other leagues that were important inclusions when talking about baseballs history.
The 50+ moments covered started at the inception of the sport to current day.
I felt that the author was thorough in his research, talking to a lot of people to get the actuals of the story and not just what popped up in the media the day after. A lot of times what we see is just a small part of the story or sometimes the announcers get the context all wrong. I felt that Posnanski went out of his way to get the deets and then he filled in around the event or story with pertinent details that showcased the importance of a play or event. Everything was told as if I was sitting down talking with a group of real fans, from old timers to newer fans who appreciate and respect the game from both the inside and viewers standpoints.
It's important to note that there is never any type of condescension, while explaining things in a way that I feel that even newer fans could mostly grasp. He doesn't explain the game, so a new new fan may need to talk to friends or look things up for some uncommon plays. Overall the book caters to well versed baseball fans while fully bringing us into the story, as if we were there too. If that makes sense. I mention this as I have unfortunately run into a writer once or twice who wrote from a position of superiority and seemed to use terms as if gatekeeping information. For a sport as old as baseball, I believe that it is just as important to cater to the person who is watching their first game as it is to write for those who have been indoctrinated at birth, like we are in places like Boston, Chicago, and New York.
Speaking of Boston. Moment #13.
Posnanski totally knows what he is doing using the superstitious number 13 as the time to not only write about the one event that most of Boston would rather forget, but he also writes it from the perspective of the winning team!
I am not going to say that you suck, Mr. Posnanski, but you sure traveled a long way to get extra kudos, props, and karma from fans of a team that you profess to hate, several times, even in this book itself. Just sayin.
As a Red Sox fan first but absolutely a fan of baseball, I of course also want to hear the Yankees included. As much as they do suck, there have been moments and players that have come up or through the pin stripe parody who I know were, or still are, exceptional
After reading this, I am considering reading The Baseball 100.
Recommend.
The narration of Why We Love Baseball is just OK.
The audio quality is flat and uneven between the two narrators. There's a noticeable change in the overall quality and tone when the book switches from Joe Posnanski to Ellen Adair, with Ellen having the lesser quality audio. While there isn't any unappealing distortion or erroneous noises, it's hard to believe that this was recorded in 2023.
Both narrators are obviously knowledgeable about baseball. There are no mispronunciations or teleprompter type readings where it sounds like the narrator has no clue what they themselves are saying, so that is really good. It is a pet peeve of mine when someone is paid to announce, discuss, or otherwise speak about a sport that they know little to nothing about. When reading a book about a sport, it is very likely that the reader is a huge fan. Appreciating the fans enough to put people in front of the mic who do a service to the sport is respectful. In this case Joe Posnanski is also the author, so even if we don't know that he is a sports writer we know that he enjoys the sport enough to write about it. Ellen Adair is a regular analyst on MLB for the Phillies. Although I don't recall hearing her broadcasts, she sounded like she knew what she was narrating about.
So, a little bit of a positive, a little bit of a negative.
Throughout the book, Posnanski mentions how he spoke with this person or that and asked people, usually players or broadcasters, for their take on a certain play or situation. Many times he then used their words to described what happened. It would have been awesome if we could have gotten even some of these narratives voiced by those who contributed their accounts to the book. Alternatively the addition of the teams radio broadcasters or even vocal clips of some of the plays.
Maybe that is asking too much, I don't know, but as a fan that is what would really bring a book like this over the top.
All that being said, despite the overall audio quality not being as high as what I normally listen too from books released in the last five or so years, it was clear and easily understood and could be listened too from 1x to 2x speed, as preferred.
The book itself was pretty great. Joe Posnanski was careful to include something from all of the current and past teams of the MLB as well as some teams in other leagues that were important inclusions when talking about baseballs history.
The 50+ moments covered started at the inception of the sport to current day.
I felt that the author was thorough in his research, talking to a lot of people to get the actuals of the story and not just what popped up in the media the day after. A lot of times what we see is just a small part of the story or sometimes the announcers get the context all wrong. I felt that Posnanski went out of his way to get the deets and then he filled in around the event or story with pertinent details that showcased the importance of a play or event. Everything was told as if I was sitting down talking with a group of real fans, from old timers to newer fans who appreciate and respect the game from both the inside and viewers standpoints.
It's important to note that there is never any type of condescension, while explaining things in a way that I feel that even newer fans could mostly grasp. He doesn't explain the game, so a new new fan may need to talk to friends or look things up for some uncommon plays. Overall the book caters to well versed baseball fans while fully bringing us into the story, as if we were there too. If that makes sense. I mention this as I have unfortunately run into a writer once or twice who wrote from a position of superiority and seemed to use terms as if gatekeeping information. For a sport as old as baseball, I believe that it is just as important to cater to the person who is watching their first game as it is to write for those who have been indoctrinated at birth, like we are in places like Boston, Chicago, and New York.
Speaking of Boston. Moment #13.
Posnanski totally knows what he is doing using the superstitious number 13 as the time to not only write about the one event that most of Boston would rather forget, but he also writes it from the perspective of the winning team!
I am not going to say that you suck, Mr. Posnanski, but you sure traveled a long way to get extra kudos, props, and karma from fans of a team that you profess to hate, several times, even in this book itself. Just sayin.
As a Red Sox fan first but absolutely a fan of baseball, I of course also want to hear the Yankees included. As much as they do suck, there have been moments and players that have come up or through the pin stripe parody who I know were, or still are, exceptional
After reading this, I am considering reading The Baseball 100.
Recommend.
May 27, 2024
I bought my son a glove today off of Facebook Marketplace. He’s not particularly fond of baseball, I suspect he wanted to sign up to make me happy though I never once pressured him into playing. Perhaps, my only supposition is that he is learning to love the game as I did from my own dad years and miles ago despite today’s endless distractions. Nevertheless, he was delighted with the gift, and I was taken with the familiar scent of glove leather, absentmindedly folding the mitt’s fingers inward to mold a more cupped shape for fielding. Old habits die hard I guess. A whiff of glove oil, the crack of crafted ash against a red stitched horsehide, the splendor of an amateur ballfield replete with clodded dirt, Diamond Dry, and a lipped infield—where the rules and shapes are virtually the same as the professional ranks. With square bases, a rectangle pitching rubber, straight baselines and nine players, these are the formative memories that define baseball’s foundation. But as much as we love baseball for its geometry and evocation of our childhood, we revere it for its history and nostalgic beauty as well. Posnanski manages to write both informatively and deferentially about iconic baseball moments across its history. As a professional writer and fanatic, he captures the greatest catches, the biggest blunders, the most celebrated home runs, and more—all under 400 pages. Pretty economical for a sport that has been around for virtually a century and a half and once prided itself on not having a clock as the innings lumbered on amid sleeve adjustments, pickoff throws and mound visits. The stories span the ages, researched and retold with a vim and vigor that underscores his appreciation for not just the game, but the artistry behind the game. It is, after all, not for the impatient. I have read about, watched highlights of, and toured museums touting these same stories countless times in my own half century of living. They, in true stride with the most ardent of baseball fans, never grow old. Just richer. Jackie Robinson stealing home under the tag of Yogi Berra. Ted Williams going 6-8 in a double header on the last day of the season to hit over .400 in 1941. Henry Aaron walloping his record breaking 715th home run despite an onslaught of death threats in menacing letters. Many of the stories come with addendums and ancillary tales, a delightful addition only a baseball historian such as Posnanski could pull off. His stories made me think of all the ballpark moments I have experienced as one Pangaea of happiness. Harold Baines hitting three home runs in one game at Old Comiskey Park. Britt Burns’s near no hitter at the same place. Back to back to back home runs by Fisk-Paciorek-Luzinski at, you guessed it, Comiskey. Playing catch with Tom Candiotti from the Wrigley Field bleachers. Watching Albert Belle light up Fernando Vina at Old County Stadium. Seeing Scott Erickson’s 100th win at Camden Yards. Catching a ballgame on the last year old Tiger Stadium was open. Taking in a Pirates game in Pittsburgh only a few rows back with my father-in-law and seeing the great city skyline at night across the Allegheny River. And watching a World Series game in Wrigley. These, imprinted upon the finer moments: parleying a Harvey Haddix reference to assure my Dad I would be ready to pitch in a game I was wholly unprepared for (to no one’s surprise, least of all my dad, I was not Harvey Haddix that day); surreptitiously calling balls and strikes for a fellow teammate warming up behind a portable backstop only to lean on it and watch helplessly as it toppled, trapping one of my best friends and personal catcher underneath. Boy, was he mad. A local sportswriter wrote for all of Chicagoland to see as I made an improbable Ron Swoboda-esque diving catch in right field, “While he will never be picked to be the anchor on a track relay team…”. True story. Truer statement. Fond memories indeed. And it’s certainly not why we love baseball, but part of why I love it, and always will.
April 22, 2024
I think it would be difficult for me to articulate why I love baseball succinctly, but after reading this, I’m closer to being able to.
Herein are 108 stories, anecdotes, and asides, some of the more magical moments that have happened in baseball. Even if some of them break your heart to read—and at least one did for me—you have to admit they’re pretty magical. And they’re all told beautifully, by one of the more masterful wordsmiths to write about sports. Even the stories you’ve heard before are given new life here.
I do think, though, that this book is great for more than just the stories it contains, for it must remind you of the magical moments you’ve experienced that are not in this book.
There’s an old adage that says “history doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” Baseball rhymes a lot. Most of us didn’t get to see the events recounted in this book, but we’ve all seen one that made us feel the same way those who did felt. That magic manifests itself often enough, so we all have those moments. I know I do. Feeling that magic, knowing it’s the same feeling so many others have felt when they did…I think that’s why I love baseball.
Ten stars out of five.
Herein are 108 stories, anecdotes, and asides, some of the more magical moments that have happened in baseball. Even if some of them break your heart to read—and at least one did for me—you have to admit they’re pretty magical. And they’re all told beautifully, by one of the more masterful wordsmiths to write about sports. Even the stories you’ve heard before are given new life here.
I do think, though, that this book is great for more than just the stories it contains, for it must remind you of the magical moments you’ve experienced that are not in this book.
There’s an old adage that says “history doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” Baseball rhymes a lot. Most of us didn’t get to see the events recounted in this book, but we’ve all seen one that made us feel the same way those who did felt. That magic manifests itself often enough, so we all have those moments. I know I do. Feeling that magic, knowing it’s the same feeling so many others have felt when they did…I think that’s why I love baseball.
Ten stars out of five.
March 9, 2024
I read this with my 17 year old son who is also a baseball nut. We loved The Baseball 100 and I’ve read at least 20 baseball books over the years. I didn’t know where this would rank but I can honestly say this might be my favorite one ever. Posnaski captures the essence of baseball: joy, tears, quirks and records with ease. I love how subjective and personal some of the moments are and while it pained me that my Cleveland Indians/Guardians were on the losing end of a bunch of the memories, my heart was captured again. I felt like I did as a 10 year old listening in secret to late baseball games on the radio in my bedroom. The wonder and the heart are all here. I hope Posnaski just keeps writing and writing.
May 28, 2024
You probably should enjoy baseball before reading this book. I cannot imagine it being a hoot for anyone who has ever said “baseball is boring;” but with that in mind—this was so enjoyable and interesting. I listened to it and it felt like listening to old game broadcasts. He managed to stay remarkably impartial except for his hatred of the Yankees and I can only respect that.
No way did I cry reading a book about baseball. Definitely not—leave me alone.
No way did I cry reading a book about baseball. Definitely not—leave me alone.
June 25, 2024
Best baseball book I’ve ever read. It’s got it all—stories, stats, jokes…. But most of all it has heart. Tons of it. Posnanski even waxes poetic on hearing Mel Allen’s “How about that?!” calls on This Week in Baseball back in the day. And I thought I was the only one who thought that voice, those calls, and those clips were the be all and end all as a kid. Amazing.
February 25, 2024
Great book overall. Loved the details of the baseball events I knew about but didn’t know the context around. Would have been a five start BUT there was heavy east coast bias per usual which was disappointing. Mostly Yankees, redsox, cubs, Mets and dodgers (boo). Not including Gregor Blanco’s catch in Matt Cain’s perfect game in the top five catches of all time is criminal.
November 29, 2023
This was just so stupidly, delightfully great - funny, poignant, clever, honest. Would I have loved it as much if the Orioles hadn't been so good this year and I had gotten bored with MLB before the All Star Game like usual? Maybe, maybe not. But the Orioles were that good, and I wasn't bored, and I cried like fourteen times and laughed about as many and also I love baseball.
January 26, 2024
I was happy the entire time I was reading this. If you're a baseball fan at all, I think you will be too.
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