The Thinking Fan's Guide to Baseball (Hall of Fame Edition) - Perfect Gift for Baseball Enthusiasts, Great for Game Nights & Sports Memorabilia Collectors

goodHow good would someone have to be to be honored by both the baseball and basketball halls of fame? That's how good a sports writer Leonard Koppett was. There is no better introduction to baseball than The Thinking Fan's Guide to Baseball, one of 16 books this lifelong newspaper man authored. Originally published in 1967 this book was updated several times over the years and this is the final 2004 edition, and for my money it's one of the best books ever written about baseball. Famously beginning by emphasizing how the batter's ability to overcome the natural fear of a fastball being thrown at him at speeds both painful and dangerous is central to baseball, this book goes on to discuss the obvious aspects of the game on the field--hitting, pitching, fielding, baserunning--and the less obvious ones like signs, managing, umpires, the physical nature of the various ballparks and so on. Koppett then goes on to examine the roles of the press, scouts, scoring, owners and on and on, there isn't much about baseball he doesn't analyze in this book And here's the key--Koppett could really write, with style and wit and an ability to take the reader inside the game. Whether you've never seen a game of baseball in your life or you're a veteran fan of many decades, you'll look at various aspects of the game in a new light after reading this book which belongs on the bookshelf of every serious fan.I read this about 15 years ago. If you are interested in learning about the game, the positions, manager moves, pitching, this is a must read. Great book. I am in the process of pushing the button to purchase this book again.I've been a baseball fan and observer for nearly fifty years. What Leonard Koppett has accomplished in The Thinking Fan's Guide to Baseball is nothing less than the encapsulation of baseball history, politics, strategy and behind-the-scenes activities into 385 extremely readable pages. I have the 2001 edition and it is completely up-to-date to that point. Highly recommended.For a serious baseball fan, this is a pretty darn good book. I enjoyed it tattered covers and all.Far too basic for even the average fan - i found myself skipping around too much when i started reading things that anyone who has any knowledge of baseball should know. This book may be a good beginner's book for younger fans.