The Story of Baseball: Third Revised and Expanded Edition - Hardcover

Ritter, Lawrence S

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0688162649 ISBN 13: 9780688162641

Publisher: Collins, 1999

Synopsis

"This solid, absorbing introduction to the history, mechanics, and magic of baseball has been expanded and updated, with the addition of several chapters incorporating new baseball lore and current faces. A winner in any season."--Horn Book.

"A splendid volume for fans of all ages. a solid hit." --The New York Times

"A grand slam all the way!" --School Library Journal

About this title

About the Author

Lawrence S. Ritter (1922-2004) was chairman of the Department of Finance at the Graduate School of Business Administration of New York University. He collaborated with fellow baseball historian Donald Honig on The Image of Their Greatness and The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time but is best known for The Glory of Their Times, one of the most famous sports books ever published.

"A splendid volume for fans of all ages. a solid hit." --The New York Times

"A grand slam all the way!" --School Library Journal

Reviews

Grade 4-8-This is the third revision of a standard sports title first published in 1983, and then revised in 1990. Here, Ritter takes baseball's story through the events of the 1990s, ending with the 1998 great home-run record race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Of course, the other part of the story during this past decade deals mostly with labor strife and organizational turmoil, and the author does a good job of succinctly laying out the details of these complex matters. An entirely new chapter deals with the market for baseball cards and other memorabilia. The photographs have also been updated, with pictures of today's stars mixed in with those from past decades. As with the other editions, the first part takes readers through a well-written and entertaining history of the game. The second part deals with aspects of the game such as strategy, hitting, pitching, and base running. There's even a section on signs and signals-something missing from many of the other books that cover the sport. The clear writing and excellent organization have made this title a top choice in the past; this edition, bringing the "story" up to the present day, is a most welcome addition.
Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library,
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 6^-12. From an 1846 game in Hoboken to last year's McGwire-Sosa race for the record books, Ritter's update of his 1990 book once again takes in the game's personalities, statistics, and strategies. The majority of the changes are found in the two chapters on modern times: top players today have been substituted for favorites from the 1980s, and there's a take on the effects of the 1994 strike. The original format has been retained: the first half is a chronological look at major league history; the second is an assessment of game elements--pitching, fielding, etc. Although some of the chapters may be a bit statistics-heavy for the casual fan, they are sprinkled with enough entertaining anecdotes and gossip to keep the reader engaged. An enjoyable mix for player and spectator alike. Randy Meyer

Edition details

• Publisher: Collins
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0688162649
• ISBN 13: 9780688162641
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 224