The First Baseman (Baseball Behind the Seams)

Akin to a linebacker in football, the first baseman needs to be fast enough to cover bunts, athletic enough to snag errant throws, and strong enough to stand up to the collisions that often happen, while always bringing the big lumber to the plate at crucial times of the game. The First Baseman is the first book ever to cover this vital position in such depth and explore the role of one of the most active players on the field.

Author Tom Keegan—a Hall of Fame voter—interviewed dozens of first basemen past and present, including Keith Hernandez, Don Mattingly, Derek Lee, Jim Thome, Lou Piniella, Eddie Murray, Enos Cabell, and Eldon Auker, to find out how they got started at the position, the most memorable plays they’ve made (and muffed), and the techniques they mastered to become great first basemen. The “Day in the Life” chapter follows the Cincinnati Reds’ Sean Casey through an entire game, from his arrival at the ballpark until he hits the showers. The First Baseman also offers a treasury of lists: the best first basemen who ever played the game, from Hall-of-Famers, to MVPs, to Rookies of the Year.