Classic Baseball Stories

Twenty-Two Legendary Stories from the Diamond
Edited by Jeff Silverman - 2003 MJF

First glance would say that this is a book of classical baseball stories about players from the turn of the century.  Although these stories are from the earlier days of baseball, they did not all necessarily happen.  This book is really a collection of baseball literature from sportswriters when baseball was in black and white (in type and photos) and the reigning national pastime.

Highlights include an article of why baseball is considered the real American sport and "Casey at the Bat," a story with a twist followed by a rebuttal written a few years after. 

Written in the laudatory style of sports writers of old and worth it for anyone interested in baseball history and the way they saw it.

The Old Ball Game

How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson and The New York Giants Created Modern Baseball
Frank Deford - 2005 Grove Press

The evident joy that Deford has in telling over the story of baseball at the turn of the century reverberates throughout the style and content of the whole book.  Although written in the praiseworthy and idealistic style of baseball of old, this does not mask the important roles Mathewson and McGraw played in giving baseball credence and turning it into a sport with respectable professionals.  

The style is different and may not be appreciated by all but the backdrop and characters are what make this book both interesting and enjoyable.