The Wit and Wisdom of Baseball - Book Review

Getting Paid as a Man to Play a Boy's Game!

 

Available on Amazon

For this baseball fan, there's nothing more enjoyable than reading about the “Boys of Summer”. When I'm not watching baseball, I'm reading about baseball. This book “The Wit & Wisdom of Baseball” meets my reading requirements for a fun 'read' about my favorite subject. At only 168 pages, it's a quick read and a funny one. It's filled with amusing anecdotes and quotes from some of our most well known baseball players (Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Yogi Berra, to name a few), plus managers, and even Presidents, all accompanied by original illustrations in a book shaped like a baseball.

We learn some interesting facts, such as why “The Star-Spangled Banner” is played prior to each baseball game and how 'America's Game' became associated with hot dogs and apple pie.

I thoroughly enjoyed this baseball book!

About the Author

 

Saul Wisnia, Bio & Books on Amazon

Saul Wisnia is a former sports and news correspondent at The Washington Post and feature writer at The Boston Herald who has written or contributed to numerous books on Boston and general baseball history.

A huge Boston Red Sox fan, Wisnia likes to point out that he lives 5.94 miles from Fenway Park and has a cat named Wally (after Fenway's 'Green Monster'). He also shares Fenway Park Reflections on his blog.

The "Boys of Summer" Have Their Say...

 

Some of my favorite “quotes” in this book include:

• Babe Ruth's response to a reporter when questioned about his 1930 salary demand of $80,000, which topped that of the President's $75,000 salary. “I know, but I had a better year than Hoover.”
• “There is always some kid who may be seeing me for the first or last time. I owe him my best.” --Joe DeMaggio
• “Can't anybody here play this game?” – Manager Casey Stengel on his 1962 Mets Team, which went 40-120.
• Plus, who can ever forget the incomparable Yogi Berra and his many "Yogisms", such as "In Baseball, you don't know nothing."
• Then we have that famous final line from Ernest Lawrence Thayer's epic poem "Casey at the Bat: "But there is no joy in Mudville---mighty Casey has struck out."
• And my very favorite from a truly great baseball player on and off the field: “My greatest thrill in baseball was just putting on the uniform of a big-league ballplayer, especially for every season's opening game. I believe the joy of getting paid as a man to play a boy's game kept me going longer than many other players.” – Stan Musial

Baseball Books Galore!

I read a lot of baseball books during the winter months when I am deeply missing my daily dose of baseball. In fact, MY favorite baseball quote of all time -- the one I use as my 'mantra' -- is from Bill Veeck: "There are only two seasons - winter and Baseball"!

My Winter Baseball Reading...

 

Source: Pixabay

A couple books I read this winter were Tony La Russa's review of his St. Louis Cardinals fabulous 2011 year, One Last Strike and, of course, this one The Wit & Wisdom of Baseball.
 

More books to enjoy about that 'summer game' called Baseball

Here are a couple more interesting baseball books that represent what we call a 'summer' sport. There are literally hundreds of baseball books available on the market, written by players, former players & managers, and sports announcers. Us baseball fans will never run out of books to read about our favorite sport!

 

The Boys of Summer 

Author Roger Kahn, a sportswriter, writes about young men playing baseball in the 1930s and 1940s (Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese and more) and what happened to them when their 'playing days' were past.

The Summer Game

A baseball sports writer (Roger Angell) tells us "there's ALWAYS something more to be discovered about this game.” 

 

Baseball and Baseball Books

 

© Wednesday Elf (Personal Photo)

"The Wit & Wisdom of Baseball" is a great read for any baseball fan. Because it is filled with a collection of quotes and bits of trivia, it can easily be read just a page or two at a time. 

A perfect 'bathroom book' (according to my brother). Or read a little during those commercials between innings while watching a baseball game on TV.  For an entertaining read about your favorite sport, this is delightful book!

© 2014 Wednesday-Elf




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