- Hardcover: 304 pages
- Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; First Edition edition (April 24 2004)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 031232247X
- ISBN-13: 978-0312322472
- Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 14.7 x 2.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 454 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #2,135,076 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Barra is like one of those passionate sports geeks who always have a copy of Total Baseball handy to lay a statistical foundation for their arguments, yet his sheer enthusiasm for the sport ensures he never lapses into the pedantic. While his last book (Clearing the Bases) touched on a wide range of subjects, in this collection of essays he explores issues at much greater length. So when he says the starting lineups for the 2003 All-Star Game were the worst in the game's history, he'll dig up a list of the 20 Hall of Famers from the 1933 game (and the outfielder who should be in the Hall) to show you how they stack up, then give you rosters from 10 more years for good measure. Who is and who should be in the Hall of Fame is a recurring theme; persuasive arguments are made for, among others, outfielder Minnie Minoso and Robin Roberts, "the unluckiest great pitcher in baseball history." Although Barra, who writes for the Wall Street Journal and Salon, is on less sure footing when he addresses broader sociological issues, like why fewer kids (both white and black) are trying out for baseball, he openly recognizes his limitations and even leaves room for fans to challenge him on his strengths. The debunking of the Yankee dynasty myth, buttressed by a firm belief in the current competitive balance among all the teams, is the most obvious topic for fans to argue about this spring, but there's sure to be others.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Book Description
Allen Barra is back with Brushbacks and Knockdowns, his newest retrospective of baseball history and folklore. Barra, whose weekly sports column "By The Numbers" earned him millions of readers in The Wall Street Journal, offers solid answers based on exhaustive research and analysis. But Barra risks inciting barroom riots with essays covering such topics as "Who was a better hitter, Babe Ruth or Barry Bonds?," "Is Barry Bonds been the best player over 35 in baseball history?," "Who is the best player not in the Hall of Fame,?" "Who was the most valuable team player in baseball history?" (Hint: His name rhymes with 'Yogi'), and "Is baseball's talent pool shrinking?" He also casts his eye at the current state of Major League Baseball in his insightful essay titled "The Myth of Competitive Balance, or How Bud Selig Almost Suckered You Into Ruining the Baseball Season."
And for the first time Allen Barra will make some projections on the greatest players and most innovative new trends in the first half of the 21st century.
In addition to his usual comparisons and arguments, Barra opens the door to even more controversial subjects, using statistics to give decisive answers to such questions as "Who's Right, The Owners or The Players?" and telling readers, step-by-step, how the new Basic Agreement is going to affect baseball every year up to 2006, when baseball is due for its ugliest labor showdown yet. He also addresses the issue of steroids in baseball -- how they undermine statistics and the fan's faith in the integrity of the statistics that have been the game's lifeline for more than a century.
In Brushbacks and Knockdowns, Barra takes on baseball's toughest arguments. Readers will never think about baseball's greatest stars, situations, and match-ups in the same way again.
And for the first time Allen Barra will make some projections on the greatest players and most innovative new trends in the first half of the 21st century.
In addition to his usual comparisons and arguments, Barra opens the door to even more controversial subjects, using statistics to give decisive answers to such questions as "Who's Right, The Owners or The Players?" and telling readers, step-by-step, how the new Basic Agreement is going to affect baseball every year up to 2006, when baseball is due for its ugliest labor showdown yet. He also addresses the issue of steroids in baseball -- how they undermine statistics and the fan's faith in the integrity of the statistics that have been the game's lifeline for more than a century.
In Brushbacks and Knockdowns, Barra takes on baseball's toughest arguments. Readers will never think about baseball's greatest stars, situations, and match-ups in the same way again.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Who is the greatest baseball player who ever lived? Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Who is the greatest baseball player who ever lived? Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sensational!,
By Jennifer Rogers (Trussville, Alabama United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Brushbacks and Knockdowns: The Greatest Baseball Debates of Two Centuries (Hardcover)
This book is really sensational! It's the most stimulating baseball book of the year. I loved Clearing The Bases, but I think this book is even better. The chapters on Yogi Berra and Barry Bonds are terrific, but the chapter on the New York Yankees and the myths surrounding them is alone worth the price of the book.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun and Daring,
By Michael A Humphreys (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Brushbacks and Knockdowns: The Greatest Baseball Debates of Two Centuries (Hardcover)
A wonderful baseball book that combines personal reminiscence, statistical analysis and even some social commentary. Barra is not afraid to tackle some controversial topics. I particularly enjoyed the essays about Yogi Berra, competitive balance, Barry Bonds' unprecedented performance, and the degree to which luck and "scrappy" play, rather than brute dominance, enabled the Yankees to win so many championships over the past few years.
5.0 out of 5 stars
My review,
By A Customer
This review is from: Brushbacks and Knockdowns: The Greatest Baseball Debates of Two Centuries (Hardcover)
I got this book for my father and he loves it. The chapter on the Yankees makes more sense than anything I've ever read on them. This is the most entertaining baseball book I've read all year.
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