Synopses & Reviews
“There may not be anyone alive who knows more about baseball than Joe Morgan.”
—Bob Costas, NBC Sports Broadcaster
“This book has something for everybody, from longtime fans to Little Leaguers.”
—New York Newsday
It’s known as America’s National Pastime. It’s nicknamed “The Greatest Game Ever Invented.” No question about it: baseball is a way of life for millions, whether they’re watching from the bleachers or sluggers in their own right. After more than 150 years as an all-American sport, baseball lingo is even part of our everyday language. With all its history and influence, baseball is a phenomenon we should at least be able to yak about at the water cooler—even if we never set foot on the diamond.
Whether you don’t know the difference between a shortstop and a backstop, dabble in a bit of fantasy baseball, or need to perfect your split-fingered fastball, the second edition of this classic guide shows you the ropes. Ever wondered how great outfielders get a good jump on an incoming ball? Why the bases are 90 feet apart? Baseball For Dummies has answers to those questions, along with loads of All-Star tips on:
- Rules of the game
- Improving your hitting, pitching, and fielding
- Finding a team to play on, from Little League on up
- Coaching and umpiring effectively
- Getting more out of a trip to the ballpark than hotdogs and ice cream
- Evaluating stats, players, and records
Baseball Hall-of-Famer Joe Morgan—who played with the Cincinnati Reds in two World Series championships—teams up here with sportswriter Richard Lally to coach you through everything from keeping a scorecard to hitting like a Major Leaguer. In their down-to-earth style, they cover all the bases, including:
- Getting in shape, from warm-ups to free weights
- Playing the field: batting, baserunning, pitching, and defense from catcher to shortstop
- Landing the best seats in the park
- Baseball online, on the air, and on the newsstand
- How to play fantasy baseball
- How to snag off-the-field baseball jobs
- All-time and current Top Ten players, pitchers, fielders, and more
- A glossary of “baseball speak”
You’ll get a baseline knowledge—and find out details and trivia even the most die-hard fans don’t know. If you’re looking to walk the walk, or just be able to talk the talk, step up to the plate: Baseball For Dummies delivers the goods.
Synopsis
From the basics of pitching, hitting, running, and fielding to the latest stats and storms of controversy, Baseball For Dummies, 2nd Edition, is the ultimate guide to enjoying America's favorite pastime.
-- Includes new chapters on the Negro Leagues, umpiring and the strike zone, and coaching
-- Features coverage of the record-breaking 1998 season, plus updates to top players lists, expansion teams, and resources, and more fantasy baseball
-- Valuable information on improving performance, from conditioning strategies to supplements
Synopsis
"Joe Morgan
is one of the most intelligent players to ever play the game." Sparky Anderson, former manager, Cincinnati Reds "This book has something for everybody, from
longtime fans to Little Leaguers." New York Newsday Praise for Joe Morgan and Baseball For Dummies
® "Joe Morgan again shows himself a rare bird: an ex-jock with savvy and the ability to communicate it." People "This book is a grand slam." Pete Rose
Updated with new tips, insights, facts, and stats
Let Joe Morgan take you out to the ballpark in this revised edition of his classic guide to the National Pastime. From how to throw a knuckleball or hit an inside pitch to how to keep a scorecard or pick a winning fantasy league team, he covers all the bases and shows you how to get the most out of the game.
Discover how to: Improve your hitting, pitching, and fielding Find a team to play on, from Little League on up Coach or umpire effectively Get more out of a trip to the ballpark Evaluate stats, players, and records
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About the Author
Joe Morgan played on two Cincinnati Reds World Series championship teams and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1990. He and sportswriter Richard Lally also wrote Long Balls, No Strikes.
Table of Contents
Foreword.
Introduction.
PART I: Getting Started (Before Your First At-Bat).
Chapter 1: What Is Baseball?
Chapter 2: Suiting Up: Equipment.
Chapter 3: The Rules of the Game.
PART II: Taking Your Swings How to Play the Game.
Chapter 4: Training: Getting into Baseball Shape.
Chapter 5: Swinging the Lumber: Hitting Like a Major Leaguer.
Chapter 6: Winning the Arms Race: Pitching Like a Major Leaguer.
Chapter 7: The Third Dimension: Defense.
Chapter 8: The Science of Baserunning.
Chapter 9: Joe's Baseball Playbook.
PART III: From Little League to the Major Leagues: Organized Baseball.
Chapter 10: T-Ball to College Baseball and Everything in Between.
Chapter 11: The Minors and Other Leagues.
Chapter 12: There Are Tricks to This Game: Coaching.
Chapter 13: Men in Blue: Umpiring Like a Professional.
Chapter 14: Major League Baseball.
Chapter 15: Off-the-Field Baseball Jobs and How to Snag Them.
Chapter 16: Measuring Performance: Calculating Baseball's Statistics.
Chapter 17: Going All the Way: Postseason Play and the World Series.
PART IV: We Don't Care if We Ever Get Back: A Spectator's Guide.
Chapter 18: Following the Bouncing Baseball.
Chapter 19: Keeping Up with the Show: Baseball Online, on the Air, and on the Newsstand.
Chapter 20: Fantasy Baseball.
PART V: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 21: Joe Morgan's Top Ten Players, All-Time and Current.
Chapter 22: Joe Morgan's Top Ten Pitchers, All-Time and Current.
Chapter 23: Joe Morgan's Top Ten Fielders, All-Time and Current.
Chapter 24: Joe Morgan's Ten Negro League Legends.
Chapter 25: Ten Things to Love about Baseball.
Chapter 26: Ten Baseball Nicknames That Hit the Mark.
PART VI: Appendixes.
Appendix A: Baseball Speak: A Glossary.
Appendix B: Baseball Organizations.
Index.
Book Registration Information.