Synopses & Reviews
When
Time magazine named Bill James one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World," many people may have wondered just why this guy from Kansas with "mis-matching socks and dirt under his fingernails" deserved such an honor. The reality, however, is that James's lifetime of work not only completely altered the establishment of Major League Baseball but taught, and continues to teach, generations of readers the importance of dealing with questions, rather than answers.
In How Bill James Changed Our View of the Game of Baseball, edited by Gregory Pierce, twelve writers discuss how Bill James changed the way they think about a lot of things, including baseball. Interspersed throughout the book are comments and reflections from just plain fans on what Bill James has meant to them.
Contributors include:
Alan Schwarz, senior writer, Baseball America
Dave Studenmund, editor, The Hardball Times Baseball Annual
Gary Huckabay, founder, Baseball Prospectus
John Thorn, author and publisher
Hal Richman, founder and CEO, Strat-O- Matic, Inc.
Sam Walker, sports columnist, The Wall Street Journal
Steve Moyer, president, Baseball Info Solutions
Ron Shandler, owner, Baseball HQ
Daryl Morey, assistant GM, Houston Rockets
Rob Neyer, analyst, ESPN
John Dewan, owner, Baseball Info Solutions
Susan McCarthy, artist and wife of Bill James
Bill James, himself
Review
"Bill James introduced a generation of baseball fans to a whole new way of thinking about the game of baseball. And in doing so, he also taught many of us a new way to see the world. Don't believe it? Then do what James would do and examine the evidence: Read this book." Mat Olkin, Roster Management Consultant, Seattle Mariners
Review
"As someone who has spent gobs of time thinking about the subject, I devoured How Bill James Changed Our View of the Game of Baseball the way Bill James goes through a 12-pack of Diet Pepsi. The concept couldn't have been more satisfyingly executed." Scott Gray, author of The Mind of Bill James
Synopsis
Since self-publishing his revolutionary Baseball Abstracts over 25 years ago, Bill James has changed the way that baseball insiders, professionals and fans look at baseball and not always for the better, according to some. Recently named to Time magazine's "100 People Who Shape Our World," his influence has been recognized the world over. This book is a collection of essays from baseball insiders on what Bill James has meant to them and what they each see as his biggest influence on the game of baseball.