Search -
Koppett's Concise History of Major League Baseball
Koppett's Concise History of Major League Baseball Author:Leonard Koppett First Time in Paperback, Updated and Expanded With a New Chapter for the 2004 Edition That Covers Through the 2003 Season Shocked to discover how little contemporary baseball stars knew of their sports rich lore, acclaimed baseball writer Leonard Koppett set out to change all that in one fell swoop. Koppett's Concise History of Major Leag... more »ue Baseball, first published in 1998, now updated through the 2003 season and available in paperback for the first time, this great baseball book makes the entire treasure of the games history available in one richly enjoyable volume. Opening to literally any page, readers will find lively narratives on the shape and significance of each baseball season from the sports nineteenth century beginnings through 2003's scintillating postseason, as well as quantitative summaries of statistics that chronicle changes in the game. Each chapter recounts trends, players, and events during different eras, offers succinct seasonal recaps, and summarizes the highlights of each baseball era. On the origins and evolution of on-the-field playfrom the 1880s origin of pitching high and tight then low and away, to todays ballplayers use of body armor at batplus statistics and record-breaking achievements, Koppetts got it covered. On the introduction of night baseball, radio and TV broadcasting, free agency, and the divisional play-offs, Koppets got it covered, too. And if readers want to know just whose interests have been served with each new development in the life of major-league baseball, Koppetts the man. This is the only book of its kind--an instantly accessible and concise history of baseball by a Hall of Fame sportswriter that spans the divide between statistical encyclopedias and specialized narratives on individual seasons, teams, and players. In this first update since the original edition, David Koppett has taken his late father's copious notes and expanded the book with new sections on interleague play, home run races and records, newly opened ballparks, changes in umpiring, the Commissioner's office, the 2002 labor agreement, and summaries for every season since 1995.« less