"Joe Morgan again shows himself a rare bird: an ex-jock with savvy and the ability to communicate it." - People "This book has something for everybody, from longtime fans to Little Leaguers." - New York Newsday Baseball For Dummies, Third Edition, is for baseball fans at all levels, from players and coaches to spectators who love the game. Baseball Hall of Fame player and ESPN baseball analyst Joe Morgan explains baseball with remarkable insight, using down-to-earth language so everyone from the casual observer to the die-hard fan can gain a fuller appreciation of the sport. This updated edition features: Everything you need to know about the game, from what it takes to play each position and how to hit and run the bases to what to watch for in the game and how to appreciate the finer points of the sport Coverage of new star players, new stadiums, and game milestones The lowdown on today's baseball Web resources The latest on stats and sabermetrics The inside story on the new steroid rules From how to throw a knuckleball or hit an inside pitch to how to keep a scorecard or pick a winning fantasy league team, Morgan covers all the bases, showing you how to get the most out of the game. You'll see how to: Improve your hitting, pitching, and fielding Find a team to play on, from Little League on up Evaluate stats, players, and records Coach or umpire effectively Get more out of a trip to the ballpark Complete with Morgan's personal lists of top-ten pitchers, fielders, and relievers, as well as new quotes from Derek Jeter and Keith Hernandez, Baseball For Dummies gives you all the inside tips, facts, and stats so you can play like a Major Leaguer!
I got hooked watching the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 post season, but I realized that I was very ignorant about baseball. I bought this book in the spring, and it taught me an incredible amount about baseball. I now watch almost every Red Sox game and enjoy the games much more through understnnding the basics and a lot of the subtleties. The book is written for multiple types of readers, including people who play baseball or coach. I can't judge how well the book meets the player and coach needs, but for a basically ignorant fan, this book is fantastic! It's well organized, so it was easy for me to choose to skip certain sections on my inital read-through, and then go back and revisit them when I felt there was more that I could learn. If you're looking to learn more about baseball and increase your enjoyment from being a spectator/fan, then this book will be great for you.
The Best Baseball How-To Book Ever!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
Joe Morgan was a small man who became a Hall of Famer and the greatest second baseman ever by dint of hard work and intelligience. In Baseball for Dummies he translates that intelligience into a comprehensive primer that will captivate baseball novices and diehards. Joe starts with the basics ("This is a baseball..") and gradually moves the reader up to the more nuanced aspects of the game. The book is accessible to anyone who can read, yet it never talks down to the reader. And the prose is lively enough to interest even the most casual fan.I've seen the other books that try to reveal how baseball should be played. None of them are as informative or focused as the terrific guide.
¤ A WONDERFUL BOOK ¤
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
I thought this book was fantastic for anyone interested in the game of Baseball. Joe Morgan was an outstanding ballplayer winning the MVP title back to back while playing for the Reds in the 70's. Joe is very intelligent about the game of Baseball and knows the game better than anyone else. Thoughout this book, he explains the key fundamentals to becoming an all-rounded better ballplayer. He divides each section of the book into chapters and goes into very much detail and explains his philosophies better then anyone I know. He explains techniques he used to fix certain mechanical problems he had while learning the game as he went along and he also explains techniques that he thinks will help the common Baseball player. This book is also illustrated to help the reader better understand what Joe is talking about, incase you can't understand quite clearly what he is trying to say. I think this book is wonderful and should be owned by anyone associated with the sport (Players, Coaches, Managers, etc). Go out and buy this book today, I guarantee it will help you on all aspects of your game and teach you things about the sport you didn't know before.
excellent for beginners and all the way up to pros
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
This book was amazing. It taught me how to pitch fastballs, curveballs, knuckleballs, etc. It tells you what you need to play all the positions in baseball. It teaches you to bat, to catch, it teaches you eveything. It also tells you how to calculate batting averages! It also has records and neat info at the back of the book. One example of the info is: The top ten records least likely to be broken. So all in all if you want to play baseball buy this book.
A concise, well-written explanation of the game of baseball
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
As an avid baseball fan for most of my life, I often did not understand aspects of the game (e.g. types of pitches and how they work) to a great degree. Joe Morgan, in Baseball for Dummies, not only explains this information and other aspects of the game, he does it with unabashed enthusiasm and a simplicity that has only deepened my love and appreciation of our national pasttime. This book is a must-read for baseball fans at any level of understanding.
ThriftBooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. We personally assess every book's quality and offer rare, out-of-print treasures. We deliver the joy of reading in recyclable packaging with free standard shipping on US orders over $15. ThriftBooks.com. Read more. Spend less.