Brushbacks and Knockdowns: The Greatest Baseball Debates of Two Centuries
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Book Overview
Allen Barra is back with Brushbacks and Knockdowns, his newest retrospective of baseball history and folklore. Risking barroom riots, his essays question, "Who was a better hitter, Babe Ruth or Barry Bonds?," "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?" 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 twenty-first century. He uses statistics to give decisive answers to "Who's Right, The Owners or The Players?" 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 matchups in the same way again.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0312322488
ISBN13:9780312322489
Release Date:June 2005
Publisher:Griffin
Length:290 Pages
Weight:0.63 lbs.
Dimensions:0.8" x 5.4" x 8.0"
Customer Reviews
4 ratings
Sensational!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
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.
Fun and Daring
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
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.
My review
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
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.
Don't drink and read this book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
Drinking and driving isn't a good idea. Also not a good idea: drinking and reading this book -- and then driving. The chapter about the Yanks is first-rate. His thoughts about Yogi Berra are right on. This is a great read. A prep book for those bar room discusions of who's better, i.e., Bonds or Ruth. Folks, this book is loaded!
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