The Golden Game: The Story of California Baseball

Because baseball is truly and uniquely the American pastime, you could quite possibly get a book's worth of material out of its history in all 50 states--and more than a few territories. Even Alaska used to host a Summer League, where they could play in sunlight most of the night. But Kevin Nelson mines the especially rich past of baseball in California from its earliest days as a state--in the 1850s--until its five professional... Read Full Review

The state of California has a rich baseball history and it never has been showcased any better than this book. Keven Nelson, the author looks at this history, from the Gold Rush days and the arrival of Alexander Cartwright (who may or may not have left his "baseball influence here during his brief stay in San Francisco) to a short mention of the current era, with numerous stops in between. While other books about the history... Read Full Review

This book is a wonderful blend of history and baseball. Intimate, funny, and often touching stories of how the two intersect: links between the Gold Rush and the first baseball games played, early barnstorming teams and the building of the transcontinental railroad, the simultaneous advent of the Big Leagues coming in when commercial air flight developed. Enjoyable, fascinating read. A perfect gift for a baseball or history... Read Full Review