Sunday, February 10, 2013

Plugging Baseball Book Club

If you aren't reading this month's book, Mike Sowell's The Pitch That Killed, I strongly recommend finding a copy and joining us. Without question, this is the most enjoyable book that we've done and one of the better baseball books I've read.

The Casey Award winner for 1989, this book examines the 1920 season, focusing primarily on Ray Chapman's death via pitched ball. Sowell tells the story of Chapman and Carl Mays, the submariner pitcher that threw the ill-fated pitch but also examines the exciting 1920 pennant race, Babe Ruth changing the face of baseball, and so much more. I've really been enjoying it and hope that there will be at least a few of us willing to discuss it.

4 comments:

jtorrey13 said...

Darn it. I've got a couple of other books that I want to read/am reading ("The Professor and the Madman," "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" and "You Are Not So Smart") but you're words regarding the quality of this book (and it's also one on my list) has got me. I'll look for it tonight. Plus, a little appetizer before baseball season will be welcome.

Write to you soon.

mr haverkamp said...

I'm in....moved it ahead of the Clemente/Maraniss book I had intended to start in Feb...

Mad Guru said...

Jason,

I keep meaning to call you and see how you're doing. Hopefully some time in the near future.

Mr. Haverkamp,
Thanks for moving the book up. In return, let's read the Clemente book in March (instead of Game of Brawl as I originally proposed).

jtorrey13 said...

True - we'll talk soon. In the meantime, we can discuss "The Pitch That Killed." I agree. A wonderful book. Now I just hope I can get through "Telegraph Avenue" before I have to return it to the library. (I've already given up using the library for "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle." I'm going to have to buy that one.)

So when does the discussion start?