In the Hall of Fame Bookstore there were tons of books on baseball that one doesn't see at the local Barnes and Noble. On such a rare chance to browse this store, I came upon the following:
This book is fascinating. I haven't been able to put it down. Not only does Thorn cover the well-worn territory of de-bunking Abner Doubleday, but also reducing the roles of Alexander Cartwright and Henry Chadwick as the fathers of baseball ... tracing the history of baseball was as much about the myth that had been built up around its creation as about the factual evidence of its many sources and authors.
The game of baseball as we know it today is the result of a whole host of incremental changes to the early game and was dominated by outsized egos and characters of questionable moral standing just as it is today.
If you are a fan of baseball with an interest in history and mystery and myth, I can't recommend this book enough. The material is great, and the icing on the cake is that John Thorn is able to convey this mountain of information in an easily digestible and thoroughly enjoyable way.
Check it out!
I really need to write a post about baseball books, I'm always looking for new ideas to add to my bookshelves !
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