Ten Best Books on America's Pastime

1.
The Glory of Their Times: The Story of the Early Days of Baseball Told by the Men Who Played It
The Glory of Their Times: The Story of the Early Days of Baseball Told by the Men Who Played It 4.38 avg rating — 5,662 ratings
2.
The Boys of Summer
The Boys of Summer 4.13 avg rating — 12,464 ratings
3.
Shoeless Joe
Shoeless Joe 3.97 avg rating — 16,195 ratings
4.
Ty Cobb: A Terrible Beauty
Ty Cobb: A Terrible Beauty 4.29 avg rating — 2,013 ratings
5.
Summer of '49
Summer of '49 4.11 avg rating — 9,829 ratings
6.
Nice Guys Finish Last
Nice Guys Finish Last 4.09 avg rating — 298 ratings
7.
The Gashouse Gang: How Dizzy Dean, Leo Durocher, Branch Rickey, Pepper Martin, and Their Colorful, Come-from-Behind Ball Club Won the World Series - and America's Heart - During the Great Depression
The Gashouse Gang: How Dizzy Dean, Leo Durocher, Branch Rickey, Pepper Martin, and Their Colorful, Come-from-Behind Ball Club Won the World Series - and America's Heart - During the Great Depression 3.92 avg rating — 418 ratings
8.
If I Never Get Back
If I Never Get Back 4.06 avg rating — 1,546 ratings
9.
Baseball in '41: A Celebration of the "Best Baseball Season Ever"
Baseball in '41: A Celebration of the "Best Baseball Season Ever" 4.02 avg rating — 289 ratings
10.
A Game of Their Own: Voices of Contemporary Women in Baseball
A Game of Their Own: Voices of Contemporary Women in Baseball 4.13 avg rating — 30 ratings
11.
Veeck As In Wreck: The Autobiography of Bill Veeck
Veeck As In Wreck: The Autobiography of Bill Veeck 4.12 avg rating — 2,106 ratings
12.
Nine Innings: The Anatomy of a Baseball Game
Nine Innings: The Anatomy of a Baseball Game 4.06 avg rating — 1,278 ratings
13.
The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball
The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball 4.04 avg rating — 1,117 ratings
14.
The Natural
The Natural 3.61 avg rating — 12,224 ratings
15.
October 1964
October 1964 4.19 avg rating — 5,738 ratings
16.
Crazy '08: How a Cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads, and Magnates Created the Greatest Year in Baseball History
Crazy '08: How a Cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads, and Magnates Created the Greatest Year in Baseball History 3.97 avg rating — 2,251 ratings
17.
Baseball: A History of America's Game
Baseball: A History of America's Game 3.90 avg rating — 145 ratings
17.
Nothing Down
Nothing Down 3.86 avg rating — 51 ratings
17.
Sounds of Silence
Sounds of Silence 4.26 avg rating — 23 ratings
17.
Blood Sport: Alex Rodriguez, Biogenesis, and the Quest to End Baseball's Steroid Era
Blood Sport: Alex Rodriguez, Biogenesis, and the Quest to End Baseball's Steroid Era 3.82 avg rating — 227 ratings
17.
Cardboard Gods: An All-American Tale Told Through Baseball Cards
Cardboard Gods: An All-American Tale Told Through Baseball Cards 3.80 avg rating — 924 ratings
17.
The Utility of Boredom: Baseball Essays
The Utility of Boredom: Baseball Essays 4.18 avg rating — 209 ratings
17.
Mr. Wrigley's Ball Club: Chicago and the Cubs during the Jazz Age
Mr. Wrigley's Ball Club: Chicago and the Cubs during the Jazz Age 4.04 avg rating — 55 ratings
17.
True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson
True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson 4.29 avg rating — 529 ratings
17.
The Baseball 100
The Baseball 100 4.74 avg rating — 4,282 ratings
17.
Wait Till Next Year
Wait Till Next Year 4.05 avg rating — 11,208 ratings
17.
The Original Louisville Slugger: The Life and Times of Forgotten Baseball Legend Pete Browning
The Original Louisville Slugger: The Life and Times of Forgotten Baseball Legend Pete Browning
by: Tim Newby
4.63 avg rating — 19 ratings
28.
Bottom of the 33rd: Hope, Redemption, and Baseball's Longest Game
Bottom of the 33rd: Hope, Redemption, and Baseball's Longest Game
by: Dan Barry
4.09 avg rating — 2,493 ratings
28.
The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training: A Novel Approach to Cinema
The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training: A Novel Approach to Cinema 4.11 avg rating — 57 ratings
28.
Ball Four
Ball Four 4.05 avg rating — 20,738 ratings
31.
The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth
The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth 4.03 avg rating — 2,160 ratings
31.
Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero
Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero 4.16 avg rating — 5,510 ratings
33.
The Best Team Ever: A Novel of America, Chicago, and the 1907 Cubs
The Best Team Ever: A Novel of America, Chicago, and the 1907 Cubs
by: Alan Alop
3.77 avg rating — 13 ratings
33.
Stan Musial: An American Life
Stan Musial: An American Life 3.92 avg rating — 1,546 ratings
33.
Big Hair and Plastic Grass: A Funky Ride Through Baseball and America in the Swinging '70s
Big Hair and Plastic Grass: A Funky Ride Through Baseball and America in the Swinging '70s 3.88 avg rating — 1,210 ratings
33.
They Said It Couldn't Be Done: The '69 Mets, New York City, and the Most Astounding Season in Baseball History
They Said It Couldn't Be Done: The '69 Mets, New York City, and the Most Astounding Season in Baseball History 4.11 avg rating — 415 ratings
37.
The 34-Ton Bat: The Story of Baseball as Told Through Bobbleheads, Cracker Jacks, Jockstraps, Eye Black, and 375 Other Strange and Unforgettable Objects
The 34-Ton Bat: The Story of Baseball as Told Through Bobbleheads, Cracker Jacks, Jockstraps, Eye Black, and 375 Other Strange and Unforgettable Objects 3.89 avg rating — 501 ratings
37.
Fenway 1912: The Birth of a Ballpark, a Championship Season, and Fenway's Remarkable First Year
Fenway 1912: The Birth of a Ballpark, a Championship Season, and Fenway's Remarkable First Year 3.86 avg rating — 380 ratings
37.
Research Notes for Women at Play: The Story of Women in Baseball: Lizzie Arlington, Alta Weiss, Lizzie Murphy, Edith Houghton, Jackie Mitchell, Babe Didrikson
Research Notes for Women at Play: The Story of Women in Baseball: Lizzie Arlington, Alta Weiss, Lizzie Murphy, Edith Houghton, Jackie Mitchell, Babe Didrikson 4.40 avg rating — 5 ratings
37.
The Final Game at Ebbets Field (New York Baseball's Golden Era - 1903 through 1957)
The Final Game at Ebbets Field (New York Baseball's Golden Era - 1903 through 1957)
by: Noel Hynd
3.99 avg rating — 137 ratings
41.
As They See 'Em: A Fan's Travels in the Land of Umpires
As They See 'Em: A Fan's Travels in the Land of Umpires 3.83 avg rating — 1,630 ratings
41.
Matty, An American Hero: Christy Mathewson of the New York Giants
Matty, An American Hero: Christy Mathewson of the New York Giants 4.05 avg rating — 57 ratings
41.
The Sputnik Season: 1957: The year New York City baseball and America changed forever. (New York Baseball's Golden Era - 1903 through 1957)
The Sputnik Season: 1957: The year New York City baseball and America changed forever. (New York Baseball's Golden Era - 1903 through 1957)
by: Noel Hynd
4.35 avg rating — 175 ratings
44.
Press Box Red: The Story Of Lester Rodney,
Press Box Red: The Story Of Lester Rodney, 4.16 avg rating — 31 ratings
44.
Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend
Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend 4.10 avg rating — 2,997 ratings
46.
The Physics of Baseball
The Physics of Baseball 3.72 avg rating — 600 ratings
46.
The Brothers K
The Brothers K 4.39 avg rating — 16,669 ratings
48.
When Boston Won the World Series: A Chronicle of Boston's Remarkable Victory in the First Modern World Series of 1903
When Boston Won the World Series: A Chronicle of Boston's Remarkable Victory in the First Modern World Series of 1903
by: Bob Ryan
3.73 avg rating — 73 ratings
48.
The Eastern Stars: How Baseball Changed the Dominican Town of San Pedro de Macoris
The Eastern Stars: How Baseball Changed the Dominican Town of San Pedro de Macoris 3.18 avg rating — 424 ratings
50.
Oscar Charleston: The Life and Legend of Baseball's Greatest Forgotten Player
Oscar Charleston: The Life and Legend of Baseball's Greatest Forgotten Player 4.34 avg rating — 318 ratings
51.
Son of Havana: A Baseball Journey from Cuba to the Big Leagues and Back
Son of Havana: A Baseball Journey from Cuba to the Big Leagues and Back 4.36 avg rating — 121 ratings
52.
Lefty: An American Odyssey
Lefty: An American Odyssey 4.01 avg rating — 122 ratings
53.
Stars and Strikes: Baseball and America in the Bicentennial Summer of ‘76
Stars and Strikes: Baseball and America in the Bicentennial Summer of ‘76 4.16 avg rating — 506 ratings
54.
Honus Wagner: A Biography
Honus Wagner: A Biography 3.81 avg rating — 167 ratings
55.
Havana Heat
Havana Heat 3.87 avg rating — 143 ratings
56.
The Iowa Baseball Confederacy
The Iowa Baseball Confederacy 3.83 avg rating — 2,380 ratings