Watching Baseball Smarter: A Professional Fan's Guide for Beginners, Semi-experts, and Deeply Serious Geeks

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

From one of the most engaging, obsessive and talked-about "professional fans" in Major League Baseball, a fan's guide (for all ages and sexes) to appreciating the most popular sport in America--whether from the ballpark or the living room couch. A VINTAGE PAPERBACK ORIGINAL. Zack Hample's bestselling, smart, and funny fan's guide to baseball explains the ins and outs of pitching, hitting, running, and fielding, while offering insider trivia and anecdotes that will appeal to anyone-whether you're a major league couch potato, life-long season ticket-holder, or a beginner. . What is the difference between a slider and a curveball . At which stadium did "The Wave" first make an appearance . Which positions are never played by lefties . Why do some players urinate on their hands Combining the narrative voice and attitude of Michael Lewis with the compulsive brilliance of Schott's Miscellany, Watching Baseball Smarter will increase your understanding and enjoyment of the sport-no matter what your level of expertise. Featuring a glossary of baseball slang, an appendix of important baseball stats, and an appendix of uniform numbers.

Reviews

This isnt the first book to take on the challenge of explaining baseball intricacies, but Ive never seen it done better. . . . When it comes to producing aha moments of baseball enlightenment, the book indeed has a high batting average. The Seattle Times

Hample calls himself an obsessed fanobsessed in a good wayand the product of his torment is a funny and informative guide for all levels of fans. Yankees Magazine

Engaging. . . . Hamples book is both deceptive in its simplicity (the basic rules, but also the ten different ways a pitcher can commit a balk) and surprising in its range. Fortune

Author Bio

Zack Hample has written three books about baseball and has appeared on dozens of TV and radio shows. He has snagged more than 4,600 baseballs from 48 different major league stadiums. Hample runs a business called "Watch With Zack" and has a popular blog, The Baseball Collector, chronicling his obsession. http-//www.zackhample.com