Baseball Fantastic

Bill Kinsella is not the only all-star writer in Baseball Fantastic. Gathered in this collection are baseball stories by Nebula Award winners John Kessel and George Alec Effinger, Bram Stoker Award winner Edo van Belkom, Writers of the Future winner Scott Nicholson, reknowned authors Rick Wilbur, Ron Carlson, Andrew Weiner, and Louis Phillips, as well as outstanding tales by new writers discovered by the editor. The book also features an introduction and two original, previously unpublished stories by Kinsella himself. Join W. P. Kinsella in the thrill of reading the world-class stories collected in Baseball Fantastic.

Short stories filled with empathy, laughter, and a love of the game, from the award-winning author of Shoeless Joe. W.P. Kinsella weaves his characters into the thrill of the game, be it in Japan, Central America, Canada, or the United States, with a variety of comic, tragic, and mystical results. This collection captures the dazzling wit, compelling insight, and obsession with baseball that have made Kinsella more popular than a ballpark frank. “There is a new depth and gentleness to Kinsella’s storytelling here, a more subtle nuance than his readers may be accustomed to. In ‘The Kowloon Club,’ the baseball club is persuaded to hire a Feng Shui master to determine the site for their new park…‘The First and Last Annual Six Towns Old-Timers’ Game’ is vintage Kinsella…The final extra-base hit is a deeply felt, introspective look at the half-lived life of an umpire and the reasons he continues to be a part of the game, even when his marriage is going foul.”—Quill & Quire

Is there someone in your life who loves baseball? Are they one of those individuals, young or old, who relishes every pitch, swing, and home run, eager to soak up every detail about America's favorite pastime? Whether they're a budding player eager to learn, a new fan discovering the magic of the game, or a seasoned enthusiast with a deep-seated passion for baseball history, this book is their ticket to a deeper appreciation and understanding. Inside our detailed book, your baseball fan will explore: - Over 500 fascinating, enlightening, and sometimes quirky baseball facts and trivia. - Insightful explorations into the art of batting, the strategy of game-changing plays, and profiles of legendary figures who've shaped the sport. - Stories of baseball's most memorable comebacks, detailing how teams defied the odds to claim victory from the jaws of defeat. - Narratives of the game's greatest rivalries, bringing to life the competitive spirit that fuels both players and fans. - Anecdotes of influential women in baseball, celebrating their contributions and achievements in a male-dominated sport. - This is simply the perfect gift for the baseball lover in your life! Here are some sneak peeks from the wealth of information they'll discover: Did you know that the longest professional baseball game lasted an astonishing 33 innings, unfolding over eight hours of play? Or that one of the most iconic defensive plays involved a barehanded catch and throw while tumbling over a bullpen bench? Can you guess the baseball superstar who, known for his leadership and iconic jump-throw, became the face of the New York Yankees for a generation? This book is more than just a list of facts; it's a tribute to the diverse and colorful world of baseball, crafted to satisfy the curiosity of fans young and old alike. So, whether you’re just getting into baseball or you have a friend who loves the game... Don't hesitate. Immerse yourself in this extensive compilation of baseball knowledge and heritage. It's more than a gift; it's a deep dive into the essence of the game. Are you ready to explore? Get your copy today!

THE ULTIMATE BASEBALL BOOK has more than lived up to its name. Spanning the complete history of the sport from the fledgling leagues in the late 1870s to the powerhouses of the 1990s and revealing in the process what a remarkable effect baseball has had on our collective experience, this is THE book for any and all baseball fans, certain to grace coffee and bedside tables alike. Designed with that wonderful nostalgia that the sport itself so often evokes, THE ULTIMATE BASEBALL BOOK combines timeless images with a sweeping narrative history as well as essays on various idols and icons by such heavy hitters as Red Smith, Wilfrid Sheed, Roy Blount, Jr., Tom Wicker, and Geoge Will. This new edition covers baseball through the nineties, the decade when home run records fell and the sport reclaimed its hold on America, and celebrates the national game in ultimate style.

Propounding his "small ball theory" of sports literature, George Plimpton proposed that "the smaller the ball, the more formidable the literature." Of course he had the relatively small baseball in mind, because its literature is formidable--vast and varied, instructive, often wildly entertaining, and occasionally brilliant. From this bewildering array of baseball books, Ron Kaplan has chosen 501 of the best, making it easier for fans to find just the books to suit them (or to know what they're missing). From biography, history, fiction, and instruction to books about ballparks, business, and rules, anyone who loves to read about baseball will find in this book a companionable guide, far more fun than a reference work has any right to be.

Lots of kids want to know more about baseball, one of the most popular sports in the world. This fun, fan-friendly introduction to the sport will help them slide in for a look at what makes this sport so exciting. Readers will learn about the positions, rules, and much more.

Even the most well-known people have struggled to succeed! This follow-up to Fantastic Failures offers up a second dose of fascinating stories featuring flops that turned into triumphs. Kids today are under a lot of pressure to succeed, but failure has an important place in life as young people learn how to be a successful person. In his teaching career, Luke Reynolds saw the stress and anxiety his students suffered, whether it was over grades, fitting in, or simply getting things right the first time. Even More Fantastic Failures is a second installment in Luke Reynolds’s personal campaign to show kids it’s okay to fall down or make mistakes, just so long as you try, try again! Kids will read about a host of inspiring, courageous, and diverse people who have accomplished—or still are accomplishing—big things to make this world a better place. A wide range of stories about Barack Obama, Greta Thunberg, Nick Foles, Emma Gonzalez, Beyoncé, Ryan Coogler, John Cena, Socrates, and even the Jamaican national women’s soccer team, prove that the greatest mistakes and flops can turn into something amazing. In between these fun profiles, Reynolds features great scientists and other pivotal people whose game-changing discovery started as a failure. Readers will enjoy seeing stories they know highlighted in the new feature “Off the Page and On the Screen,” which showcases how failures and successes are presented in books and film. Each profile includes advice to readers on how to come back from their own flops and move forward to succeed.

Features essays, player profiles, and statistics for the 1998 sports year, covering football, baseball, hockey, tennis, boxing, and other sports; and includes month-by-month event listings for 1999.