Good Wood The Story Of The Baseball Bat

In Good Wood, New York Times contributor Stuart Miller takes readers on a journey through the rich and storied—and occasionally nefarious—story of the baseball bat and those who have made them and swung them. With over 50 photos, Miller reveals the creation, history, and development of the bat, brings readers up to date on modern methods and materials for making bats, and explores the folklore surrounding bats.

Audisee® eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and sentence highlighting to engage reluctant readers! How does a tree become a baseball bat? First, a tree is cut into logs. Then logs are cut and shaped. Next a machine carves them. Then the bat is sanded. Follow the process step by step.

Why do modern-day sluggers like Aaron Judge prefer maple bats over the traditional ash bats swung by Ted Williams and others? Why did the surge of broken bats in the early 21st century create a crisis for Major League Baseball and what steps were taken to address the issue? Are different woods being considered by players and manufacturers? Do insects, disease and climate change pose a problem long-term? These and other questions are answered in this exhaustive examination of the history and future of wooden bats, written for both lifelong baseball fans and curious newcomers.

In 1887, Tip O'Neill, left fielder for the St. Louis Browns, won the American Association batting championship with a .492 average--the highest ever for a single season in the Major Leagues. Yet his record was set during a season when a base on balls counted as a hit and a time at bat. Over the next 130 years, the debate about O'Neill's "correct" average diverted attention from the other batting feats of his record-breaking season, including numerous multi-hit games, streaks and long hits, as well as two cycles and the triple crown. The Browns entered 1887 as the champions of St. Louis, the American Association and the world. Following the lead set by their manager, Charles Comiskey, the Browns did "anything to win," combining skill with an aggressive style of play that included noisy coaching, incessant kicking, trickery and rough play. O'Neill did "everything to win" at the plate, leaving the no-holds-barred tactics to his rowdier teammates.

Wilf loved playing ball with his older brother. Their family was too poor to buy good equipment so the boys played with floppy gloves and a baseball bat that gave splinters. On his way home from school, Wilf was surprised to see a beauty of a bat on the ball diamond in the farthest corner from the school. The temptation to take it created an unexpected dilemma. What would be the consequences? This true, heartwarming story shares the agony, the ecstasy, the battle for a clean conscience, and a story of redemption as a young boy learns a lifelong lesson in integrity.

In baseball, one record shines as the most coveted for batters: four home runs in a single game. Only eighteen players have accomplished this feat, making it rarer than the perfect game. This book profiles these batsmen, detailing their lives, the game that launched them into the four-home-run club, and their careers after that triumphant moment.

Audisee® eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and text highlighting for an engaging read aloud experience! How does a piece of wood become a brand-new baseball bat? Follow each step in the process—from cutting the wood to shipping the bat to a store—in this fascinating book!