Baseball: An Illustrated History Paperback – Illustrated, September 21, 2010

Gave this to my 10 year old Grandson for Xmas this year. He 's a HUGE BASEBALL FAN ! It doesn't get any better than this book for photos and well written history..afterall, it's Ken Burns. When I read it's the accompanying volume to his PBS baseball series, I went for it immediately. Excellent volume .. highly recommend !

as was expected

"Baseball: An Illustrated History" is the companion volume to Ken Burns' PBS documentary. The narrative, written by Geoffrey C. Ward, is based on the documentary filmscript by Ward and Burns. What this means in practical terms is that everything you hear and a lot of what you see in the celebrated series is in this book, plus a lot more. Each chapter/inning ends with an essay, such as Bill James on "Stats," Doris Kearns Goodwin on being a "Fan," George F. Will on "Fifties Baseball" and Gerald Early on "Baseball and African American Life." There is also an interview with Buck O'Neil, who emerged from "Baseball" as the game's greatest living good will ambassador. What you will appreciate the most are the little touches: when talking about the dominance of the Yankees in the 1950's we get a full page of choice quotes presenting "The Wisdom of Casey Stengel...and Yogi Berra." There are ads featuring Babe Ruth, pictures of old tobacco cards, the complete "Casey at the Bat," and dozens of other little gems sprinkled throughout the book. As opening day approaches each year my annual rite of spring is to watch "Baseball," and I always take out this companion volume and leaf through it as I watch a century of baseball history. This volume can stand on its own, which might be the single best testament to how good of a baseball book it happens to be.

Love this book and loved the documentary (I watched it for the first time only recently). The trove of period photographs and great writing are a hallmark of Ken Burns' work. I am slowly making my way through the book, reading a bit, putting it down, then coming back to it without missing a beat -- wonderful entertainment. My only criticism is that my team, the Kansas City Royals, might as well never have come into being for all the notice it gets in the documentary and the book. Same can be said for the Transmississippi Department in the Civil War documentary. So, bit too East coast centric, but still a joy to watch and read.

Excellent companion to Ken Burns' BASEBALL DVD series. Has additional info that was edited out of the DVD series. Well worth the cost.

I bought this book along with the complete 10 inning DVD set of Ken Burns Baseball box set. I am a huge baseball fan and enjoyed the films and the book to a certain extent. But I believe they missed the point to some degree. The later innings focused more on the labor issues (including the 1994 strike and the rise of free agency) and steriods than on the great players and teams that came during the 80s, 90s and 2000s.For example, the 1998 Yankees who won a total of 125 games are hardly mentioned and there is no mentioning of perhaps one of the greatest players ever, Albert Pujols, at all. The book and films focus on Barry Bonds and the Red Sox more than anything else. This is a must have for any baseball fan, but in my opinion Ken Burns missed the boat. While steriods and the strike are significant in the history of baseball, as a fan I am more interested in hearing about and discussing the great teams and players of the era.

Reading

The absolute must have book for all baseball fans. It is packed with facts, details, and photos covering the entire history of the sport. A true work of genius and hard labor.

excellent!

Questo è un libro che ogni appassionato dovrebbe avere nella sua personale biblioteca. Il grande documentarista americano, Ken Burns, autore di grandi libri e documentari sulla guerra civile americana, sulla storia del West, e recentemente sul periodo proibizionista, realizza anche una splendida opera per il "national pastime". Questo libro racconta, con dovizia di particolari, aneddoti e moltissime illustrazioni, di come il baseball sia nato negli Stati Uniti, e di come, negli anni sia diventato più di un semplice sport, avvicinandosi quasi ad una religione, per alcuni. Non posso fare altro che consigliarlo ad ogni vero appassionato di baseball, ma anche a chi, appassionato di storia, voglia farsi un'idea di come uno sport abbia preso piede negli USA radicandosi cosi fortemente con la cultura della nazione stessa. Inoltre, se ne avete la possibilità, questo libro andrebbe accompagnato con il documentario girato da Burns, 10 DVD, che raccontano gli stessi fatti, ma con occhio diverso e con interviste a tantissimi esponenti della cultura, dello spettacolo e dello sport americano.

Having viewed KEN BURNS's documentary on baseball along with the sequel THE TENTH INNING,i was interested to read the paper version.I am glad i did because the book is not a repetition of the visual documentary.It actually adds up with many supplementary details.It would be too long to enumerate all i like about the book, but i recommand it for everybody who saw the documentary.You won't be disapointed,it's really worth it.

Well Packed, Good condition.I'M satisfied!Thanks

Great book. I loved the documentary series as well. Would recommend both to any baseball fan.