Baseball For Dummies

Amazon.com
Baseball is another solid hit in the popular Dummies series. With its chatty style, snappy graphics, and enjoyably informative top-10 lists, the book sticks to the Dummies format better than most pitchers follow their catchers' signs, a plus to be sure. The real plus, though, resides in the deftness of Joe Morgan's voice. The former Hall of Fame second baseman-turned television analyst has proven himself a natural communicator in the booth; he comes across just as comfortable, informative, and thorough in print. His enthusiasm spills over, but not at the expense of his broad knowledge. Morgan, naturally, covers the bases--hitting, pitching, fielding, running, coaching--with plenty of whys teamed up with the requisite how-tos. For added expertise he calls on fellow pros such as Hall of Famer Bob Gibson and MVP third-baseman Ken Caminiti. Deceptively sophisticated, Baseball for Dummies is a marvelously good-natured introduction to the game, but it also hurls enough insight to hook baseball's more advanced students.


Book Description
“There may not be anyone alive who knows more about baseball than Joe Morgan.”
—Bob Costas, NBC Sports Broadcaster

“This book has something for everybody, from longtime fans to Little Leaguers.”
—New York Newsday

It’s known as America’s National Pastime. It’s nicknamed “The Greatest Game Ever Invented.” No question about it: baseball is a way of life for millions, whether they’re watching from the bleachers or sluggers in their own right. After more than 150 years as an all-American sport, baseball lingo is even part of our everyday language. With all its history and influence, baseball is a phenomenon we should at least be able to yak about at the water cooler—even if we never set foot on the diamond.

Whether you don’t know the difference between a shortstop and a backstop, dabble in a bit of fantasy baseball, or need to perfect your split-fingered fastball, the second edition of this classic guide shows you the ropes. Ever wondered how great outfielders get a good jump on an incoming ball? Why the bases are 90 feet apart? Baseball For Dummies has answers to those questions, along with loads of All-Star tips on: Rules of the game Improving your hitting, pitching, and fielding Finding a team to play on, from Little League on up Coaching and umpiring effectively Getting more out of a trip to the ballpark than hotdogs and ice cream Evaluating stats, players, and records

Baseball Hall-of-Famer Joe Morgan—who played with the Cincinnati Reds in two World Series championships—teams up here with sportswriter Richard Lally to coach you through everything from keeping a scorecard to hitting like a Major Leaguer. In their down-to-earth style, they cover all the bases, including: Getting in shape, from warm-ups to free weights Playing the field: batting, baserunning, pitching, and defense from catcher to shortstop Landing the best seats in the park Baseball online, on the air, and on the newsstand How to play fantasy baseball How to snag off-the-field baseball jobs All-time and current Top Ten players, pitchers, fielders, and more A glossary of “baseball speak”

FROM OUR EDITORS

Cooperstown alumnus and star analyst Joe Morgan shows how the game is played in Baseball for Dummies. The basics of pitching, hitting, fielding, and baserunning are covered, along with diagrams of appropriate player movements in different situations. Baseball for Dummies is a particularly useful guide for young players, baseball coaches, and fans who want to enhance their understanding of the game.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Don't let the game throw you a curve!

One of baseball's greatest players takes you out to the ballpark and onto the field with clear explanations and illustrations, and grand-slam advice for getting the most out of this favorite international pastime. From pitching and hitting to the bull pen and batter's box, Baseball For Dummies has all the bases covered.

Before the peanuts and Cracker Jack... Become stat savvy -- calculate batting and pitching performance Decipher all of the baseball jargon used on and off the field Asssemble a killer fantasy team with tips for picking the right players Stay at the top of your game with expert advice on conditioning and exercise Polish your hitting, fielding, pitching, and baserunning skills Get expert advice from star players on how to play each position Play it safe -- suit up yourself or your team with the right gear Discover the coaching do's and don'ts to keep your team motivated Tip your hat to the greatest players then and now -- from Babe Ruth to Barry Bonds

SYNOPSIS

There are no curve balls in this grand slam book about baseball, America's greatest national pastime, as Cooperstown Hall of Famer and TV sportscaster Joe Morgan guides you through the hits and misses of the game for fans of all ages.

Baseball For Dummies takes a complete behind-the-plate look at all the rules, positions, plays, strategies, stats, and players of the game. The book also features tons of practical advice on training, pitching, hitting, baserunning, and stealing, plus inside tips on everything from coaching to calculating baseball statistics for your favorite players and hometown teams. And if getting out on the field isn't part of your game plan, the book has helpful hints for watching baseball -- from the stands, in your living room, or on the Internet -- making sense of all that colorful chatter (plus super hints for winning big with fantasy baseball).