Whether you’re a major league couch potato, life-long season ticket-holder, or teaching game to a beginner, Watching Baseball Smarter leaves no territory uncovered. In this smart and funny fan’s guide Hample explains the ins and outs of pitching, hitting, running, and fielding, while offering insider trivia and anecdotes that will surprise even the most informed viewers of our national pastime.
What is the difference between a slider and a curveball?
At which stadium did “The Wave” first make an appearance?
How do some hitters use iPods to improve their skills?
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.
Zack Hample is an obsessed fan and a regular writer for minorleaguebaseball.com. He's collected nearly 3,000 baseballs from major league games and has appeared on dozens of TV and radio shows. His first book, How to Snag Major League Baseballs, was published in 1999.
The Baseball Collector (Rating 5 of 5)
» Mike Webber
Not only is this a great book for the novice, experienced baseball fans will get something out of it as well. Hample writes about what he knows... and that's "How to Collect Baseballs" and How to watch baseball smarter. If you doubt his skills, just know that he caught the last Mets homer at Shea... EVER. He actually does what he preaches. He also wrote a foreword for the Sports By The Numbers series MLB book. Here is their Yankees book, that you may love as well: New York Yankees: An Interactive Guide to the World of Sports (Sports by the Numbers). Buy both books. You will love them
Slightly above beginner (Rating 4 of 5)
» CJ
Your view of this short book depends on how much you know about baseball already and how much you want to know. Being that you are looking at it and the title, you are at least a little interested. I found myself speed reading through some sections, but others sections I read with great interest due to knowledge base or lack thereof. The author loosely organizes the book on sections about player positions, stadiums, and so forth. Organization is not a strong part of this book. But, there are some great facts in here. For 200 pages, I learned a lot
insights for a baseball mom (Rating 5 of 5)
» Susan M. Ingersoll
This is a great book for moms who have sons playing baseball. I only wish I would have had this book when my son was younger. I always thought I knew what was going on in a game, but I didn't know so much. I have learned a lot from this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves or hates the game of baseball
Great for beginners, less for semi-experts (Rating 3 of 5)
» Tina Ippolito
I enjoyed this book, especially the glossary of baseball lingo. I think I'll keep this book near the TV when I listen to the "color commentator" spew all that meaningless baseball jargon! Some parts of the book were helpful, but a lot was fairly obvious if you've spent much time watching games or playing Little League. Still, the author includes some fun little-known facts...and I *think* I finally understand the infield fly rule! But don't quiz me on it
Take me out to the ballgame (Rating 5 of 5)
» mrliteral
Football may have the hard-hitting action and basketball may have the slam-dunk feats, but baseball has character. In what other sport are the fans supposed to all stand in the middle of a game and sing a song? Furthermore, while basketball, football, hockey and soccer are all essentially different versions of the same game (pushing a puck or ball into the goal defended by the opposition), baseball has no real parallel (except maybe cricket, which is at most a minor sport in the U.S.). And, of course, unlike almost any other sport, there are no real time or point constraints to baseball; you're always in the game until the last out.
The unique elements of baseball can be off-putting to fans of other sports, who may find the subtleties of the game to be slow or boring. But as Zack Hample illustrates in his book Watching Baseball Smarter, there is a lot more going on than is readily apparent. Designed for the casual baseball fan, Hample offers insights into the sport that may escape most people (though the more die-hard fan will know much of what he describes).
After a review of some of the basics of the game, Hample has sections dedicated to the four major components of the game: pitching (and catching); hitting, base running and fielding. He then has chapters on stadiums, umpires, statistics and "random stuff". If you want to know the difference between a cut fastball, a four-seamer and a two-seamer, Hample provides the information in the pitching chapter. If you want to know why left-handed catchers are so rare, look in the fielding chapter.
For the avid fan, an error or two may be noted. For example, in the section on umpires, it is noted that the catcher can appeal to the first or third base umpire on a check swing; actually, he appeals to the home plate umpire, who can seek the appropriate umpires opinion. Any other errors also seem to be on such subtle issues, so it really isn't a major issue. In general, this is a fun book for baseball fans, filled with the slang and historical perspective that gives the sport its personality. If you enjoy baseball, you should read this book
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