What should I read after Moneyball?

[Cyclone792]

I know im a few years behind, but im about to finish up Moneyball and I think the next book im going to read is License to Deal by Jerry Crasnick. What are some suggestions for a book after that. I would really like to look into some of the specifics about the Moneyball stats so what are some of the books out there on that? Or should I read Three Nights in August? Or what are some other good baseball books out there? Definatly would like to read a book with the Reds involved.

License to Deal is a solid read, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Others I'd recommend ...

• The New Bill James Historical Abstract by Bill James - Basically a must for any baseball shelf.
• The Numbers Game by Alan Schwarz - The beginning may be tough to wade through, but it really picks up steam and gives an excellent account on how far baseball statistics have come.
• Reversing the Curse by Dan Shaughnessy - I picked this up on a whim in an airport for something to read on a flight, and it turned out to be worth it. My favorite aspect of the book is the background information on Theo Epstein and walking in his steps during the 2004 season.
• Mind Game by the writers at Baseball Prospectus - Fair warning here as this book requires some familiarity with sabermetrics. The writing can sometimes be stuffy, and there's a constant array of statistical comparisons which require a bit more concentration than just casual or leisure reading. It's a pretty darn good educational book though as it takes you on the insides of sabermetrics and how the Red Sox used them to their advantage during the 2004 season.

I have several other recommendations, but they're moreso of the historical variety, including player biographies and whatnot, so I'm not sure how much interest you'd have in those. Cedric mentioned Ball Four and that's definitely worth checking out.

[Ravenlord]

Baseball Uncensored by Johnathan Story

Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Lineups

[Maldonado]

I read a lot of baseball books, and other than "Moneyball", I find these books quite good:

1. "The Numbers Game: Baseball's LIfelong Fascination with Statistics"
by Alan Schwarz

2. "The Thinking Fan's Guide to Baseball" by Leonard Koppett

3. "The Physics of Baseball" by Robert K. Adair

Trust me - these are classics.

[Heath]

I'm reading "Baseball America" by Donald Honig - a great book about how baseball players in the dead ball era up to the 50's.

I've also read a copy of "Our Game" by Charles Alexander. Mr, or should I say, Professor Alexander has written this book for the "History of Baseball" course at Ohio U. Good reading about the intertwining of the American Society & baseball. Great stuff.

Also - an easy read is Pennant Race by Jim Brosnan chronically charting a day-by-day account of the 1961 Reds NL pennant. Good stuff.

Don't forget any Reds History book written by Greg Rhodes. Also, Brian Mulligan's new book in the 1940 Reds is out - but I haven't located a copy in my library yet.

[Doc. Scott]

Yeah, the Rhodes & Erardi book about the Big Red Machine is oft-overlooked. I like the way it goes from Bob Howsam's point of view and looks at the construction of the club, including the points before and after the 1975 and 1976 seasons.

[Rex Argos]

Lords of the Realm is quite good. It gives you an appreciation for the genius of Marvin Miller. Dealing with ballplayers is like trying to herd cats, but he pulled it off. Doesn't paint a flattering picture of baseball owners (big surprise).

[Shaknb8k]

Thanks for all the help. You all have given some good insight on some books but one more question. Should i get baseball prospectus or bill james prospect book? or both?

[flyer85]

Curve Ball: Baseball, Statistics, and the Role of Chance in the Game

[westofyou]

If you mean the Bill James Handbook then I'd get BP's book, the Handbook is 90% stats, the BP book is full of essays too.

[cincinnati chili]

Thanks for all the help. You all have given some good insight on some books but one more question. Should i get baseball prospectus or bill james prospect book? or both?

I agree with west of you. Get the Baseball Prospectus book, due to the 35 essays or so, which are usually top notch. The stats (which are great) are a bonus.

I've read 80% of the books mentioned and I think "Dollar Sign on the Muscle" and "Lords of the Realm" should come next. Ball Four would come after that.

[westofyou]

"Dollar Sign on the Muscle"

Do you have that?

If so let's work a loan out.

[cincinnati chili]

Do you have that?

If so let's work a loan out.

(If you can wait), you can borrow it when you come to Boston. Just mail it back to me when you're done with it, if you don't finish it here.

It's a paperback with a gazillion paperclips in it, so it's kinda beat up. M2 had it for about a year, but he actually took better care of it than I did.

[Superdude]

What's better, the Baseball Prospectus Annual or The Hardball Times Annual?

Another cool book coming out soon is called the fielding bible. You can find it on the hardball times website.

[Team Clark]

Scout's Honor is by far the best baseball book I have ever read. It's the flip side to Moneyball.

[Strikes Out Looking]

Aren't we a literate group?

When I was in grade school during the '70s (in Hamilton, where I grew up), my teacher told my mother that even though I was a huge reader I needed to widen my literary horizons because all I read was books about baseball.

From this thread, I don't think I was alone!