The Big Book of Baseball Stories: Timeless and Compelling Tales of Our National Game (Jumbo Story Collections)

“The Big Book of Baseball Stories is a good reminder of the cultural impact of baseball in American life.”

This new collection of baseball stories offers baseball writing, both fiction and nonfiction, from the 19th and early 20th centuries. These selections are drawn from the writing of literary figures, sportswriters, baseball players, and coaches. Some of these authors and pieces will be familiar to serious baseball fans and students of American literature. Others will be new, even to those with some knowledge of the history of the National Pastime.

Jeff Silverman, a former columnist for the Los Angeles Harold Examiner, has written for several newspapers and other national publications. In addition, he is the editor of several collections of stories on golf and baseball. The Big Book of Baseball Stories comes 20 years after the publication of his edited collection, The Greatest Baseball Stories Ever Told.

There are many options when putting together a collection of this nature, and the choices reflect not only the topic itself but, to a certain extent, the judgement and tastes of the editor. Reviewers will object to some items included and bemoan the exclusion of others.

Any collection of baseball literature from this period must include two items: Abbott and Costello’s famous “Who’s on First?” which dates from the 1930s and has roots in vaudeville from previous decades. “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” written in 1908 and now performed in nearly every ballpark in the Americas.

Jeff Silverman opens his collection with “Who’s on First?” As Silverman points out, this piece is meant to be heard rather than read, due mainly to the brilliant timing with which Bud Abbott and Lou Costello deliver the skit. Recordings of this gem are easy to find and are must to feel the full genius of the piece. “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” is not included here, for whatever reason.

Among the major names in American Literature, Walt Whitman is here, largely because he is Walt Whitman. Mark Twain and Ring Lardner noted for their humor are both represented, although for humor, at least in these pieces, Lardner outpaces Twain for laughs and chuckles.

Silverman draws from the work of several African Americans to examine the coming of  segregation to baseball in the late 19th century. The work of Sol White and the stories of the struggles of the Walker Brothers are excellent choices for this topic. Moses Fleetwood Walker and Weldy Walker were both extremely talented players who brought out the worst of racism in the world of baseball culminating in the drawing of the color line in the National Pastime.

In the section dealing with women in baseball, Silverman’s extended introduction under the title “Lady Baseballists” is an excellent summary of the growth and development of baseball in many women’s colleges. Also, in this section, there is a piece of baseball fiction written by Kate Upson Clark in 1898. It might be the first piece of baseball fiction ever published written by a woman.

Hall of Fame writer Charles Dryden is described by Silverman as the best baseball writer of his time and also the funniest. Silverman recounts many of his great baseball phrases that have become part of baseball language and writing. Unfortunately, the selection chosen for reprint is about as unfunny as anything could be.

Burt L. Standish was a prolific writer of fiction for boys. Under the name Gilbert Patten, he created “Frank Merriwell” in 1896. Merriwell appeared in over 300 dime novels, nearly all of which were written by Patten. The excerpt included here is an excellent example of the style and the sporting ethic of the Merriwell universe.  

Also among the best is a piece by Christy Mathewson on baseball superstitions, an account of Babe Ruth’s first home run by Damon Runyon, and Paul Gallico’s beautifully crafted lead to a four-paragraph game story of an unremarkable weekday game between the Yankees and the Washington Senators. Aspiring baseball reporters should study it carefully.

The most enduring piece of writing from this era is that of Albert Spalding. His essay, “Why Base Ball Has Become Our National Game,” is a clear and compelling examination offering an explanation of why baseball and not cricket became the American National Pastime. In some ways dated, it still offers an interesting and persuasive analysis.

Although not all of these selections are great pieces of writing and many do not contribute to the overall quality of the book, Jeff Silverman has brought together an eclectic selection of fiction and nonfiction baseball writing. If not always hitting a home run, most pieces have warning track power. Overall, The Big Book of Baseball Stories is a good reminder of the cultural impact of baseball in American life.