Publisher Description

You love to argue about the game and its players, delving into baseball history and lore in search of support for your points of view. You'll find plenty of food for thought -- and argument! -- in Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Lineups. * All-time Red Sox starting pitcher -- Pedro or the Rocket? * Gold Glovers -- who looked like one, who was one, and who ought to have been one? * Lopsided trades that'll sting forever, and phenoms who seemed so real * Classic nicknames -- from "Charlie Hustle" to "Big Hurt" to "The Mad Hungarian" Neyer presents a series of lineups for each franchise -- from the All-Time and the All-Rookie to the All-Bust and the Traded Away. In notes, sidebars, and essays, he explores the careers of players both famous and obscure. The book includes information on all thirty current teams, as well as a special section covering legendary clubs like the Brooklyn Dodgers and Washington Senators. Neyer's Big Book is an unparalleled reference for settling the debates that arise every day in the lives of baseball fans.

Author Biography

Rob Neyer has written about baseball for ESPN.com since 1996 and appears regularly on ESPNews. He has written four baseball books, including The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers (with Bill James) and Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Lineups. His website, RobNeyer.com, contains additional material related to these and his other books.

Table of Contents

Contents Introduction Part One: Today's Thirty Anaheim Angels Arizona Diamondbacks Atlanta Braves Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox Cincinnati Reds Cleveland Indians Colorado Rockies Detroit Tigers Florida Marlins Houston Astros Kansas City Royals Los Angeles Dodgers Milwaukee Brewers Minnesota Twins Montreal Expos New York Mets New York Yankees Oakland Athletics Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants Seattle Mariners Tampa Bay Devil Rays Texas Rangers Toronto Blue Jays Part Two: Yesterday's Six Philadelphia/Kansas City/Oakland Athletics Boston/Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers New York/San Francisco Giants Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins Appendix: Year-by-year lineups Appendix Acknowledgments Index

Review

"Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Lineups is about baseball history, but Neyer's brand of cutting-edge analysis and objective evaluation is influencing baseball today." - Billy Beane
"Mantle or DiMaggio? Spahn or Maddux? Terry or McCovey? Don't guess -- read Neyer's book and learn the answers. In these pages, it's production (not nostalgia) that matters, and the result is a cogent parsing of baseball's all-time greats (and worsts)." - Joshua Prager, The Wall Street Journal
"Rob Neyer is one of those writers who can make his subject more interesting than anyone ever imagined it could be. He has written a delightful book for ardent baseball fans, but even people with a casual interest in baseball will find something to think about here." - Michael Lewis, author of Liar's Poker and Moneyball
"You will argue with some of Rob's picks, and you will provoke many an argument with your baseball friends, but you will not be able to put this thought-provoking book down." - Jon Miller, ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball

Long Description

You love to argue about the game and its players, delving into baseball history and lore in search of support for your points of view. You'll find plenty of food for thought -- and argument! -- in Rob Neyer'sBig Book of Baseball Lineups.

Review Quote

"You will argue with some of Rob's picks, and you will provoke many an argument with your baseball friends, but you will not be able to put this thought-provoking book down."- Jon Miller, ESPN'sSunday Night Baseball

Details