Post by debutante on Jan 19, 2020 16:07:09 GMT -5
All we ever talk about in theboard these days is politics. So to break up the monotony, I'll tell you what I'm reading at the moment.
It's an old title -- but the topic is a current interest of mine (early ballplayers).
Currently reading:
Fall From Grace
The Truth and Tragedy of "Shoeless Joe Jackson"
By Tim Hornbaker
I have been reading a lot about these players in the early days of baseball. Some interesting trends have emerged. Many died young of tragic diseases. Some had the most peculiar things happen to them throughout their lives. Overall, it is turning out to be a far more interesting topic than one would normally imagine.
Consequently, I find myself moving from one of these old timers to another leaning much in the process. Some things are about the game itself.
For example, how can modern players claim to have broken the records of early baseball greats?
1. They play more games these days.
2. The early days of baseball were played with a "dead" ball (center filled with sawdust), so home runs were a rarity because the ball was harder to hit farther.
3. The original fields were larger and to qualify as a home run -- a ball would have to be hit much further than currently required.
Anyhow...the books I'm reading are adding to my treasure trove of useless information. But I'm having a wonderful time! And it will give me more garbage to chat about during lulls in dinner party conversation. LOL!
--Debutante
It's an old title -- but the topic is a current interest of mine (early ballplayers).
Currently reading:
Fall From Grace
The Truth and Tragedy of "Shoeless Joe Jackson"
By Tim Hornbaker
I have been reading a lot about these players in the early days of baseball. Some interesting trends have emerged. Many died young of tragic diseases. Some had the most peculiar things happen to them throughout their lives. Overall, it is turning out to be a far more interesting topic than one would normally imagine.
Consequently, I find myself moving from one of these old timers to another leaning much in the process. Some things are about the game itself.
For example, how can modern players claim to have broken the records of early baseball greats?
1. They play more games these days.
2. The early days of baseball were played with a "dead" ball (center filled with sawdust), so home runs were a rarity because the ball was harder to hit farther.
3. The original fields were larger and to qualify as a home run -- a ball would have to be hit much further than currently required.
Anyhow...the books I'm reading are adding to my treasure trove of useless information. But I'm having a wonderful time! And it will give me more garbage to chat about during lulls in dinner party conversation. LOL!
--Debutante