Rating: 
Summary: One of the best
Review: Quite simply one of the best baseball books ever. Written with the serious fan in mind this book puts to rest many of the debates about who should and shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame. It is hard to argue to James' logic in every one of the cases he sites.The idea that James has some sort of hidden agenda, as one reviewer states, is absurd. What could James possibly have against Freddie Lindstrom or Travis Jackson? Besides regular statistics, James does use first hand accounts in helping to determine whether or not someone should be in the Hall of Fame. However, he does not put much credence in something an old teammate says 40 years later. The fact is that James points out obvious discrepancies between the number of HOFers from the 20s and 30s and other decades, and in particular in the number of teammates of Veterans Committee members in the Hall of Fame. This is just one of the many issues detailed here. All in all this book is a must read for anyone interested in the Hall of Fame.
Rating:
Summary: Bold, funny, beautiful
Review: Talk about an interesting baseball book. Bill James has outdone himself with this one. No, Phil Rizzuto does not belong in the Hall of Fame! But neither do a lot of other guys, so we might as well leave them in. It's all politics anyway. Just get a good lobbyist like Frankie Frisch on your side. This is why baseball is so great. In what other sport would so many people care about who is in the Hall of Fame?
Rating: 
Summary: Must read for baseball fans
Review: Terrific book by baseball's best author. James pulls no punches in ripping the Hall of Fame for some very poor selections. He introduces several new concepts such as the Black-Ink test. As a Cub fan, I appreciate his advocacy of Ron Santo's selection to the Hall. As good as the book was, though, I couldn't give it the 5 star rating. James spends way too much time debating Phil Rizzuto's merits; Rizzuto v. Reese, Rizzuto v. Stephens Rizzuto v.Jerry Priddy (?), etc.. Nonetheless it is a great book and well worth buying.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific book for baseball freaks
Review: Terrific book by one of baseball's best writers (for my money only Angell is better). I don't alwqays agree with James (e.g., Drysdale) but the depth of his analysis and thinking is incredible (e.g., comparing quality starts in pennant races among right handed starters in the early-mid 60s)
Rating:
Summary: The Politics of Glory
Review: The original title of this book was The Politics of Glory, and certainly that is/was a fitting title. The HOF is certainly shifted to the political...just ask Phil Rizzuto. Baseball fans will always compare and contrast players and weigh their merits for the HOF...I look at was that specific player the most dominating player at his position during his career...if so, then vote YES. That doesn't always work though...what about Paul Molitor, or Carlton Fisk? They debate will always be there...read this book and debate away!
Rating:
Summary: Worthy Effort
Review: This book does a good job of showing that a lot of Hall-of-Famers don't deserve to be in the museum. It also does a good job of telling fun anecdotes and tales. But overall, it seems to be just a little bitter and not all that important. Much as James would like to influence the Hall's selections, it ain't gonna happen and he doesn't give a compelling enough reason for significant change. Interesting, but not up to five-star callibre.
Rating:
Summary: This book provided in-depth, scintillating analyses. Great!
Review: This book is far from a facile compellation of surface statistics which are, of course, inherently relative, not only to a player's particular era, but also to each and every year. What James aims to do, though he is of course doomed to some degree of failure, is to invent and polish a complex criteria by which to determine one's worth in terms of the Hall of Fame. This is an inexact process, but an enlightening one nonetheless. Kudos. His prose is, as always, witty and lucid. A wonderful job by Mr. James. --Michael Piazza
Rating:
Summary: More great work from James!
Review: This is a tremendously entertaining and informative look at the true nature and processes of the Baseball Hall of Fame. James argues for the enshrinement of George Davis as the best player not in the Hall of Fame (written in 1995), and like magic Davis is enshrined this year. James is THE baseball guru.
Rating: 
Summary: More lies from the master deceiver
Review: This is where Bill James tries to convince us that he knows more about baseball in the twenties and thirties than Frankie Frisch. Through half truths, a ruthless manipulation of statistics and delusional statements revealing his souless mathematical vision of baseball, James basically carries on a campaign of petty character assassination against many of the people in the Hall and those who put them there. That so many baseball fans would rather believe a statistically obsessed nerd who never saw the players he evaluates rather than a great athlete like Frisch who actually played with and against the men he helped put in the hall is very disappointing. I can tell you that people who actually work in baseball think of James as somewhat of a joke. Others, like me, are not amused. It would be a very sad day if entrance into the Hall was controlled by opinionated statiticians like James rather than people who actually understand the game.
Rating:
Summary: More lies from the master deceiver
Review: This is where Bill James tries to convince us that he knows more about baseball in the twenties and thirties than Frankie Frisch. Through half truths, a ruthless manipulation of statistics and delusional statements revealing his souless mathematical vision of baseball, James basically carries on a campaign of petty character assassination against many of the people in the Hall and those who put them there. That so many baseball fans would rather believe a statistically obsessed nerd who never saw the players he evaluates rather than a great athlete like Frisch who actually played with and against the men he helped put in the hall is very disappointing. I can tell you that people who actually work in baseball think of James as somewhat of a joke. Others, like me, are not amused. It would be a very sad day if entrance into the Hall was controlled by opinionated statiticians like James rather than people who actually understand the game.
| 
