Baseball Letters: A Fan's Correspondence With His Heroes

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Summary: "Baseball Letters" -- Historical, Magical, & Awe-inspiring!
Review: Recently, I came across a fabulous book and decided to share my thoughts about this "grand slam" with fellow sports fans! Incidentally, it's the perfect gift for any sports fan, any age, any gender, any time -- especially for the holidays! The book is called "Baseball Letters - A Fan's Correspondence With His Heroes" by Seth Swirsky (Kodansha, NY) and it contains about 100 letters that the author wrote to famous (and some not so famous) baseball players (Cal Ripkin, Jr., Ted Williams, etc..) and the truly fascinating, incredible responses that the players sent back. I'm 33 years old, I've been a baseball fan for years, and I just loved this book. I know there are other sports fans out there who would enjoy and appreciate it, as well. Every book store in America should display "Baseball Letters" so every "fan" can get a hold of this gem! Baseball is the national pastime and I'm sure "Baseball Letters" will be, too. Check it out and enjoy the magic! E.Hayden :)

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Summary: not just a great baseball book
Review: There was a poll taken by a big magazine last year asking the question what are the five greatest basball books of all-time. "Baseball Letters" after being out for less that a year came in 3rd! Buy it for yourself or friends--you cannot go wrong. It is filled with anecdotes from real people, in their own handwritting, about their lives--little things that will stay with you, you'll notice. Like when Swirsky asks 50s pitcher Gerry Staley if he'll sign a ball for him, Staley responds 'don't send money--i'm just happy to be alive and able to do it.' this book is a gift to the people who discover it.

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Summary: Rich and full of Exciting Baseball History
Review: This book is rich and full of exciting baseball history, as Swirsky writes to professional baseball players of all decades and teams and poses questions to them on their careers and reflections of America's Pastime. Not only is this book interesting in a historical prospective, but it's very fun to read and analzye. The work that went into this book is noticeable, and both the letter to the player and the response from the player (as well as many great pictures) make this book a timeless classic. Bravo to Seth Swirsky for such a job well-done.

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Summary: A beautiful book
Review: This book is so plain, so simple, it makes you remember why you loved baseball in the first place. I received this book as a gift by at least four different friends on four different occassions all of them saying "I got you the ultimate gift!" I didn't have the heart to tell them I had bought it myself. I've been waiting impatiently for Mr. Swirsky's new one. Well it just came out ("Every pitcher Tells Story") and wouldn't you know, the same four people gave me the book as a present! Both books sit on my night table just in case I want something pleasent to read before I go to sleep. I most highly recommend them.

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Summary: I had fun and you will too!
Review: This book was a tremendous amount of fun to write. I am a songwriter (in the real world). In the summer of '94, when the baseball players went on strike, I wrote to baseball players--the famous and not so famous. Almost all wrote back. After so many people loved the letters I was receiving (seven a day during one stretch!), Kodansha America wanted to make it into a book. Thus "Baseball Letters--A Fan's Correspondence With His Heroes". My favorite 97 letters are in the book to go with about 90 vintage p

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Summary: This is a great book, and not just for baseball fans!
Review: This is a great book, and not just for baseball fans. Mr. Swirsky uses baseball to focus on more important issues of life, such as the relationship between fathers and sons. His heros are mostly drawn from a time before multi-million dollar salaries were the measure of a man's worth. He asks questions that focus on important events in the lives of the players; questions that elicit responses that give us insight into the concept of honor, teamwork, and what it means to be a man. This is a great book for any baseball fan, but it is also a great book for any father who has a son, or any son who has a father. I am hoping that Mr. Swirsky's first book will not be his last!