Ballparks

Rating:
Summary: Everything the other Ballpark books have and more
Review: I figured it would take a great deal to surpass Bill Shannon's classic "The Ballparks",and I was correct. This book covers everything the other Ballpark books have done only this time they have carried the torch even further. From "The B.O.B." in Arizona to rickity old relics like Hilltop Park, they are all there for you viewing pleasure. Nice job guys!

Rating:
Summary: Very Incomplete Book. Buyer Beware.
Review: I had high hopes for this book but it is very disapponting. This book gives many classic ballparks such as Crosley, Shibe, Forbes, Sportsman's, Seals, barely a passing mention or totally ignored. Too many of the newer parks are shown as construction shots. Other parks ignored include Braves Field, Kingdome, Colt Stadium, Arlington I, Memorial Stadium (Baltimore), Mile High, Edison International (not to mention Wrigley Field Los Angeles). I buy any book on baseball stadiums that I can get a hold of for the pictures alone. To be fair, this book does provide some nice pictures of the Astrodome, Tiger Stadium, and Bank One Ballpark and at the same time, provides pictures which are severely cropped (Dodger Stadium, Candlestick, and Kauffmann). Furthermore, this book spends too many pages trashing out the concrete doughnuts and did not dedicate enough space for the parks of the first half of the 20th Century and what made them good or bad. A complete book on ball parks with good pictures has yet to be written but this one falls fall short and may or may not be worth the bargain price assigned to it. If you are a fan of ballpark history like myself, you'll buy it and be somewhat disappointed. Other books to seek out include Lost Ballparks, Diamonds, Sporting News Ball Park Book, or the now deleted Sporting News Take Me Out To The Ball Game.

Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: I have purchased every book on baseball stadiums I can get my hands on. I have 10 different books on the subject and this one is by far and away the least informative of each one. The potential existed for Von Goeben to do a very nice book on the history of baseball stadiums, yet he chose the easy way out and did a book on the subject. Some authors take pride in their work and if Von Goeben takes pride in this one he should be ashamed of himself. Perhaps three or four pictures I have never seen before are in this book, all others are ones he regurgitated
from other vastly superior baseball stadium books. Save your money and purchase better books on baseball stadiums such as "TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL PARK" by Josh Leventhal (Make sure you get the updated Leventhal book) and "AMERICAS BALLPARKS" by New York City Firefighter Kenneth Hogan.

Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: I have purchased every book on baseball stadiums I can get my hands on. I have 10 different books on the subject and this one is by far and away the least informative of each one. The potential existed for Von Goeben to do a very nice book on the history of baseball stadiums, yet he chose the easy way out and did a book on the subject. Some authors take pride in their work and if Von Goeben takes pride in this one he should be ashamed of himself. Perhaps three or four pictures I have never seen before are in this book, all others are ones he regurgitated
from other vastly superior baseball stadium books. Save your money and purchase better books on baseball stadiums such as "TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL PARK" by Josh Leventhal (Make sure you get the updated Leventhal book) and "AMERICAS BALLPARKS" by New York City Firefighter Kenneth Hogan.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome book!
Review: I really loved this book. I've been to most of the baseball parks in the country and this book really tells it like it is. I especially like the fact that they did not ignore the concrete stadiums of the 70's, they are a part of baseball history. And the info on the new parks is great as well.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome book!
Review: I was very disappointed in this book. Only 24 stadiums are reviewed with very little insight or background on what makes each ballpark special. The best pictures (and there are only a few that qualify)are split across two pages. Classic ballparks such as Crosley Field are ignored yet Miller Field in Milwaukee which isn't even finished is presented. While this is my first purchase on the subject of baseball parks, I certainly hope there are better choices out there.

Rating:
Summary: Ballparks
Review: This is a great coffee table book of baseball stadiums. Excellent pictures.