Synopses & Reviews
New York Times bestseller
Wall Street Journal bestseller
#1 New York Times bestselling author Joe Posnanski is back with a masterful ode to the game: a countdown of 50 of the most memorable moments in baseball's history, to make you fall in love with the sport all over again.
Posnanski writes of major moments that created legends, and of forgotten moments almost lost to time. It's Willie Mays's catch, Babe Ruth's called shot, and Kirk Gibson's limping home run; the slickest steals; the biggest bombs; and the most triumphant no-hitters. But these are also moments raw with the humanity of the game, the unheralded heroes, the mesmerizing mistakes drenched in pine tar, and every story, from the immortal to the obscure, is told from a unique perspective. Whether of a real fan who witnessed it, or the pitcher who gave up the home run, the umpire, the coach, the opposing player — these are fresh takes on moments so powerful they almost feel like myth.
Posnanski's previous book, The Baseball 100, portrayed the heroes and pioneers of the sport, and now, with his trademark wit, encyclopedic knowledge, and acute observations, he gets at the real heart of the game. From nineteenth-century pitchers' duels to breaking the sport's color line in the '40s, all the way to the greatest trick play of the last decade and the slide home that became a meme, Posnanski's illuminating take allows us to rediscover the sport we love — and thought we knew.
Why We Love Baseball is an epic that ends too soon, a one-of-a-kind love letter to the sport that has us thrilled, torn, inspired, and always wanting more.
Review
"This work will likely enlighten even the most knowledgeable and die-hard baseball fans." Library Journal (Starred Review)
Review
"A winning collection of baseball moments both inside and outside the lines." Booklist (Starred Review)
Review
"The celebrated sportswriter circles the bases, calling out exceptional moments in the history of the game….A book for any baseball fan to cherish." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
About the Author
Joe Posnanski is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of sevenbooks, including Why We Love Baseball, The Baseball 100, Paterno, and The Secret of Golf, and has been named National Sportswriter of the Year by five different organizations. He writes at JoePosnanski.com and currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his family.