Baseball

By: Geoffrey C. Ward, Ken Burns

Narrated by: Ken Burns

The companion to Ken Burns’s magnificent PBS television series—updated and expanded to coincide with the broadcast of a new, two-part Tenth Inning directed with Lynn Novick.

The authors of the acclaimed and bestselling The Civil War, Jazz, and The War turn to another uniquely American phenomenon: baseball. Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns’s moving and fascinating history of the game goes beyond stolen bases, double plays, and home runs to demonstrate how baseball has been influenced by, and has in turn influenced, American life. The audiobook covers every milestone of the game: from the rules drawn up in 1845 by Alexander Cartwright to the American League’s introduction of the designated hitter in 1973; from the 1924 Negro World Series to Jack Roosevelt Robinson’s major-league debut, from the first curve ball in 1867 to Nolan Ryan’s seventh and last no-hitter in 1991. This new edition brings the authors’ monumental work into the twenty-first century: steroids, home-run records, the rise of Latino players, the long-awaited Red Sox World Series victory, and so much more. Baseball is an audiobook that speaks to all Americans.

Critic reviews

“A rich concoction of narrative, essays, and photos [that] dazzles the eye.... In so many ways you are reminded that rooting for baseball is like breathing.” —The New York Times

“Stirring and reflective.... A beautiful book that stands on its own in any league.” —David E. Jones, Chicago Tribune

“Glorious nuggets are set amid the clear, warm narrative and hundreds of classic images.... Highest marks for browseability, but the true reward comes from the longer essays by folks still smitten by the game.” —USA Today

love

Outside perspective of Ken Burns I like the soft voice describing a hard game . brilliance

Just OK

Ken Burns is a tremendous documentarist...not such a tremendous reader. If you like baseball, you'll greatly enjoy the anecdotes and various tidbits that make up this generally entertaining tale. The book covers virtually the entire history of the game is such a relatively short time, but you don't feel shortchanged at the end. It was quite difficult at times, however, to not get distracted by the narrators (Burns) somewhat high-pitched, slow, sterile reading style.

Abridged

Wish it wasn't. Still worth listening to, but the documentary is longer than the audio book.

Great Information

This was an amazing book for learning new facts about baseball. Listening to various stories and remembering where I was when they took place. I loved it!

Perfection

The game will go on forever and it’s so wonderful to know Ken Burns will continue to record it’s history as only he can.Thank you.