Fair Ball

A Fan's Case for Baseball

By: Bob Costas

Narrated by: Bob Costas

From his perspective as a journalist and a true fan, Bob Costas, NBC's award-winning broadcaster, shares his views on the forces that are diminishing the appeal of Major League Baseball and proposes realistic changes that can be made to protect and promote the game's best interests.

In this cogent--and provocative--book, Costas examines the growing financial disparities that have resulted in nearly two-thirds of the teams in Major League Baseball having virtually no chance of contending for the World Series. He argues that those who run baseball have missed the crucial difference between mere change and real progress. And he presents a withering critique of the positions of both the owners and players while providing insights on the wild-card system, the designated-hitter rule, and interleague play. Costas answers each problem he cites with an achievable strategy for restoring genuine competition and rescuing fans from the forces that have diluted the sheer joy of the game.

Balanced by Costas's unbridled appreciation for what he calls the "moments of authenticity" that can still make baseball inspiring, Fair Ball offers a vision of our national pastime as it can be, a game that retains its traditional appeal while initiating meaningful changes that will allow it to thrive into the next century.©2000 Bob Costas; (P)2000 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Costas is that rare hybrid in sportscasting with converging wit, erudition and superb communication skills."
--Los Angeles Times

"Costas comes out of a tradition of gentle baseball eloquence."
--New York Times

"He is as good a pure broadcaster as I've ever seen."
--Charlie Rose

"Intelligent, witty, good-natured, he is the very antithesis of the shills who dominate most sports programming."
--People

"With his unique ability to weave intellect into a typically anti-intellectual medium, he's the best in the business."
--P.O.V.

Prime Bob Costas

Would you consider the audio edition of Fair Ball to be better than the print version?

Yes

What did you like best about this story?

This book shows the best of what was a great broadcaster who had his finger on the pulse of the sport. I do not agree with all of what he talks about, but there is no lack of passion and reason to his arguments. Today, I feel Costas has a bitter voice when it comes to sports, almost as if he is above it all. This was a great time to get a picture of what he felt when he was really into baseball.

Which scene was your favorite?

I like how he logically made predictions to things that happen over a decade later. I also like how he sums it up when you know your team doesn't have much of a chance because of "unfair" non-competitive reasons.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Do not make a movie based on this.

Any additional comments?

If you are a fan of baseball this is an interesting look back at how the sport has changed, why it changed, and someone's solutions to make it better. He does a great job of narrating the book also.

Fascinating...even 20-years later!

This is an interesting listen for anyone who loves baseball. Unless you're on the fence, then don't dive in. He makes a liat of scathing comments that could easily poison the water of any fair-weather baseball fan.

Good arguments...

Costas makes good arguments in favor of a salary cap (and floor) and against the DH. The salary cap takes up most of the book. He spends a little time talking about "radical realignment" which thankfully never occurred. He also gives interesting (though outdated by now) numbers related to revenue sharing among the teams. Overall a good book if you're interested in the financial structure and operations of baseball.

The Good and the Not Good

Bob Kostas is good. Bob Kostas is smart. Bob Kostas knows baseball.

This is a look at what MLB could do to get better. The owners are not good, they are not smart, so there is little chance baseball will improve.

Bob killed it

Thanks to the Baseball 2gether Podcast I read this book. It was thrilling to say the least because we’re dealing with the aftermath of the opposite of the simple solutions Bob talked about during the reading. Any true baseball fan would love this book.