Why We Love Baseball

A History in 50 Moments

By: Joe Posnanski

Narrated by: Joe Posnanski, Ellen Adair

NEW YORK TIMES bestseller

Winner of the CASEY Award for Best Baseball Book of the Year

National Sports Media Association Sports Book of the Year

An NPR "Book of the Day"

#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.

Truly answers the titular question…

This. These. Moments like these are why we love baseball. Wonderfully written with care, respect, and humor, this is truly a wonderful book counting down 50 of the most “baseball” moments in the sport.

I’m not sure why they chose to change back and forth between the author and the other narrator. I prefer the former. With books like this I personally ALWAYS prefer the author. The narrator does a fine job, but like I said, I’m not 100% certain what the goal was in bringing her in.

Overall, great book! I will be adding this to my annual spring training reading list, alongside Moneyball, Shoeless Joe, The Curse of the Bambino, et al.

Not 50, more like 100 Reasons. Great Book

I guarantee you will be on YouTube the entire time you are reading this book. looking up all of these fantastic moments in baseball history. The author does such a good job telling the stories himself or quoting from sports writers who were there. it really is an engaging, interesting and fun book to listen to. This book does a great job showing why baseball is The Great American pastime.

Learned so much

Great collection of stories from baseball history. After listening to each story, I found videos of most of the events presented. Made me envious of those who were blessed to witness these amazing moments in the great game’s long history.

How Can You Not Be Romantic About Baseball

One of the most fun and informative baseball books I’ve ever read. Joe always goes the extra mile with his writing and this book is no different. I loved reading this one!

Take me out to the ball game

This is a very enjoyable listen. If you love the game, this book is for you.