Baseball Letters: A Fan's Correspondence with His Heroes

by Seth Swirsky

Book Overview

During the baseball strike of 1994, Seth Swirsky was missing the sport he'd loved all his life. So he began writing to ballplayers, managers, umpires, and even some fans, asking them about their most... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1568361521
• ISBN13: 9781568361529
• Release Date: October 1996
• Publisher: Kodansha
• Length: 179 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Rich and full of Exciting Baseball History

This book is rich and full of exciting baseball history, as Swirsky writes to professional baseball players of all decades and teams and poses questions to them on their careers and reflections of America's Pastime. Not only is this book interesting in a historical prospective, but it's very fun to read and analzye. The work that went into this book is noticeable, and both the letter to the player and the response from the player (as well as many great pictures) make this book a timeless classic. Bravo to Seth Swirsky for such a job well-done.

All-Time Favorites

I bought Mr. Swirsky's new book "Every Pitcher Tells A Story" and was so taken by its originality that I bought his first one "Baseball Letters". They are quite different and it's hard to tell which one I enjoyed more. I was glad he didn't write to the same players--every letter was a new 'experience'.Great reads.

A beautiful book

This book is so plain, so simple, it makes you remember why you loved baseball in the first place. I received this book as a gift by at least four different friends on four different occassions all of them saying "I got you the ultimate gift!" I didn't have the heart to tell them I had bought it myself. I've been waiting impatiently for Mr. Swirsky's new one. Well it just came out ("Every pitcher Tells Story") and wouldn't you know, the same four people gave me the book as a present! Both books sit on my night table just in case I want something pleasent to read before I go to sleep. I most highly recommend them.

Like re-visiting an old friend

I bought Swirsky's new book "Every Pitcher Tells A Story" the minute I heard it was out (I bought all 4 copies the store had!). I was a big fan of his fisrt book "Baseball Letters". Letters are so old fashioned in this world of e-mail--the concept of having baseball players (notice I didn't say basketball or football players) is brilliant. I am loving "Every Pitcher" and it made me go back and re-read "Baseball Letters" which I like even more now that the first thousand times I read it. I believe these books, because of their timelessness will go down as amongst the best ever written in the genre.

not just a great baseball book

There was a poll taken by a big magazine last year asking the question what are the five greatest basball books of all-time. "Baseball Letters" after being out for less that a year came in 3rd! Buy it for yourself or friends--you cannot go wrong. It is filled with anecdotes from real people, in their own handwritting, about their lives--little things that will stay with you, you'll notice. Like when Swirsky asks 50s pitcher Gerry Staley if he'll sign a ball for him, Staley responds 'don't send money--i'm just happy to be alive and able to do it.' this book is a gift to the people who discover it.