The Dickson Baseball Dictionary

By Paul Dickson

Book Overview

Hailed as "a staggering piece of scholarship" (Wall Street Journal) The Dickson Baseball Dictionary is the most complete resource on the lexicon of baseball in the English language. More than twenty-five years in the making, with the help of more than 400 baseball and lexical experts, this masterful third edition, expanded by more than 30 percent, with over 10,000 terms and 18,000 definitions, provides the comprehensive history and meanings of words and phrases from around the world of baseball.

Drawing on dozens of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century periodicals, as well as contemporary sources, Paul Dickson's brilliant, illuminating definitions trace the earliest appearances of our most treasured baseball expressions ("tearin' up the pea patch," "can o' corn," "catbird seat," etc.). Termed "baseball's Webster," Dickson has spent nearly a decade painstakingly revising and writing new definitions, for words both well-known and obscure, including those introduced by Latin-American ballplayers, and statistical expressions relating to fantasy baseball and the SABR/Moneyball era. More than 200 photos throughout the book--many rare and previously unpublished--illuminate various historical and contemporary terms.

Because of its deep and broad coverage, its authoritativeness and its rich and colorful descriptions, The Dickson Baseball Dictionary will prove indispensable to baseball fans and word lovers alike.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393066819
• ISBN13: 9780393066814
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 1008 Pages
• Weight: 4.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.3" x 7.3" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

Dickson Does It Again

Another home run of a book. Nobody writes about the national pastime and language better than Dickson.

A brilliant piece of entertaining scholarship

Dickson, with help from hundreds of eager baseball writers and scholars, has again produced a delightful, thorough and anecdotal volume of diamond terms ancient and timely. I've authored eight baseball history books myself, and I bow to Dickson's accomplishment. It's certainly a historically great contribution to the joys and learning of baseball.

Any Real Fan Must Have This Book

Mr. Dickson has once again given every true baseball fan a "must have" book for his or her library. This marvelous compendium of baseball lore is a compelling read, filled with marvelous information of every kind. Whether you are the casual fan or the knowledgeable afficiando, Dickson has compiled a book which will satisfy you for hours as you follow one cross reference to another.

a must for all baseball fans

This is an encyclopedic book. It covers everything. Fans will appreciate its breadth and depth and it can turn the curious spectator into a true fan. Great to have on hand during a game to follow the announcers' comments.

Best baseball book I've ever read.

This book is a must-have for anyone from the casual to the hardcore fan