For those of us who like to pretend that we actually read, Off The Bench presents our list of our 10 favorite baseball books of all time. This list is not supposed to be comprehensive, its just made up of what we’ve read and what we like:
10. Summerland by Michael Chabon. Yes, our list starts with a kids book but its a 500 page kids book and worth a read. This book is about some kid who has to play baseball to save his dad, some werewolf, and a
whole bunch of worlds. What more could you want?
9. A Pitcher’s Story- Innings with David Cone by Roger Angell. The story of a season spent with David Cone is well worth reading.
8. Fantasyland by Sam Walker. Walker hires a full time staff and devotes all his time to managing his fantasy baseball team….many times in person.
7. Odd Man Out by Matt McCarthy. The Yale grad McCarthy was drafted with his good buddy Craig Breslow. This is a very well written and extremely compelling account of his one year in the Angels minor league system. A great summer book.
6. My Story by Cal Ripken Jr. Want a touch of the adversity Ripken went through in his Streak? You will come away impressed and inspired by his willpower. Plus, who doesn’t want to know Cal Ripken Jr’s story?
5. Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend by James S. Hirsch. The definitive biography of Willie Mays, one of the greatest ballplayers to ever live.
4. Eight Men Out by Eliot Asinof. The book the movie was based on, this is the amazing story of the Black Sox Scandal.
3. Ball Four by Jim Bouton. One of the first, funniest, and most candid looks inside the life of a baseball player as Bouton reinvents himself as a knuckleballer.
For my money, these last two are in a league of their own. Go out. Buy these two. Sit Down. Turn on the Light. Grab a… Soda. Enjoy.
2. The Art of Hitting by Ted Williams. Ted Williams, the 
greatest hitter ever, teaches the art of hitting. Many of today’s Major Leaguers read this every winter. Wanna hit like Williams? Read this.
1. Moneyball by Michael Lewis. The definitive look inside the modern front office written by one of the best
writers of the generation. Lewis illuminates the shift in drafting processes and the changed emphasis on baseball skill sets over the past 10 years. Moneyball is a must read for any baseball fan and an easy choice for the top of our list.
-Max Frankel
