Smithsonian Baseball: Inside the World's Finest Private Collections

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 296 pages
• Published by: Collins September 27, 2005
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0060838515
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0060838515
• Book Dimensions: 11.6 x 9.4 x 0.9 inches
• Weighs: 3.1 pounds

From Publishers Weekly
Readers who want to see Mickey Mantle's uniform from the 1968 season, Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball from 1998, or a Satchel Paige autographed glove will find them among scores of treasures in this oversized book, vividly illustrated with color photographs of the most exceptional private baseball memorabilia collections, many of which contain items that have not been seen in public for decades. More than simple eye candy for the baseball fetishist, the book includes thoughtful essays that delve into collectors' backgrounds, introducing the reader to an array of people, their quirks and their motivations for collecting. Some of the collectors are well known: one chapter is devoted to the collection of Todd McFarlane, creator of the comic book character Spawn; another displays the baseball folk art collection of Penny Marshall-Laverne of Laverne and Shirley and the director of the baseball movie, A League of Their Own. Others are more ordinary people who have been blessed with the dedication and means to take their passion for baseball to an extraordinary level. Wong, a lawyer and baseball historian, places the artifacts in social and historic context as he conveys the arcane but captivating knowledge gathered by these collectors, who are authorities on unusual details like the model numbers of bats. This book is fine companion for baseball enthusiasts looking for something to tide them over during those long winter days between the World Series and spring training.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* This sumptuous volume offers an irresistible entree into what must be one of the richest private collections of baseball memorabilia in the world. Although the chapters are arranged by collector, they fall neatly into categories reflecting those collectors' specific areas of interest, such as baseball cards, equipment, uniforms, advertisements, "pin-backs," autographs, and stadium mementos. Many of the story lines are explicit, such as baseball's evolution since the mid-1800s, or the game's strong association with pop culture. Other story lines are less obvious but just as telling, such as baseball's (and society's) more careless tolerance of pain: nineteenth-century baseball played without helmets, rules that allowed teams to record outs by hitting the runner with the baseball (known as soaking), and mitts so unpadded as to pass for driving gloves. And there are nice little touches, like the close-up photographs of nine World Series rings, or the sepia image of a touring, 1888-89 American baseball team standing at various points atop the Sphinx. The collections are gorgeously photographed and laid out on the page, and the text and captions--once past Wong's obligatory paean to his own youthful attachment to baseball--complement the illustrations well. A godsend for baseball geeks everywhere. Bill Ott
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Reader Reviews
This book incorporates some of the most beautiful photography of baseball memorabilia and impeccably-detailed writing about baseball collecting in the world. As baseball is deeply imbued in American culture, the Smithsonian should be commended for reaching out and underwriting this worthy subject matter. A rare book indeed for this subject, professionally written and impressive in scope for people interested in starting a collection or any diehard fan of baseball. Enjoyable as a cover-to-cover read or by random chapter selection, each of the 21 collectors is presented in a unique and enthusiatic manner. The reader never feels that chapters follow an overly structured framework nor is it a biography of collectors; rather, it focuses on every unique collection and the journey through the history of each. I learned how every collector has a particular theme. Unique and in some cases esoteric, these themes reflect the individual collector's personal connection to the Game. For instance, a "Do Not Disturb" hotel door hangtag signed by Ty Cobb humorously symbolized Cobb's infamous grumpy attitude. An emotional state of inflection that drew collector Penny Marshall to purchase it. As the author presents these themes, the reader promptly appreciates the diversity and breadth of collecting which go far beyond simple baseball card items and a potential return on investment; because, we realize from this book our individuality (and our interests and dreams) transends the constraints of what is popular-culture, is the latest fad, and might be for financial gain. And in doing so, we are allowed to reflect upon not what might appeal to others, but what is of importance to us and what makes us who we are. For any reader seeking a personal journey into these reflections, this book will remain a timeless piece for your reference, inspiration for collecting, and aspiration for years to come.