Baseball books span the spectrum from the All-Stars to the has-beens but
invariably overlook the endless string of things that could have
happened but didn't. Baseball's Memorable Misses fills that void,
pointing out little-known facts perfect for both rabid and casual fans.
Who knew that Willie Mays never won an RBI crown or that Stan Musial hit
the most home runs in one day but never led his league in a season?
Nolan Ryan had zero Cy Young Awards despite owning records for
strikeouts and no-hitters. Roger Clemens, on the other hand, had a
record seven Cy Youngs and two 20-strikeout games but zero
no-hitters.There were also zero no-hitters by Greg Maddux, who has more
wins than any living pitcher. Players took zeroes and sometimes
double-zeroes as uniform numbers.
Veteran baseball writer Dan Schlossberg delves into the
previously-unknown world of baseball zeroes, exploring everything from
Christy Mathewson's zero runs allowed in the 1905 World Series to the
three perfect games pitched in Yankee Stadium. This book also reveals
that there were zero no-hitters pitched by Pirates at Pittsburgh's
Forbes Field even though visiting pitchers did not fall victim to that
hex. There have been zero players who hit five home runs in one game but
two who have hit five in one day.
This is a book of Almost But Not Quite (ABNQ for short) but also a book
that suggests baseball's second century can be almost as intriguing as
its first. With the help of author Doug Lyons, who wrote the foreword,
and celebrated baseball cartoonist Ronnie Joyner, this is also a
utilitarian volume, perfect for the living room coffee table or even the
bathroom. Like the game itself, Baseball's Memorable Misses is
fun--and perfect for rain delays in season or off-season enjoyment.
