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The League of Outsider Baseball: An Illustrated History of Baseball's Forgotten Heroes
From an award-winning graphic artist and baseball historian comes a strikingly original illustrated history of baseball’s forgotten heroes, including stars of the Negro Leagues, barnstorming teams, semi-pro leagues, foreign leagues, and famous players like Shoeless Joe Jackson, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, and Joe DiMaggio before they achieved notoriety.
From a young age, Gary Cieradkowski had a passion for baseball’s unheralded heroes. Inspired by his father and their shared love of the sport, Cieradkowski began creating “outsider” baseball cards, as a way to tell the little-known stories of baseball’s many unsung heroes—alongside some of baseball’s greatest players before they were famous. The League of Outsider Baseball is a tribute to all of those who’ve played the game, known and unknown.
Shining a light into the dark corners of baseball history—from Mickey Mantle’s minor league days to Negro League greats like Josh Gibson and Leon Day; to people that most never knew played the game, such as Frank Sinatra, who had his own ball club in 1940s Hollywood; bank robber John Dillinger, who was a promising shortstop and took time out between robberies to attend Cubs games; and even a few US presidents—this book is a rich, visual tribute to America’s pastime.
Meticulously researched, beautifully illustrated using a unique, vintage baseball-card-style, and filled with a colorful and rich cast of characters, this book is a prized collector’s item and will be cherished by fans of all ages.
From a young age, Gary Cieradkowski had a passion for baseball’s unheralded heroes. Inspired by his father and their shared love of the sport, Cieradkowski began creating “outsider” baseball cards, as a way to tell the little-known stories of baseball’s many unsung heroes—alongside some of baseball’s greatest players before they were famous. The League of Outsider Baseball is a tribute to all of those who’ve played the game, known and unknown.
Shining a light into the dark corners of baseball history—from Mickey Mantle’s minor league days to Negro League greats like Josh Gibson and Leon Day; to people that most never knew played the game, such as Frank Sinatra, who had his own ball club in 1940s Hollywood; bank robber John Dillinger, who was a promising shortstop and took time out between robberies to attend Cubs games; and even a few US presidents—this book is a rich, visual tribute to America’s pastime.
Meticulously researched, beautifully illustrated using a unique, vintage baseball-card-style, and filled with a colorful and rich cast of characters, this book is a prized collector’s item and will be cherished by fans of all ages.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published March 24, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 7, 2017
Baseball is often described as a game passed down from father to son. In The League of Outsider Baseball, the author takes that to heart as he shares the stories that he, his father, and grandfather have swapped about players of all types, stripes, and levels from over the decades. His love of the game, artwork depicting each of the characters discussed, and passion comes through with each vignette.
Many baseball books suffer from trying to do too much, or to make too much of a small detail. A game, a series, even a season takes on too great an importance in the grand scheme of things (although I enjoy each of those settings, I recognize their overall value). This work takes the opposite approach - that every player has a story and these stories are their own reward - not necessarily a bigger picture. Which is why "Moonlight" Graham (Field of Dreams fans rejoice) gets his story told along the likes of Ty Cobb. Each player explored has only a few quick pages where Cieradkowski tells us something that makes them memorable or, in the eyes of baseball, important. Even if that is as big as the story needs to be.
Many baseball books suffer from trying to do too much, or to make too much of a small detail. A game, a series, even a season takes on too great an importance in the grand scheme of things (although I enjoy each of those settings, I recognize their overall value). This work takes the opposite approach - that every player has a story and these stories are their own reward - not necessarily a bigger picture. Which is why "Moonlight" Graham (Field of Dreams fans rejoice) gets his story told along the likes of Ty Cobb. Each player explored has only a few quick pages where Cieradkowski tells us something that makes them memorable or, in the eyes of baseball, important. Even if that is as big as the story needs to be.
December 13, 2017
Amusing collection of anecdotes about baseball players, famous to obscure. The stories are about evenly divided between their accomplishments and their eccentricities.
Kitty Burke was a nightclub singer and fan of the Cincinnati Reds. She was frustrated by their poor batting in a game against the Cardinals, so she came out of the stands, took the bat out of the hands of the Cincinnati outfielder, and stepped into the batter's box. The umpire yelled, "Play ball!" and the Cards pitcher threw a pitch. You'll have to read the book to find out what happened, but it seems to be the only known case where a major league batter wore a red dress.
John Dillinger played baseball for a local team. When the season and his paychecks ended, he teamed up with an umpire in the league to rob a grocery store. You'll have to read the book to find out how that turned out, though you're probably already aware that John Dillinger never played for the Yankees.
And so forth. Many of the stories are about black, Jewish, Native American, Hispanic, Asian, etc. players we've never heard of because they weren't allowed into the majors.
Entertaining book but not memorable.
Kitty Burke was a nightclub singer and fan of the Cincinnati Reds. She was frustrated by their poor batting in a game against the Cardinals, so she came out of the stands, took the bat out of the hands of the Cincinnati outfielder, and stepped into the batter's box. The umpire yelled, "Play ball!" and the Cards pitcher threw a pitch. You'll have to read the book to find out what happened, but it seems to be the only known case where a major league batter wore a red dress.
John Dillinger played baseball for a local team. When the season and his paychecks ended, he teamed up with an umpire in the league to rob a grocery store. You'll have to read the book to find out how that turned out, though you're probably already aware that John Dillinger never played for the Yankees.
And so forth. Many of the stories are about black, Jewish, Native American, Hispanic, Asian, etc. players we've never heard of because they weren't allowed into the majors.
Entertaining book but not memorable.
January 8, 2017
A charming little book featuring spectacular old-school art and engrossing text that takes you from the legendary baseball stars of old to the unknown stories of baseball characters both American and foreign-born. The material focusing on the stars and legends of the Negro leagues is especially of interest.
October 4, 2019
For the sports fan, it is a nicely written and well-illustrated collection of stories surrounding America's Pastime: stories of players you have probably heard of and intriguing stories of players that never made it big or their careers were tragically cut short.
October 17, 2017
Loved the info on unknown or lesser known baseball players.
October 18, 2019
Very fun stories with excellent comic book like illustrations
December 10, 2019
Quick, interesting book of tidbits and esoteric anecdotes about Hall of Famers, characters, and otherwise unheard-ofs. A definite must-read for hardcore baseball fans and historians.
March 21, 2024
This is a beautifully designed, artistic book, but it lacks substance, and is factually incorrect in a couple of places. Overall, a good enough read to make it worth the time.
October 12, 2024
A fascinating book for baseball fans.
June 27, 2016
The League is a terrific volume of lesser know baseball history shown through profiles of over 100 players. Each player is accompanied by a tobacco card style inspired illustration. The artwork is first rate and the graphic design of the book is consistently outstanding from cover to cover. If you're looking for a Christmas present for a baseball fan The League of Outsider Baseball is a good bet.
Any criticism on the writing is just plain silly and a bit pretentious. Cieradkowski is not claiming to be Dickins, nor does he need to be be.
Any criticism on the writing is just plain silly and a bit pretentious. Cieradkowski is not claiming to be Dickins, nor does he need to be be.
May 17, 2015
The League of Outsider Baseball is a brilliant and earthy slice of down-to-the-bones hidden Americana, reinventing the baseball card as a cultural artifact and reliquary of lost lore and forgotten stories. Gary Cieradkowski has shown this longtime baseball fan a completely new, and utterly fascinating, way of looking at the game of baseball, and its deeply winding history and forgotten (or differently remembered) players. A must for any and all fans of the game.
January 18, 2016
Even for a baseball nut like me, there was a ton of stuff in here that I had never heard before. An interesting look at baseball history outside MLB. Also, the artwork and painted baseball cards are gorgeous.
September 9, 2015
The artwork and the choice of stories combine to make this a wonderful book for baseball enthusiasts -- enthusiasts who enjoy those often unknown stories that the game has produced for more than a century. A book one can pick up and jump into at any point.
May 10, 2015
awesome
July 15, 2015
Lovingly crafted and gorgeously produced, this is a niche title but should appeal to baseball nerds of any age.
July 18, 2015
5 stars for the art work. 3 stars for the writing. He shared some real interesting stories.
July 17, 2015
Handsome volume and some interesting content but poorly written. He probably should have shared the labor with someone more skilled with English.
August 14, 2015
A browser's delight. This is your next gift book for the baseball fans you love.
August 16, 2015
Beautiful graphic book of forgotten major leaguers baseball players, including those whom had much promise and failed to make it to MLB; Negro Leaguers; and just plain oddballs
August 31, 2015
Five stars for the art, three stars for the writing.
November 1, 2015
League is a fun and interesting look at the little known footnotes in baseball history. A must for any baseball fan.
April 28, 2016
Not a particularly intense read, but this book has some fantastic stories about baseball's greatest characters.
April 7, 2017
The strange, the almost were, the flashes in the pan, they are all here, from the early years of the greats, to the ones that made it, but never got to bat. Excellent artwork!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews