Ward's Baseball Book: How to Become a Player

by John Montgomery Ward, Mark Alvarez (Foreword)

John Montgomery Ward (1860-1925) tossed the second perfect game in major league history and later became the game's best shortstop and a great, inventive manager. He led the players into their own league in 1890 and came within a hair's breadth of changing the structure of baseball forever. How to Become a Player is one of the game's early classics, and should be in every serious baseball library.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Nonfiction

141 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1888

About the author

1860-1925

Reviews

[Judine Brey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was written in 1888, so I was expecting more about how it was different compared to now, but a lot of things really haven't changed. This would have been better, but the kindle version I read didn't include the illustrations (which were often referenced in the text), and I didn't know many of the referenced players.

[Shaun MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic

Interesting to read about the early history of the game, and see how tactics of over 140 yrs are still relavant

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book for several reasons. It is 125 years old but still retains useful information about the sport of baseball and how to play it. That being said if you wanted to play baseball and learn all about the rules and techniques of the game I wouldn't imagine any coach recommending this book. Not because it is terrible, but because it is 125 years old. The rules may not have changed significantly but the way it is played most definitely has.

It is interesting from a historical point of view, to see how the game was played and attitudes towards it in 1888. Generally I think it has aged well, however in places it really shows it's age. Particularly in chapters named 'Theory of the game. A chapter for the ladies' and then goes on to talk about how a 'lady' watching the game is 'surprised and flattered by the wonderful grasp of her own understanding'

The book is not the sort you read cover to cover necessarily but has chapters divided into different positions on the field. Chapter V is 'The First Baseman' Chapter VI is 'The Second Baseman' and so on through all the positions on the field. I don't play baseball myself but I imagine these chapters would still be useful to a player of those positions.

A curiosity that would make good reading for a baseball fan (particularly if they don't know much about the sport)

[Judine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because this book was written in 1888, I was expecting more about how base-ball was different from baseball today. Ward's explanations were good, but many of the things he described are still done today. It is a good introduction to baseball and enhanced my knowledge of the game. That said, reading this on kindle was not the best choice because it didn't come with the illustrations Ward referenced throughout the work; also, the names of the various players from different clubs he used as examples were thoroughly unhelpful, as I'd heard of none of them. It's an interesting, quick read, but not for people who aren't into the nuances of baseball.

[John David Sittel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review

The book had be interesting in the historical reference one worth considering in on going creative endeavour. There were many statement in observed fact I have no ever seen before in being a registered eyewitness in Baseball. The statement in hearing the recorded fact is the bring back and the imagination the ones knowledgeable statement from being a player performer in the game. The drafting being a consideration in anyone's life for the stated historical recorded fact and supposed argumentative in possible narrative endeavour to the true path in the game. Big Time applaud the strength in standing. Congratulation on a work in progress.

[Donald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting to read an old account about the game. And I mean old - 1888, I think!

Lots of history at the beginning. I had no idea that one origin of baseball was something called 'one-old-cat'! And the mound was only 50 feet from the batter? Wow! Also, no infield fly rule! I sure learned a lot!

Chapter 1 is a bit off though. It's called "A Chapter For the Ladies" and it is a bit sexist. Yikes!

[Monte Lamb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written about 1886 and tells what skills are needed for each position. It is very much a late 19th century style or writing. What is interesting is how much of the book is relevant today in that the skills are similar today. Much of the game's basic strategies were already in place. The description of what an umpire is is worth reading. The book was interesting, but it did not blow me away.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only gave it 4 stars because I wish there was more. A terrific insight into a great game by someone who was there while it was growing. Very interesting to see how some rules evolved and to see once again what makes our pastime the greatest game ever invented.