The Baseball Maniac's Almanac: The Absolutely, Positively, and Without Question Greatest Book of Facts, Figures, and Astonishing Lists Ever Compiled

by Bert Randolph Sugar (Editor)

An addictive read that is sure to spark conversation wherever baseball is spoken, The Baseball Maniac’s Almanac is part reference, part trivia, part brain teaser, and absolutely the greatest, most unusual, and thorough compendium of baseball stats and facts ever compiled—all verified for accuracy by the Baseball Hall of Fame. In its pages, renowned sportswriter Bert Randolph Sugar presents thousands of fascinating lists, tables, data, and stimulating facts The book also contains a list of the all-time statistical leaders for every major league team as well as a truly unforgettable miscellaneous section that answers such mind-boggling questions as, “Which major-leaguers have palindromic surnames?” and “Which players born under each zodiac sign have hit the most career home runs?”

Genres: Baseball, Nonfiction

432 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2004

About the author

Bert Randolph Sugar was a boxing writer and sports historian.

Reviews

[Graydon Vyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not as I would consider a story but I loved it because it has every stat I could want to know about any player. I read it start to finish and I can randomly pull stats out of the back of my head randomly. If you play baseball and want something to pick up and put down every now and then get this book. I would recommend this book to you if you play baseball if you do not then I would not read it. All it has is statistics that would bore a soccer player to death. So you need to read this book only if you play baseball.

[Greg L Goldstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not a maniac, but I pick up this book often, open to a random section, and enjoy the crazy lists put together by my old pal Bert Randolph Sugar (now deceased) and Ken Samelson.

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not great literature, but a lot of fun! Baseball "figure filberts" will love this. Normally sane people will wonder why. Let's take some entries randomly from throughout the book to illustrate:

Page 37: Shortstops with at least seven consecutive 20-home run seasons (Cal Ripken, Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Miguel Tejada, Ernie Banks)

Page 83: Players with 400 home runs and 10 steals of home in a career (Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth)

Page 126: Pitchers with combined total of 500 strikeouts/walks in a season (Bob Feller, Nolan Ryan [four times:])

Page 215: Players with both Little League and Major League World Series Teams (Boog Powell, Jim Barbieri, Rick Wise, Carney Lansford, Ed Vosburg, Charles Hayes, Dwight Gooden, Derek Bell, Gary Sheffield, Jason Marquis, Jason Veritek)

Page 227: Players born on Leap Year Day (Feb. 29) (Ed Appleton, Al Autry, Jerry Fry, Paul Giel, Bill Long, Terrence Long, Pepper Martin, Ralph Miller, Steve Mingori, Ray Parker, Dickey Pearce, Al Rosen)

The last part of the book features team-by-team histories.

All in all, a lot of fun if you dig baseball minutiae. . . .

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Bert Sugar and love baseball, this is great

[Jeff Moffatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must for baseball history nuts!