Just received yesterday: “The Last Nine Innings,” by Charles Euchner. Looks extremely interesting, and I can’t wait to start reading it.
Here’s what Publishers Weekly had to say:
Euchner shows just how difficult and complex this “kids’ game” is, marshalling an impressive array of interviews with players, coaches, managers, umpires, former players, statisticians and broadcasters to describe the inner workings of the national pastime and the changing ways insiders and outsiders approach the game. He presents all of this via game seven of the 2001 World Series, an emotional contest played against the backdrop of 9/11 in which the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees.
Sounds a lot like one of my favorite baseball books: “Nine Innings,” by Daniel Okrent. If Euchner’s book is even half as good as that one, it’ll be great.