The Baseball Uncyclopedia: A Review
By Joe McDonald | Pro Baseball Central Co-host | on Saturday, June 3 2006

Over it’s history, many stories in baseball have been exaggerated and became more legend than fact. These tales may have been held as cannon for the common fan, but the astute baseball observer knows where the truth ends and myth begins.

But baseball’s tall tales do have some humor in them and authors Michael Kun and Howard Bloom try to lightheartedly dispel history’s errors in “The Baseball Uncyclopedia: A Highly Opinionated, Myth-Busting Guide To The Great American Game” [Emmis Books, 256 pages, $14.95].

The authors go alphabetically and cover a variety of topics, from historical [the origins of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame" for example] to more contemporary [such as, how to spell Royal first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz’s name]. Each topic is presented in a small vignette written by either Kun or Bloom and usually has a humorous twist to it. There authors even engage in arguments on some topics where they have disagreements, which adds to the amusement.

But it’s not all just laughs. There some smart entries where the authors objectively look at certain historical discussions. For example: they argue Joe DiMaggio was never the “greatest living ballplayer” and they make a case for Al Oliver for the Hall of Fame. Kun’s and Bloom’s arguments are effective and at least make the reader think.

And that’s what any author wants. Some of the information contained in the “Uncyclopedia” may not break new ground, but the most of the entries do give a baseball fan enjoyable casual reading during the hot summer.

It’s highly recommended.

Buy the "Uncyclopedia" at Amazon.com.