EPILOGUE

You win some; you lose some.

My baseball-rooting for the year 2013 extended into the playoffs, during which time I first focused my attention on my favorite club, the Oakland Athletics. And for a short time, I believed that they just might defeat the Detroit Tigers. As it happens, one of my closest pals in baseball—and hockey—happens to be Jimmy Devellano, who is executive vice president of the Tigers, as well as veep of the Detroit Red Wings.

Naturally, I phoned Jimmy D before the series and explained that I couldn’t, in good conscience, wish his club well to the detriment of my A’s. He understood, and his Tigers went on to eliminate Oakland, fair and square, I might add. The defeat did not bother me very much, nor for very long because: 1. The Athletics invariably do better than most folks believe that they will; and 2. They have the best-looking uniforms in baseball, which means that Oakland fans always have something to be happy about, win or lose.

I then moved my cheering attention over to the St. Louis Cardinals—always thinking of my heroes, Stan (The Man) Musial, Enos (Country) Slaughter, and Johnny (Hippety) Hopp. For a time, it appeared that the Cards would defeat the annoying Red Sox, but that delightful event was not to be and, thus, my 2013 baseball season ended again, on a pleasant note, since the Cards have given me plenty of thrills in this decade alone.

But baseball never really leaves my head. When the season ends, it’s time for the Hot Stove League, and nothing is more pleasant than opening a book about the diamond sport between October and spring training. With that in mind, I’m presenting for your reading—and learning—pleasure, my baseball bibliography. Most of the following books helped me, in one form or another, to produce the collection of baseball stories that fit between these covers. I heartily recommend any or all of them for your enjoyment.

I must—in all fairness—point out that my personal three favorites are: 1. Even the Browns, by Bill Mead; 2. Baseball When the Grass Was Green, by Donald Honig; and 3. Baseball Between the Lines, also by Honig.