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eletricjb's review against another edition
3.0
Good stories and stuff, but it's hard for sports writing to really grip me. Sigh.
duparker's review against another edition
4.0
This book is part baseball history, part collection of stories. I really enjoyed the narrative style, the looseness of it, and the simple nature. There are fun stories, and the toughness of the ball players really comes through. Overall the book is a great read for social history buffs or baseball fans.
uscrx's review against another edition
4.0
Great read! Stuff I always wondered about: when to retaliate, superstitions, running up a score, beanballs, etc. Gets me excited for the 2011 season. Recommended!
tommyhousworth's review against another edition
5.0
I learned a lot about the unspoken rules of Major League Baseball from this book. You might think of "The Code" as hallowed etiquette understood amongst most players in The Show. It's about knowing when not to show up the other team, knowing how to appropriately intimidate another player, when to throw at a batter, what you can and cannot say to a manager or veteran player. It's understanding how and when to cheat, and honoring superstitions. It's knowing how much you can intentionally hurt a competitor without tipping your hand, how much you can haze a rookie, and how far you should go to protect a teammate, on and off the field. There's the semi-formality of the 'kangaroo court' that players hold in the clubhouse to keep players in line, and the practical jokes that keep the road interesting.
Nolan Ryan, Carlton Fisk, Ricky Henderson, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Dusty Baker, Tommy Lasorda, Pete Rose, Goose Gossage, Mo Vaughn, George Foster, and many more of baseball's more colorful personalities are chronicled here.
I will say, if you read this book, you'll never look at baseball quite the same way again. You'll understand a lot of the unspoken politics playing out on the field and view them with a new appreciation, or disparagement.
It's well written, well organized, and features plenty of anecdotes to illustrate the codes. I highly recommend it for baseball fans. It's the same kind of inside scoop we felt like we were getting when we saw "Bull Durham" for the first time. The book lets you inside the game, warts and all.
Nolan Ryan, Carlton Fisk, Ricky Henderson, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Dusty Baker, Tommy Lasorda, Pete Rose, Goose Gossage, Mo Vaughn, George Foster, and many more of baseball's more colorful personalities are chronicled here.
I will say, if you read this book, you'll never look at baseball quite the same way again. You'll understand a lot of the unspoken politics playing out on the field and view them with a new appreciation, or disparagement.
It's well written, well organized, and features plenty of anecdotes to illustrate the codes. I highly recommend it for baseball fans. It's the same kind of inside scoop we felt like we were getting when we saw "Bull Durham" for the first time. The book lets you inside the game, warts and all.
jdintr's review against another edition
This was a fun trip through baseball history and the hidden side of the game. I felt like I was in the clubhouse with the players, and I really saw how important a "team" concept is in a sport that so often seems to be mano a mano. Admittedly, there was a little too much about the beanball and too little about a few codes I wonder about: like is the retired batter really supposed to stay away from the pitcher's mound?
ivanssister's review against another edition
3.0
A neat look into the clubhouse, dugout and otherwise behind the scenes. The next time I see a batter hit by a pitch, I'll probably spend a lot more time wondering about what's going on behind the scenes.
jeremypunk's review against another edition
4.0
"We warn against cheating in school, look with indignation at cheating spouses, and above all proclaim that cheaters never win.
That last part, of course, Is factually inaccurate. Cheaters do win. They win a lot. It's why they cheat."
That last part, of course, Is factually inaccurate. Cheaters do win. They win a lot. It's why they cheat."
matthewabush's review against another edition
4.0
A short interesting read. This book gave some interesting insight to the game of baseball that you don't see everyday.
anniew415's review against another edition
2.0
Fun, but eventually got boring... I really wanted to love it, but just got tired of it. Too many stats and not enough stories...
blevins's review against another edition
4.0
Audio book.
This was pretty funny at times as it goes through all the unwritten baseball codes--bean balls, stealing signs, taking out players, throwing spit balls, etc. I'm a big believer in the codes and it really bothers me when I'm watching games now and these youngsters ignore the code or are completely unaware of it. Some of these codes have existed for coming up on 100 years!
This was pretty funny at times as it goes through all the unwritten baseball codes--bean balls, stealing signs, taking out players, throwing spit balls, etc. I'm a big believer in the codes and it really bothers me when I'm watching games now and these youngsters ignore the code or are completely unaware of it. Some of these codes have existed for coming up on 100 years!