The Baseball Maniac's Almanac

"Being a baseball maniac is a condition which cannot be cured--it can only be treated. So take two chapters of Bert Sugar's book--and then call him in the morning."--Bob Costas The biggest, baddest, and most bizarre compilation of stats, facts, and little-known nuggets about our national pastimeYou know your stats backwards and forwards. You can rattle off the batting averages of favorite players and name the winningest pitchers for the past century. You call yourself a baseball maniac, but you haven't come across the likes of Bert Sugar. In this monster encyclopedia, renowned sportswriter Bert Sugar gives you thousands of lists, tables, and fascinating facts about players and teams, managers, the World Series, and much more."Aside from his chapeau, Bert Sugar has been best known for his extraordinary knowledge of the squared circle, the prize ring. Now it turns out he also knows more than a bit about the game where the balls are stitched. "The Baseball Maniac's Almanac" is intriguing and inventive. Where else could you find the names of batting champions who didn't hit a single homer all season, or sluggers with more RBI's than games played, or learn which manager picked up the most victories while at the uncertain helm of the St. Louis Browns? Most baseball numbers books leave me glazed and dazed. This one, like baseball itself, is wonderful fun."--Roger Kahn, author"Bert Sugar's treasure trove of baseball nuggets belongs not only in Cooperstown but the Library of Congress--or the House of Astrology. Where else can you discover that Willie McCovey has more home runs (521) than any Capricorn ever born?"--Jon Saraceno, "USA Today"