IT'S OUTTA HERE!

A home run is possibly the most exciting event in baseball.

The long ball in the modern era of baseball, from 1900 to the present, has had an uneven history. In the early days “small ball”—scoring by moving players one base at a time—was the norm, and home runs were a novelty. Babe Ruth’s mastery of the home run was unarguably the catalyst of today’s power game. Since then there have been many great players who have proven to be Ruth-ian in their home-run prowess, including some who were not given a fair chance due to the segregation of the leagues and, sadly, some who have broken the fans’ faith in the game. In five cogent chapters Doeden tells the home-run story from a historical perspective, dissecting its physical mechanics, celebrating and recording its heroes, and making predictions for the future. The players of the Negro Leagues who paved the way for Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron and so many more are not forgotten here. Doeden brings life to statistics and history, providing facts and debunking some myths in a straightforward, conversational tone that never condescends. Well-selected archival photos perfectly enhance and amplify the material. The author seems awed by the record-breaking number of home runs hit in 2019. Who could have known that the 2020 baseball season would be truncated, silent, and oh so strange? Young fans and their grown-ups will find much to admire and discuss.

Holy cow! It is high; it is far; it is gone! A game winner.