The Baseball Codes: Beanballs, Sign Stealing, And Bench-Clearing Brawls: The Unwritten Rules Of America's Pastime (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
This rekindled the flame of playing days, at the college level. The irony was that many of these "rules" I learned in HS or college. But as the game changes and these rules seem to change as well, the one overriding theme for baseball is play the game with respect. That is why the game is still loved. The rookies are taught to respect the game, the other team, the other players, the past, & the future. We all want respect in all we do. The "Codes" present a way of continually respecting the game while those that want respect, maintain it. The authors conclusion, summarized - The unwritten rules of baseball primarily exist to promote respect for other players, the team, and the game itself, and the most common enforcement of those rules were the bean ball and the kangaroo court fine. Both these rules and their enforcements are fading away because players are more focused on their paychecks.That conclusion was from the end of the book. Before that, the authors offer anecdotes - and nothing but anecdotes - for 250 pages. Other than a loose clustering by the superstition or unwritten rule broken, they are unsorted - 1916 sits next to 1996. As a whole, this book wears thin quickly.
What do You think about The Baseball Codes: Beanballs, Sign Stealing, And Bench-Clearing Brawls: The Unwritten Rules Of America's Pastime (2010)?
Enjoyed it from start to finish. Must read for a baseball fan.
—mercadm
Anyone have recommendations for other good baseball books?
—cutekitty318
A great read for baseball nerds like me.
—lulalufanda
