What are your recommendations for the best sports reference books? I'm looking for books that would be appropriate for someone who already has a lot of knowledge about sports and likes to focus on statistics and biographies.
What do you think of these baseball books:
Total Baseball
Baseball Desk Reference
The Baseball Encyclopedia
The Sports Encyclopedia - Baseball 2003
The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract

I could only find one basketball encyclopedia at amazon.com, The Official NBA Encyclopedia (3rd edition from 2000), and one football encyclopedia, Total Football II (2nd edition from 1999). Are these quality books?

How would I go about finding out when the next editions will be published? I would assume I should wait for Total Football's 3rd edition, but have no idea when that will be.

Any other recommendations...for other sports...other types of books (biographies, etc.)? Thanks!
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02-26-03, 05:54 AM
Yankees15
Sue,
I have always highly recommended "The Glory of Their Times" by Lawrence S. Ritter. It is a book of interviews with several baseball players from the turn of the 20th century, up until about 1935. I believe it may be available as a video cassette series now. It is great stuff, and gives a unique perspective on the "golden age" of baseball.

02-26-03, 09:42 AM
MsSueM
Yankees15,
I believe I saw that at amazon.com, in an audio-tape format. I'll look for it again. Good idea. Thanks.

02-26-03, 07:32 PM
Jelp01
I haven't seen Baseball Desk Reference; otherwise, I have had at one time or another all four of the others. I like Total Baseball; it has many features other than just statistics. Unfortunately, it is no longer being produced. The other three mentioned are all excellent reference books too.

And Glory of Their Times is an excellent look at baseball from the early days of the 20th century.


Another of my favorites is simply called The World Series, by David Neft and Richard Cohen. It not only gives stats and records of the World Series, but it gives an out-by-out description of every World Series game played through 1989. It even breaks down Don Larsen's perfect game pitch-by-pitch. Unfortunately, too, this book is no longer being produced; it only goes up to 1989, so the last 12 Series aren't included.

02-26-03, 11:44 PM
MsSueM
Jelp,
Will they publish a new edition of Total Baseball eventually?

Thanks for your recommendations. I knew I could count on the King of All Baseball Reference Materials to help me out! Smile

03-14-03, 08:34 PM
MsSueM
I finally found this webpage I had saved in "My Favorites." It's a list of SABR members' favorite books. They also highly recommend, "The Glory of Their Times." Cool

Does anyone have any recommendations for basketball, football, hockey or golf books?
Thanks! Smile

03-22-03, 03:42 PM
dogspit
Another baseball book I would highly
recommend is The Ballplayers by
Mike Shatzkin & Jim Charlton. Full of
biographical info on may of the players
over the years.

The annual registers by The Sporting News
are great reference for current players.

And of course EPSN & SPorts Illustrated
both produce comprehensive sports almanacs
each year. Loaded with all time records
and the previous years sporting events.

I have Total Hockey, Total Football,
and Total Baseball, all great books.

For boxing I have not seen many, but
The Boxing Register : The International Boxing Hall of Fame Official Record Book
is loaded with fight dates and results.

03-22-03, 04:02 PM
DorianGreyed
Ring Magazine used to publish a wonderful encyclopedia, but I don't know if they still do. It had the record of every champion in every weight, and every major fight, as well as many individual records. Unfortunately, I lost mine in a fire.

03-22-03, 07:40 PM
MsSueM
dogspit and DG,
Thanks so much for the detailed answers. I'll investigate those boxing books. Now, I'm loaded with ideas for future book purchases. Cool

quote:dogspit said:
Another baseball book I would highly
recommend is The Ballplayers by
Mike Shatzkin & Jim Charlton. Full of
biographical info on may of the players
over the years.


I am so happy you said that! The Ballplayers is, so far, the only sports book I've ever bought! I gave it as a Xmas gift just a few months ago. It's nice to know I made a good ch

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,