Besides writing for Ballpark Digest, Jesse Goldberg-Strassler tackled a big offseason project for the Lansing Lugnuts (Low Class A; Midwest League): launching a Michigan Baseball Hall of Fame. Here’s his account of the experience. (more…)
Tag Archives | jesse goldberg strassler
Prepping for the Winter Meetings
There is a very good question that is asked year round, particularly in the summer: “How do I get a job in baseball?” Or, more specifically: “How do I get my foot in the door?” The answer is direct. Go to the Winter Meetings. (more…)
Tis the season for baseball books, part I
It’s Cyber Monday — which means plenty of you are out shopping for baseball books. Here’s a shameless plug for baseball books and more from Ballpark Digest and August Publications. (more…)
Outsider Baseball: Hardball on the fringe
Not every great ballplayer plied their trade in an MLB ballpark, as you’ll see in Jesse Goldberg-Strassler’s review of Scott Simkus’s noteworthy new book, Outsider Baseball. Within Scott Simkus’s Outsider Baseball: The Weird World of Hardball on the Fringe, 1876–1950, there are two books volleying back and forth. The first book introduces a formula, STARS, […]
New for 2014: The Baseball Thesaurus, 2e
It’s a double play: We’re releasing the second edition of Jesse Goldberg-Strassler‘s best seller, The Baseball Thesaurus, and for the next week we’re offering free shipping to celebrate. With readers responding to the first edition — which, by the way, sold out — it was time to come out with an expanded second edition, due […]
Goldberg-Strassler: I am a sign of spring
If it’s the middle of February, it means two things: one, players are reporting to spring training, and two, seasonal employees are returning to the ballpark. Jesse Goldberg-Strassler is among the latter; here’s his story. I am a sign of spring. I work as a seasonal employee for the Lansing Lugnuts. I am away from […]
Celebrating all the pioneers during Black History Month
Jackie Robinson is rightly revered as a pioneering figure in baseball’s integration. But he was not alone and, as Jesse Goldberg-Strassler notes, pioneers like Buck O’Neil and Emmett Ashford deserve recognition from baseball fans during Black History Month. In an AP story from March 18, 1962, titled innocently “Cubs Assign Coaches for Farm Clubs,” the […]
Fifth Third fire brings back memories of past ballpark blazes
Ballpark fires are extreme rare these days, but at one time were a major threat to baseball operations. Jesse Goldberg-Strassler looks at how ballpark design changed because of fire awareness. On January 3, a fire significantly damaged Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the Midwest League’s West Michigan Whitecaps. Thankfully, no one was injured. Photographs of […]
Risk versus reward in home-plate collisions
It’s still a hot topic: the decision by Major League Baseball to eliminate home-plate collisions, protecting both catchers and baserunners. Jesse Goldberg-Strassler looks at how the change will affect the game. In Orlando last week, Major League Baseball announced an end to collisions at home plate. The exact details have not been announced yet, but […]
Gone too soon, or good riddance? Thoughts on Turner Field’s future demolition
Reaction to the news that Turner Field would be torn down in 2017 came in two forms: goodbye to a mediocre ballpark, versus disbelief that such a young facility is doomed. Jesse Goldberg-Strassler looks at the decision. A cell phone, we are told by the service providers, can be upgraded every two years — although […]
Why the Chihuahuas name works: It’s fun!
The PCL’s franchise in El Paso, formerly Tucson, revealed its nickname last week, immediately provoking reactions to the El Paso Chihuahuas branding. If you heard the news, it’s likely you had an immediate opinion as well; Jesse Goldberg-Strassler shares his. Your thoughts? The national reaction — the loudly shouting, negative, incredulous folks who could not […]
Thanks a million — again
Two months in a row: Ballpark Digest notched a million page views in October. Thanks! Yeah, we’re a little proud of the accomplishment. Of course, we couldn’t do it without you; your patronage and support is greatly appreciated. This is an exciting time for us. Our Florida spring-training guide hit the top ten among baseball […]
Upcoming books, millions of page views and more
Coming attractions at Ballpark Digest: several new baseball books in coming weeks, including a Southern League history, as we look to the second million-page-view month in a row. Site updates this week have been slow for one simple reason: we’re prepping a whole slew of new-book titles for the winter and spring, and there are […]