Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Lineups: A Complete Guide to the Best, Worst, and Most Memorable Players to Ever Grace the Major Leagues

by Rob Neyer

You love to argue about the game and its players, delving into baseball history and lore in search of support for your points of view. You'll find plenty of food for thought -- and argument! -- in Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Lineups.
• All-time Red Sox starting pitcher -- Pedro or the Rocket?
• Gold Glovers -- who looked like one, who was one, and who ought to have been one?
• Lopsided trades that'll sting forever, and phenoms who seemed so real
• Classic nicknames -- from "Charlie Hustle" to "Big Hurt" to "The Mad Hungarian"
Neyer presents a series of lineups for each franchise -- from the All-Time and the All-Rookie to the All-Bust and the Traded Away. In notes, sidebars, and essays, he explores the careers of players both famous and obscure. The book includes information on all thirty current teams, as well as a special section covering legendary clubs like the Brooklyn Dodgers and Washington Senators. Neyer's Big Book is an unparalleled reference for settling the debates that arise every day in the lives of baseball fans.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Nonfiction, Reference, History

352 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 2003

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The saddest thing about baseball books is how quickly they become dated when trying to capture the historical and the recent. Rob Neyer's book is no exception, but Rob is a magnificent student of the game who shares terrific info in the same manner as you'd want to chat sport with one of your friends (like Bill Simmons, but less funny - but then again, who isn't). It was terrific to be reminded of each team's greatest players along with Players who enjoyed incredibly great seasons while with a team. Also included is the All Rookie Team for each ballclub, worst trades and even the best nicknames. Again, while now 12 years out of date, I would still heartily recommend it!

[Jordyn Eller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Outdated and not really interesting if you're into deep stats instead of (supposed) qualified opinions. A chore to get through.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book and full of tons of good baseball stuff, but a little too granular for me to love it. I learned a lot of stuff, and I enjoyed especially the sections on the teams I knew more about, but I definitely enjoyed the sidebar anecdotes and mini-essays more than the actual meat of the book, the lineups (though those were good, too). I still like Neyer a lot, and I'm glad I read this one, but it was a lot to digest.

[Arthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed. I've read Neyer's baseball column for 15 years and enjoyed this book almost as much. I would have preferred more focus on the modern era. I understand the whimsical appeal and literary oportunity of writing about pre-WW II baseball but sometimes nostalgia takes over.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob Neyer is a baseball genius. Unlike other writers who present all kinds of complicated stats and leave the analysis up to the reader, Neyer does all the analysis and turns it into easy-to-understand narratives. Here’s hoping he publishes an updated edition.

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt one of the coolest books ever. Neyer list lineups for every team. Best, worst, has beens, etc. Just plain fun.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

What you'd expect. Neyer's always fun. This one's largely lists of players with a few comments, but the sidebars and brief essays are enlightening and entertaining.

[Abbas Saleem Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

i will heart anything by rob neyer

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like this book was made specifically for me

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of harmless fun for a baseball history nerd like me.

[This is V! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good baseball book for baseball lovers , packed with all the right infos about players , stats and managers and some history of the teams , worst and best players to ever grace the major league

[Lane Lender · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish he’d make a new updated version of this book, I’d love it

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book.

[Robert Crowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a great book for imformation it was a little out of date though.