High praise, indeed

Saw this on Facebook from Jon Leonoudakis, producer/director of Not Exactly Cooperstown and 5:04 p.m.: A First Person Account of the 1989 World Series Earthquake Game:

"Christmas gift reading haul--I have read the first two profiles on "Glory" and am floored. Dipped into some of Ron Kaplan's gem, which is to be my book guide post for years to come. A pal gave me the 1974 Sporting News Official Baseball Register, another treasure trove of info and stories."

It's an honor to be on the same page -- literally -- as a classic like The Glory of Their Times (even if I did inadvertently omit it from 501).

I guess I'm doin' fine

Well hello there
My, it's been a long long time
How am I doin'
Oh well, I guess I'm doin' fine
It's been so long now and it seems that
It was only yesterday
Ain't it funny how time slips away

From "Ain't it Funny How Time Slips Away," by Willie Nelson

One of the questions I'm frequently asked by friends I haven't seen for awhile is "How's your book doing?"

Early on, I was told by my publisher -- University of Nebraska Press -- that it was doing well. But what did that mean? Well for a book of its kind? Well for their 2013 releases? It's all relative.

I Googled the question, "How many copies does the average non-fiction book sell?" I was shocked. I asked my wife what she thought and she said 100. Which was even more shocking.

According to this 2012 piece (and who knows if it's true; we're talking about statistics here), the average now-fiction book sells about 250 copies. 250! So by those standards, I should be very pleased, since I've more than tripled that number.

But that's just units sold; it doesn't necessarily translate into money. 501 has an "MSRP" of $24.95 but I doubt very many bought it for that price. You have Amazon, Barnes and Noble, et al. Many local book stores offer discounts as well.

It will be interesting to see how the next book does. I've been contracted to do a history of the Maccabiah Games )aka, the Jewish Olympics) by Skyhorse Press. If all goes well, it should come out in 2015. Because of the topic, I'm hoping to generate a lot of interest on the Jewish book circuit. I had one 501 gig at the St. Louis Jewish Book Fair, but since this one will have actual Jewish content those appearances should increase, which, in turn, should generate more sales (as will its suitability for bar and bat mitzva gift-giving).

Whatever else happens with 501 -- and future books -- down the road, I'm very grateful for my 15 minutes.

New 501 Review

Tim Morris of the University of Texas at Austin recently posted a review of 501. You can read it here.

Aww, thanks, guys...

'501' soon to be an international best-seller?

A dozen Frenchmen (French people?) can't be wrong. Found this on the Facebook page for the Bookshelf shortly after I returned from my trip to Paris and the visit to the local baseball federation:

INSOLITE | Ron Kaplan, célèbre pour son ouvrage "501 livres que les vrais fan de baseball doivent lire avant de mourir" et son blog Ron Kaplan's Baseball Bookshelf, a profité d'un voyage à Paris pour venir visiter les locaux de la Fédération Française de Baseball et Softball !

This is the translation, as provided by Bing:

UNUSUAL | Ron Kaplan, famous for his book "501 books that the true baseball fan should read before they die" and Ron Kaplan's Baseball Bookshelf blog, took a trip to Paris to visit the premises of the Fédération Française de Baseball and Softball!

Hmm, have to have a chat with those folks at Bing.

The post already has more than a dozen "likes" from local readers. I had been informed by the Federation that there were no French-language baseball books in France. Peut-etre this will change soon?

Du base-ball

My wife and I went to France last month as part of our 25th anniversary celebration. We did the usual touristy things, but I also had the opportunity to visit the Fédération Française de Baseball et Softball, aka, the French Baseball Federation, a small office located in the 12th "arrondisement," (as the districts in Paris are called).

According to Francois Collet, the gentleman who runs the bureau (as offices in France are called), there are about 10,000 people who play baseball and softball in France, as opposed to two million who play soccer. Obviously, there's a lot of catch-up to do.

I gave Collet a copy of my 501 Baseball Books Fans Must Read before They Die. In return, Collet gave me a jersey from the national team. Tres jolie.  

Congratulations, Roger Angell

 

The "dean" of baseball writing was named recipient of the Baseball Hall of Fame's J.G. Taylor Spink Award for “meritorious contributions to baseball writing.” Frankly, I'm amazed this just happened now. Given his stature, I would think he'd have been elected years ago.

Angell, who turned 93 in September, has been the main reason I even glance at The New Yorker. Him and the cartoons. His work has fallen off in terms of volume lately, although he has been doing the occasional blog entry. Just about any of his collections are solid gold choices, although the title of his 2006 memoir, Let Me Finish, makes me sad and contemplative for some reason. Is it a plea to God (or the substitute of your choice) to allow one more time, presumably to complete his life's work; or merely telling someone not to interrupt a story?



The Summer Game was one of my 501 Baseball Books paired with Thomas Boswell's Why Time Begins on Opening Day in the chapter on "Pop Culture," but you could substitute just about any of his other collections and the idea would remain the same.

I would love to had a Bookshelf podcast with him, but, frankly, am intimidated by the prospect. From what I've heard he doesn't suffer fools gladly, which pretty much eliminates me from the conversation. If you ever do read this, Mr. Angell, I am at your disposal.

Roger Angell, as envisioned by David Levine

 

Having a blast at the St. Louis Jewish book festival

Overdue in posting about my wonderful experience at the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival earlier this month.

I was part of the Sports Night panel with Oliver Horovitz, author of An American Caddie in St. Andrews: Growing Up, Girls, and Looping on the Old Course. I will admit to a bit of jealousy as Horovitz had a "local presence" and the post-discussion line up for his book was about twice as long as mine. Childish, to be sure. Nevertheless, the hosts were most amicable (Alan Spector, one of the program's sponsors, is himself an author of Baseball, Never Too Old to Play the Game).

The panel, which was moderated by Tom Ackerman, sports director of KMOX RADIO, brought out a lot of baseball and golf fans "of a certain age" (more, it seems, of the latter; I guess more people play golf than baseball, Spector and myself notwithstanding). Horovitz and I answered Ackerman's thought-provoking questions before the audience chimed in with their queries and comments (again, mostly directed at the golf guy; how I hate him).

Right off the bat (heh) my visit started off nicely when I was met at the airport by a gentleman who had gone to high school with Art Shamsky and knew Ken Holtzman. He regaled me with stories of having attended the Aug. 19, 1951, game between the St. Louis Browns (who would become the Baltimore Orioles two years later) and the Detroit Tigers. The significance of that particular contest between two mediocre teams? It marked the one and only apperance of "Bill Veeck's midget," Eddie Gaedel. The return ride the next morning provided similar interesting baseball conversation with the woman who drove me. They truly love their baseball in St. Louis.

Many thanks to Joel Marion for providing the photos.

"And a good time was had by all."

With Oliver Horovitz, center, and Tom Ackerman. I'm not used to being the shortest guy in the picture. But I learned an impoortant photo tip from Joel Marion: keep your hands behind the back of your fellow subjects to hide "peeking fingers.

'501 Baseball Books': Soon to be an international best-seller?

A dozen Frenchmen (French people?) can't be wrong.

Found this on the Facebook page for Ron Kaplan's Baseball Bookshelf:

INSOLITE | Ron Kaplan, célèbre pour son ouvrage "501 livres que les vrais fan de baseball doivent lire avant de mourir" et son blog Ron Kaplan's Baseball Bookshelf, a profité d'un voyage à Paris pour venir visiter les locaux de la Fédération Française de Baseball et Softball !

This is the translation, as provided by Bing:

UNUSUAL | Ron Kaplan, famous for his book "501 books that the true baseball fan should read before they die" and Ron Kaplan's Baseball Bookshelf blog, took a trip to Paris to visit the premises of the Fédération Française de Baseball and Softball!

Hmm, have to have a chat with those folks at Bing.

The post already has more than a dozen "likes" from local readers.

I had been informed by the Federation that there were no French-language baseball books in France. Peut-etre this will change soon?

Du base-ball

The day after I got off the plane from my appearance at the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival (Nov. 6), my wife and I got on a plane for Paris (France, not Texas), an extension of our 25th anniversary celebration.

We did the usual touristy things, but I also had the opportunity to visit the Fédération Française de Baseball et Softball, aka, the French Baseball Federation, a small office located in the 12th "arrondisement," (as the districts in Paris are called).

According to Francois Collet, the gentleman who runs the bureau (as offices in France are called), there are about 10,000 people who play baseball and softball in France, as opposed to two million who play soccer. Obviously, there's a lot of catch-up to do.

I gave Collet a copy of my 501 Baseball Books Fans Must Read before They Die (I was disappointed to hear that there are no French language baseball books in France). Who knows, maybe this will be the catalyst that creates a more general interest in the game. In return, Collet gave me a jersey from the national team. Tres jolie.

But that's not the only place to find baseball. I picked these up in a gift shop in the Eiffel Tower.

Meet me in St. Louis, Louis

A reminder, I'll be gone for awhile. Leaving for St. Louis tomorrow for the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival where I'll be appearing in ...

	SPORTS NIGHT Moderator: Tom Ackerman, Sports Director KMOX RADIO
	Oliver Horovitz AN AMERICAN CADDIE IN ST. ANDREWS: Growing Up, Girls, and Looping on the Old Course Wait-listed at Harvard, Horovitz took his 1.8 handicap and spent a year at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where he became a caddie on the famed Old Course. This hilarious memoir is an irresistible, behind-the-scenes peek at the world’s most celebrated golf course—and its equally famous caddie shack. Certain to entertain golfers and anyone who dares to remember stumbling into adulthood and searching for one’s place in the world.
	Ron Kaplan 501 BASEBALL BOOKS FANS MUST READ BEFORE THEY DIE Sportswriter and blogger Kaplan’s first book is a fun and useful guide for finding the best baseball books among the mounds of titles relating to this book-inspiring sport. Kaplan does not pretend to be anything but a longtime fan, knowledgeable and opinionated about both classic and obscure titles published since 1882. Only the best-read fans will fail to find something new in this handy reference. “The ultimate guide to baseball literature. If you love baseball or books or any combination thereof, you should pick this up now.” -A. J. Jacobs Sponsored by: Ann & Alan Spector; Berger Memorial Chapel/Richard & Linda Stein & Emily Stein MacDonald; Brown Smith Wallace, LLC Co-Sponsored by: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri; St. Louis Jewish Sports Hall of Fame at the JCC 7:30pm ADMISSION $15 – FREE with Series & Series PLUS Tickets Buy Tickets Now!

See you on the other side.

Where's the love for '501'?

One person's opinion on "A few baseball books to extend the season."

Really? That's all you could come up with? IMHO, one of the nice things about 501 Baseball Books Fans Must Read before They Die -- which includes entries about the three titles in the aforementioned piece -- is that it lets you, the reader, decide decide how best to extend the season. After all, how better to get your "baseball Jones" than with a good book (or 501) by a crackling fire?

Just sayin'.

100,000 thanks

After a complicated determination process, it has been decided that Dennis Anderson of Dunlap, Illinois, was the 100,000th visitor to my Baseball Bookshelf. His reward? A signed copy of 501. Bound to be worth thousands of pennies a century from now.

I asked Dennis to share a photo with his prize. How appropriate that it was taken in front of his baseball bookshelf.

Thanks, Dennis, and thanks to all those who enjoy reading about our great game.

'501' Review: Baseball America

I think one of the things new authors have to learn is patience, very difficult when you want everyone to like your book.... and you want them to like it early on. I must admit, I was disappointed when 501 Baseball Books didn't get the accolades I had fantasized about. No pickup in Sports Illustrated, or The New York Times, or NPR's Only a Game. Sigh. That's why I took a measure of glee when I discovered this review in Baseball America, which is an "industry standard" for the game.

I guess it just goes to show that hope delayed is not hope denied (or however that phrase goes). So SI, NY Times, and OAG, don't be bashful because you waited so long. There's still time.

Be there or be square

My new Facebook buddy Oliver Horovitz, author of An American Caddie in St. Andrews: Growing Up, Girls, and Looping on the Old Course, and I will be chatting about stuff at the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival on Nov. 6, I'm hoping the Cardinals will have won the World Series by then so people will be in a good mood.

'501' Review: Spitball Magazine

It's an honor to be mentioned in Spitball, although I have no illusions about winning its prestigious Casey Award.

'501': Spanning the globe

To borrow a familiar phrase.

Here's Waldo E. of Burcht, Belgium, by way of Cuba, a happy reader of the book.

Well on the way to being an international best-seller. (Remember, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.)

'501" checklist available

The spreadsheet "checklist" for 501 Baseball Books Fans Must Read before They Die is complete and has sent out to those who have requested it. Never too late if you still want one (book or checklist).

Annoucning the '501 Checklist'

A few readers have told me it would be great to have included a checklist in 501 Baseball Books, perhaps something of a detachable nature that would allow them to note what they've already ready as well as take the list with them to the library or bookstore for further reading pleasure.

Great idea.

So I'm happy to announce that I'm almost done with a spreadsheet version of such a list. It's not the most artistic of documents, but it will allow you to keep track and what's done and what's left to do.

So if you're interested, send me an email address and I'll return the list as soon as it's completed (should be over the next week).

A REview and an INTERview

Daniel Shoptaw, who hosts Cardinals70, a blog dedicated to the St. Louis franchise, was kind enough to have me as a guest on his recent podcast, which you can hear here.

And if that wasn't enough, he also took the time to review the book.

I don't mean to be rude, but...

Up until the day I received my first check (and the only one for the year. Seems these things come annually, not quarterly as I had hoped), the most-asked question I received was "how is the book doing?"

I know the questioner means well and I appreciate the thoughts. But the truth was, until I got the paperwork, I didn't know.The info from the author's component of Amazon only tells you so much and was -- thankfully -- way under the figures I received from the publisher. But it still makes mw wonder...

Although I've been told a couple of times by those in authority that "the book is doing very well," what does that mean, exactly? I don't know what the initial printing was, but I was told a second had been ordered. So does mean they initially printed 1,000 copies? 5,000? Can't imagine it being more than that.

Then to look at the Amazon rankings... At it's highest to date, 501 ranked as high as just over 9,000 (and that was back in April, shortly after it was released). As of this writing, it's 323,614 (although just a couple of days ago, it as something like 44,000). So the number fluctuate wildly. But how many books are included in the rankings? One million? Five million? Something in between?

I'm in the very early stages of a new book and have been contact by a publisher regarding a project I had pitched about 10 years ago (they're still interested). Time is the issue. In our conversation (see previous blog entry), Eric Rolfe Greenberg said when he worked on a book he worked only on that book. No day job, no other articles. What a luxury!

In the meantime, the impetus for this entry was this commentary piece I found in the NY Times "Week in Review" section last Sunday. Upon review (well, I did read it a whole five days ago), I see it's really about current projects rather than previous ones. Oh well, the sentiment remains the same.

'501' Q&A: Eric Rolfe Greenberg

I attended the recent SABR conference in Philadelphia (and a good time was had by all), when I saw a gentleman with a hand-written nametag that caught my eye.

Eric Rolfe Greenberg.

 The author of one of the most highly-regarded baseball novels, The Celebrant.

 

Previously, I might not have had the nerve to approach someone of that literary stature (even though we had exchanged a few messages via Facebook), but emboldened by becoming a "member of the club" I introduced myself, mentioned the Baseball Bookshelf blog and asked if he might have some time for a brief chat.

Here's the result: The setup and the conversation.

Enjoy.

All in all, not a bad day

The first big day in this author's life was getting the final, bound copy of my first book.

The next came yesterday, when the first check arrived. Don't know what I was expecting, but I was hoping for something bit larger.

I also received this, from the Baseball Hall of Fame. Pretty cool. There's one more coming, for the donation of 501.