Change Up

Through the eyes and words of star players like Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and Ichiro Suzuki, baseball legends like Cal Ripken, Earl Weaver, and Jim Bouton, and award-winning sports writers like David Maraniss, Bob Lipsyte, and Robert Whiting, here are vivid and very personal accounts of some of the most important happenings in the history of baseball.  Change Up looks closely at eight pivotal developments that changed the game, from the 1960s to today.

Events include the creation of the players union, the hiring of Frank Robinson as the first black manager, and the rise of Latin and Japanese players.  From the return of National League baseball to New York to the publication of Ball Four, these stories are viewed from an inside perspective. Authors Burke, Fornatale, and Baker show how baseball has evolved within American history, and how it has impacted its home country.  Even the most informed fans will find much that is new in these pages—and they will emerge with a greater understanding and appreciation of the game they love.

Praise

"Just when you think you know it all, along comes Change Up, brilliantly hitting all the high points of baseball's last half-century."—Rob Neyer, ESPN columnist and author of Rob Neyer’s Big Book of Baseball Blunders

"Change Up is a great idea well executed, just like its namesake pitch. Any fan of baseball, from the casual to the most rabid, will be entertained and informed by its many voices."—Tom Verducci, senior writer, Sports Illustrated

"Serious fans of the game will find this one of the most eye-opening and fascinating baseball books."—Booklist

"Talking baseball has rarely been so enlightening."—Sports Illustrated

"Through roundtable discussions drawing on comments by former and present major leaguers and sports writers, the authors highlight the phenomena that they believe formed baseball as we know it today: the Mets bringing the National League back to New York, the rise of Latino and Japanese ballplayers, Jim Bouton's Ball Four, the player's union, the designated hitter, the first black major league manager, and Cal Ripken's streak of consecutive games. Recommended for general libraries."—Library Journal

About the Author(s)

By Larry Burke, Peter Thomas Fornatale and Jim Baker

Larry Burke is a senior editor at Sports Illustrated. He is the author of four books, including The Baseball Chronicles: A Decade-by-Decade History of the All-American Pastime. He lives in Connecticut.

Peter Thomas Fornatale is an author and writer whose work has appeared in many places, including ESPN.com and the New York Times. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Jim Baker is an author at Baseball Prospectus and a frequent contributor to ESPN.com, and has contributed to baseball books by Bill James and Rob Neyer. He lives in Austin, Texas.