It has been a little while since I’ve given you all an update on The Baseball 100 — today seems like a good day for that as we await Game 6 of the World Series.
I briefly met George Will at an event a couple weeks ago. We don't share political views so what did I talk to him about? The Baseball 100 of course. He is still in awe of it, Joe.
I’m so glad this book has taken off for you Joe. And as you try to do a bit of a media tour I hope you’ll somehow, some way get to Powell’s Books in Portland. I was disappointed you couldn’t make it for Houdini.
Congratulations! I always found it a bit absurd that you started this effort on a blog that you charged nothing to access. Granted, it had multiple iterations and ended up behind a pay wall at The Athletic. But it really made much more sense as a book. So many words and so well done. And it's a LARGE book. I'm glad you're getting well paid for all the time you put in.
Well I’m glad there is a hard back book. I bought it. I was there for iterations 1 & 2 on his blog as well as his final iteration 3 on the Athletic. In fact you can find the 35 stories of iteration 2 on this blog. Different stories and some different players. For example Do a search for Ron Santo on this blog. His iteration 2 story comes up. Ron made both iteration 1 & 2, but not the final version. Story was just as good though.
I’m not sure if the 65 stories of iteration 1 are still online. At that time Joe’s blog was not on Substack. I’d love Joe to put both iteration 1 and 2 stories in folders here on his current blog.
One thing the series in the Athletic had was hundreds- no make that 1,000’s of comments. Almost every story had well over 100 comments. As we got to the end the comments were in the high hundreds and over a thousand a few times. Some comments were not much more than thanks, but so many were thoughtful, a deeper analysis on the day’s player, many of those threads being long discussions in and of themselves. And there were offshoots as we got to know each other- recommendations for tv shows to binge on, critiques of music, amazement at Nik K’s creative and more.
And the timing- it was in the darkest days of the pandemic when so much was shut down. So many people expressed how much the community of commentators was important as we were dealing with those shut in days. I spent hours and hours reading the comments, and posted more on that series than all my other postings everywhere anytime on the internet. Thanks go out to those who contributed to that time.
So while I appreciate the “book” nothing can compare to those days of the online serialized version.
Thanks so much Craig. That’s where I found it before, when I was creating a list comparing the three different iterations. I couldn’t remember if it was just the list or the actual stories. Now I’ve got to find time to read those stories that are different than in the Baseball 100.
Joe, It’s so fun and exciting to share in your enthusiasm and excitement over the book’s success! I can only imagine what it must be like for you to know that your work will now find its way to even MORE readers for “Joe Blogs” and that your work will live on long after you are gone. What a feeling that must be! Congratulations once again, to the most deserving sportswriter of this generation!
I got a rare version of your book in the mail yesterday - this one is NOT autographed! I already had the personalized version, of course. I'm trying to figure out if this copy was a random gift from a family member, or if there's some other explanation.
There will be no difficulty in me finding a home for this bonus baby.
Was there a super-deluxe option that I selected, but then forgot about, when I ordered it from Rainy Day Books? Did I also order one from the publisher, months ago, and then forgot about it? Did the publisher send some out due to a database glitch? Or maybe it was my Mom, and she's waiting for me to thank her. These are just some of the explanations running through my head...
Audible 30 hr 46 min. 45 minute drive home, 3x/wk. Allowing for occasional distractions, should get me to spring training
I briefly met George Will at an event a couple weeks ago. We don't share political views so what did I talk to him about? The Baseball 100 of course. He is still in awe of it, Joe.
I’m so glad this book has taken off for you Joe. And as you try to do a bit of a media tour I hope you’ll somehow, some way get to Powell’s Books in Portland. I was disappointed you couldn’t make it for Houdini.
I read it first in the athletic an bought my copy on Sunday . It’s fantastic writing and deserves the success.
Congratulations! I always found it a bit absurd that you started this effort on a blog that you charged nothing to access. Granted, it had multiple iterations and ended up behind a pay wall at The Athletic. But it really made much more sense as a book. So many words and so well done. And it's a LARGE book. I'm glad you're getting well paid for all the time you put in.
Well I’m glad there is a hard back book. I bought it. I was there for iterations 1 & 2 on his blog as well as his final iteration 3 on the Athletic. In fact you can find the 35 stories of iteration 2 on this blog. Different stories and some different players. For example Do a search for Ron Santo on this blog. His iteration 2 story comes up. Ron made both iteration 1 & 2, but not the final version. Story was just as good though.
I’m not sure if the 65 stories of iteration 1 are still online. At that time Joe’s blog was not on Substack. I’d love Joe to put both iteration 1 and 2 stories in folders here on his current blog.
One thing the series in the Athletic had was hundreds- no make that 1,000’s of comments. Almost every story had well over 100 comments. As we got to the end the comments were in the high hundreds and over a thousand a few times. Some comments were not much more than thanks, but so many were thoughtful, a deeper analysis on the day’s player, many of those threads being long discussions in and of themselves. And there were offshoots as we got to know each other- recommendations for tv shows to binge on, critiques of music, amazement at Nik K’s creative and more.
And the timing- it was in the darkest days of the pandemic when so much was shut down. So many people expressed how much the community of commentators was important as we were dealing with those shut in days. I spent hours and hours reading the comments, and posted more on that series than all my other postings everywhere anytime on the internet. Thanks go out to those who contributed to that time.
So while I appreciate the “book” nothing can compare to those days of the online serialized version.
First "100" essays can be found here: https://www.baseball-fever.com/forum/general-baseball/history-of-the-game/82451-joe-posnanski-s-100-greatest-baseball-players-ever-thread
Thanks so much Craig. That’s where I found it before, when I was creating a list comparing the three different iterations. I couldn’t remember if it was just the list or the actual stories. Now I’ve got to find time to read those stories that are different than in the Baseball 100.
Anybody else still waiting on the signed book plate after doing the pre-order, or did it just not make it through the mail to me?
I have yet to received mine yet, too. Glad I'm not the only one.
Please do the Baseball 200. I can’t wait. Baseball 100 is the Best book I’ve read in years.
Give the man a break! He's done nothing but work for months now - let's let him have a little time off.
I didn’t say today. 😂 I’m excited about it when it does.
Joe, It’s so fun and exciting to share in your enthusiasm and excitement over the book’s success! I can only imagine what it must be like for you to know that your work will now find its way to even MORE readers for “Joe Blogs” and that your work will live on long after you are gone. What a feeling that must be! Congratulations once again, to the most deserving sportswriter of this generation!
I got a rare version of your book in the mail yesterday - this one is NOT autographed! I already had the personalized version, of course. I'm trying to figure out if this copy was a random gift from a family member, or if there's some other explanation.
There will be no difficulty in me finding a home for this bonus baby.
Huh - I had that happen to me, too, and was wondering who was behind it. I'll gladly share it, though.
Was there a super-deluxe option that I selected, but then forgot about, when I ordered it from Rainy Day Books? Did I also order one from the publisher, months ago, and then forgot about it? Did the publisher send some out due to a database glitch? Or maybe it was my Mom, and she's waiting for me to thank her. These are just some of the explanations running through my head...
Your local library if you can't find a friend or family member who is worthy.