Joe love everything you do from baseball to Springsteen. I’m a dedicated reader of ebooks now but want Baseball 100 the old fashion way but the pricing in Canada is higher then Garret Coles pre umpire checking spin rate.
I have to say that reading through my daily e-mails I didn't expect my cat to make the leap to the big time. Well done, Rex!
And yes, I made Joe sign the book saying that leaving Joe Mauer off the list will be a shame he takes with him to the grave. He's my favorite player, the heart wants what it wants.
It's pretty funny that Joe launched a couple of failed attempts at the Baseball 100 on his blog before finishing up with an updated version on The Athletic & then turning it into a book. Everyone clearly loved the stories and many even commented, years ago, that he should turn the stories into a book. Somehow Joe resisted both finishing the series and turning it into a book. I guess it needed to percolate for a while & maybe if he did this book 5-10 years ago it wouldn't have been well received. Anyway, I just find humor in how long this effort was going on & now.... it's probably the biggest thing he's ever done. Don't misunderstand this as criticism. I'm very glad it got to this point. But what a long, torturous trip it was. Joe thinks this is all crazy, but it's even crazier when you consider the journey to get it actually completed.
One of- perhaps the main-reason it petered out before was that Joe was posting the first two attempts on his blog. It was free then. So his baseball 100 was above and beyond whatever writing he was doing for his paying jobs at the time. I think he just got overwhelmed.
And one reason it was a bigger thing this time- he was posting at the Athletic, so he was catching readers who weren’t necessarily Joe fans. And the weird spread from this bigger base.
I was disappointed that Joe wasn’t able to finish his first two attempts, but this turned out better for him in every way. So the wait was worth it.
It's such a huge project. It probably sounds like a great idea until you actually start getting into it and then the immensity hits you. That would be my guess as to why it petered out the first couple of times. I'm glad he finally managed to get all the way through it and I'm really enjoying his Football 100!
The reason for the book's success seems simple to me. Great stories told by a great story teller. As a writer, this is Joe's sweet spot, telling fascinating stories that are rich and unique. The introduction's tease about a possible sequel - numbers 101-200 - has me ready to preorder now.
The story-telling aspect is so underrated. I've been trying to read The Athletic's "The NFL 100," all the pieces and I keep losing interest. Whereas I can't wait for each edition of Joe's Football 100. The difference, to me, is that Joe is just better at story-telling. The Athletic's version (and I'm a big fan of The Athletic, which is why I subscribe) just feels boring and vanilla by comparison.
Joe - Loving the book so far (and I had read each column along the way). And congrats on the NYT list! Great news. That being said, are you SURE this statement is true: "...the Baseball 100 is the 84th book to ever make the New York Times list..."? That seems, um, shall I say, unrealistic? 84th baseball book maybe?
I didn’t realize that I had become a baseball adjacent fan but I have. This is the first time I’ll have been able to watch the playoffs in years due to semi retirement. I’m looking forward to renewing a love 55 years old. Read the baseball 100 in the athletic and going to let one of my kids buy it for my Christmas present. Great work Joe!
I wish I could be there for the live debut of the PosCast, but I’m too far away. Have a great time Joe and many congratulations on the success of the book. I hope your father is not like some in the book questioning why you couldn’t break the top 3…
Joe, I have always had a theory about sports teams in sports towns. My theory is that you can always tell what team is number one in that cities heart by the ball caps that people wear around town. Boston is a great example - the Patriots have had the greatest run of any sports team since the Yankees, but what hats do you see the most wearing in that city by a wide margin? The Red Sox of course. In Detroit it’s always the Tigers, in Chicago the Cubs, the Dodgers in LA, etc. I think there is still a deeply ingrained love of baseball regardless of what the ratings say, and clearly your book tapped that nerve. Congrats again
Joe, I think the success of your book is due to the fact that there are many, many true baseball fans out there, and the fact that you are just an incredible writer. Your way with words attracts people, draws them into the stories you tell because of your own passion for the subject matter. It's just so great that a book like this is having this kind of success in this day and age because its diversionary ability is welcomed.
It’s Joes storytelling, I’m English but have grown up in Australia after emigrating here in 1988 when I was 10 years old & have never set foot in the US but here I am subscribed to this substack & despite the fact I haven’t watched a regular season baseball game from start to finish in at least 5 years, maybe more, I read every single baseball 100 post in the Athletic (Joes list, not this other Athletic list I hear mentioned) and will do the same with the Football 100 (tho that’s slightly different as I wage up at 3am to watch NFL games), still the fact remains, it’s Joes writing that does it, hell I’ve read 3,000 word pieces about NASCAR that Joe has written
Modesty will only get you so far, Joe! You wrote a great book, and it should be celebrated. I bought the book as a present for my Dad's 88th birthday. Baseball is one of our favorite topics, and he loves the book. I wish I had the time and ability to be in the live audience of the Poscast on Saturday. Happy Travels and continued success!
I am really excited - I am expecting to be there for both events tomorrow!!
Big shout out to all of us waiting for the Shadowball 100 to resume. Super Joe Charboneau came in at 87 if I remember correctly.
Joe love everything you do from baseball to Springsteen. I’m a dedicated reader of ebooks now but want Baseball 100 the old fashion way but the pricing in Canada is higher then Garret Coles pre umpire checking spin rate.
Is it too late to get a signed dust jacket if we pre-ordered? I was slacking, and didn't fill it out, and now the form doesn't seem to be working (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScdTEiDgh6k7uQg4pp-9wfeaVFt4XjYrIgk9bdsQ6-1fASBUg/viewform)
I have to say that reading through my daily e-mails I didn't expect my cat to make the leap to the big time. Well done, Rex!
And yes, I made Joe sign the book saying that leaving Joe Mauer off the list will be a shame he takes with him to the grave. He's my favorite player, the heart wants what it wants.
It's pretty funny that Joe launched a couple of failed attempts at the Baseball 100 on his blog before finishing up with an updated version on The Athletic & then turning it into a book. Everyone clearly loved the stories and many even commented, years ago, that he should turn the stories into a book. Somehow Joe resisted both finishing the series and turning it into a book. I guess it needed to percolate for a while & maybe if he did this book 5-10 years ago it wouldn't have been well received. Anyway, I just find humor in how long this effort was going on & now.... it's probably the biggest thing he's ever done. Don't misunderstand this as criticism. I'm very glad it got to this point. But what a long, torturous trip it was. Joe thinks this is all crazy, but it's even crazier when you consider the journey to get it actually completed.
One of- perhaps the main-reason it petered out before was that Joe was posting the first two attempts on his blog. It was free then. So his baseball 100 was above and beyond whatever writing he was doing for his paying jobs at the time. I think he just got overwhelmed.
And one reason it was a bigger thing this time- he was posting at the Athletic, so he was catching readers who weren’t necessarily Joe fans. And the weird spread from this bigger base.
I was disappointed that Joe wasn’t able to finish his first two attempts, but this turned out better for him in every way. So the wait was worth it.
It's such a huge project. It probably sounds like a great idea until you actually start getting into it and then the immensity hits you. That would be my guess as to why it petered out the first couple of times. I'm glad he finally managed to get all the way through it and I'm really enjoying his Football 100!
I'm so happy for you Joe! What an achievement, even for you, an accomplished author.
I got mine on the release date in Europe, and wow, #100, right out of the gate firing on all cylinders.
I am a helpless Seattle mariners fan, but even so, your ichiro story is a masterpiece
The reason for the book's success seems simple to me. Great stories told by a great story teller. As a writer, this is Joe's sweet spot, telling fascinating stories that are rich and unique. The introduction's tease about a possible sequel - numbers 101-200 - has me ready to preorder now.
The story-telling aspect is so underrated. I've been trying to read The Athletic's "The NFL 100," all the pieces and I keep losing interest. Whereas I can't wait for each edition of Joe's Football 100. The difference, to me, is that Joe is just better at story-telling. The Athletic's version (and I'm a big fan of The Athletic, which is why I subscribe) just feels boring and vanilla by comparison.
Do you think when they make the "Baseball 100" movie, that Brad Pitt will play Joe?
Paul Giamatti, pre-weight loss would be the obvious choice
Joe - Loving the book so far (and I had read each column along the way). And congrats on the NYT list! Great news. That being said, are you SURE this statement is true: "...the Baseball 100 is the 84th book to ever make the New York Times list..."? That seems, um, shall I say, unrealistic? 84th baseball book maybe?
I didn’t realize that I had become a baseball adjacent fan but I have. This is the first time I’ll have been able to watch the playoffs in years due to semi retirement. I’m looking forward to renewing a love 55 years old. Read the baseball 100 in the athletic and going to let one of my kids buy it for my Christmas present. Great work Joe!
I wish I could be there for the live debut of the PosCast, but I’m too far away. Have a great time Joe and many congratulations on the success of the book. I hope your father is not like some in the book questioning why you couldn’t break the top 3…
Springsteen fan that you are, it must feel particularly amazing to be right next to Miami Steve on the NYT list.
I noticed that too & was surprised it didn’t warrant a comment from Joe
Joe, I have always had a theory about sports teams in sports towns. My theory is that you can always tell what team is number one in that cities heart by the ball caps that people wear around town. Boston is a great example - the Patriots have had the greatest run of any sports team since the Yankees, but what hats do you see the most wearing in that city by a wide margin? The Red Sox of course. In Detroit it’s always the Tigers, in Chicago the Cubs, the Dodgers in LA, etc. I think there is still a deeply ingrained love of baseball regardless of what the ratings say, and clearly your book tapped that nerve. Congrats again
Joe, I think the success of your book is due to the fact that there are many, many true baseball fans out there, and the fact that you are just an incredible writer. Your way with words attracts people, draws them into the stories you tell because of your own passion for the subject matter. It's just so great that a book like this is having this kind of success in this day and age because its diversionary ability is welcomed.
It’s Joes storytelling, I’m English but have grown up in Australia after emigrating here in 1988 when I was 10 years old & have never set foot in the US but here I am subscribed to this substack & despite the fact I haven’t watched a regular season baseball game from start to finish in at least 5 years, maybe more, I read every single baseball 100 post in the Athletic (Joes list, not this other Athletic list I hear mentioned) and will do the same with the Football 100 (tho that’s slightly different as I wage up at 3am to watch NFL games), still the fact remains, it’s Joes writing that does it, hell I’ve read 3,000 word pieces about NASCAR that Joe has written
Modesty will only get you so far, Joe! You wrote a great book, and it should be celebrated. I bought the book as a present for my Dad's 88th birthday. Baseball is one of our favorite topics, and he loves the book. I wish I had the time and ability to be in the live audience of the Poscast on Saturday. Happy Travels and continued success!