16 Comments
User's avatar
James campbell's avatar

I like the photo but I have a similar, but better one, of Ted Williams hanging in my closet which I see each morning. It is autographed and a photo of Ted signing it in 1991 with Jack Lang (secretary of the Baseball Writers organization) authenticates it. I think it must be from an all-star game because the stands are decorated with bunting. The Sox classic home uniform is clearly visible, but I can't identify the umpire or catcher. All three are following what appears to be either a line drive or home run Williams has hit. Perhaps some other reader can fill me in on these details since there were 775 of these photos sold. It was proudly hung in my office for three decades until I retired. The autograph has diminished, despite being sun protected, as, alas, have I.

Lou Proctor's avatar

Nice photo - although the original B&W photo would have been better, as opposed to this colorized version.

Wogggs (fka Sports Injuries)'s avatar

Have you called Kuiper to get the Zip 106 story? That is the burning question of the day, even ahead of the iPad review.

Mary S's avatar

There are many truly stunning baseball photos, but you may be right that that is, if not the best, then among the very best! Beautiful shot!

Steve Schwab's avatar

You made the right choice. That cover is fantastic. But Willie would have been a good second choice.

Tol Broome's avatar

This cover is epic! Reminds me of the first SI cover with Eddie Matthews, but I like this one even better. Well done!

Dave's avatar

The Willie Mays cover for Why We Love Baseball was the right one, I think. Even a casual fan knows Vic Wertz/Polo Grounds/1951

Lawrence Jones's avatar

I think for the contest, the fourth clue should have been something like, "This cover player was an outfielder."

Ray Charbonneau's avatar

As a professional cover designer (yes, people DO pay me), I agree - this is the best one yet.

Dan Mundell's avatar

Joe's description of Earle Combs' approach to hitting is what Ichiro perfected into a masterful work of art.

Nnelg's avatar

A stunning cover. Congratulations. I almost clicked 'pre-order', but will wait for the deets on how to get signed copies. Hmmm, since the book comes out on Groundhog Day, I may have Joe dedicate this: "To Ned Ryerson, watch that first step...".

Re: Baseball 100. I fondly recall when Joe published a new entry every few days. This was in the covid lockdown era. We were all hunkered down, anxiously awaiting his new posts. But even more so, locked into the vibrant discussions that came after. I recall Jim Palmer posting about him just missing the cut line?

Drew Thomas's avatar

Which preorder company should I choose? Someone that needs the money more than some others...

Michael's avatar

I go with bookshop.org. You can specify a local (or favorite) bookstore that gets a portion of your sale.

L.H. Puttgrass's avatar

So your advice on making a great book cover is to find an amazingly great photograph, and use that? ;)

Stunning cover, Joe.

Dan Moser's avatar

That is a GORGEOUS cover, Joe.

Karl Weber's avatar

As a book publisher, let me just say that the cover for FIFTY SEASONS is magnificent—the best one for any of your titles so far (and some of the others are also damn good). Congrats!