Books in Brief: Players’ Choice

Players’ Choice, by Eugene V. McCaffrey and Roger A. McCaffrey (Facts on File, 226 pp., $16.95)

You have to be a lot more of a fan than I am to savor every nuance of this book, but even the most casual follower of baseball (which is to say, any American) will find interesting things here. Baseball accolades—such as places in the Hall of Fame—are traditionally awarded by sportswriters. What the McCaffreys did was to mail out a questionnaire to every living major-league player, coach, or manager, past or present; 645 answered. George Bush, first baseman for Yale, 1947-48, wrote the foreword. (Ethan Allen, who coached Yale after 12 years in the major leagues, says of the Vice President: “A very good defensive player. … He worked hard at his hitting.”) Who had the best spitball? Gaylord Perry. What city has the best fans? Highpockets Kelly says: “A winner.” How much would you be worth today? Phil Linz says: “I gotta think at least thirty thousand a year.” What baseball writer understood the game best? First place—Red Smith; second—Dick Young; third—“None of them.” Special note to Red Sox fans: Who was the best hitter in the clutch? By a wide margin, Ted Williams. Happy hunting.

About the Author

Richard Brookhiser

Historian Richard Brookhiser is a senior editor of National Review and a senior fellow at the National Review Institute.

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Players’ Choice, by Eugene V. McCaffrey and Roger A. McCaffrey (Facts on File, 226 pp., $16.95)

You have to be a lot more of a fan than I am to savor every nuance of this book, but even the most casual follower of baseball (which is to say, any American) will find interesting things here. Baseball accolades—such as places in the Hall of Fame—are traditionally awarded by sportswriters. What the McCaffreys did was to mail out a questionnaire to every living major-league player, coach, or manager, past or present; 645 answered. George Bush, first baseman for Yale, 1947-48, wrote the foreword. (Ethan Allen, who coached Yale after 12 years in the major leagues, says of the Vice President: “A very good defensive player. … He worked hard at his hitting.”) Who had the best spitball? Gaylord Perry. What city has the best fans? Highpockets Kelly says: “A winner.” How much would you be worth today? Phil Linz says: “I gotta think at least thirty thousand a year.” What baseball writer understood the game best? First place—Red Smith; second—Dick Young; third—“None of them.” Special note to Red Sox fans: Who was the best hitter in the clutch? By a wide margin, Ted Williams. Happy hunting.