Six Baseball Books to Get You to Spring Training

We’ve made it to the final month of the baseball offseason. Now we just have to make it through...

Perhaps the longest stretch of the offseason (at least that’s how it feels) has arrived and we’ve got to find ways to keep ourselves busy over the next month. Whether you choose to watch old games, read articles about prospects or our chances to make the playoffs, or play MLB The Show, there’s plenty of ways to fill the month of February with baseball. My favorite way to pass the time is by reading, specifically about baseball. Here are my favorite books about baseball and why I think you should read them.

Baseball Life Advice by Stacey May Fowles

This is by far my favorite book I’ve ever read. Following the success of her popular newsletter of the same name, Fowles released this autobiography in 2017. In the book, she discusses a wide range of baseball related topics such as her experiences as a woman in baseball - both as fan and journalist - and why baseball is so special to so many people.

I related so deeply to everything she wrote in this book which is why I appreciate it so much. Throughout my time as a baseball fan, I’ve found that a lot of people just don’t understand why baseball means so much. “It’s just a sport.” Except it’s so much more than that and Fowles does a perfect job explaining why. If you only read one book from this list, make it this one.

Living on the Black by John Feinstein

A legendary sports author, it’s hard to find a Feinstein piece that isn’t amazing. However, this one is what I believe to be his absolute best work. The book follows two New York pitchers - Tom Glavine on the Mets and Mike Mussina on the Yankees - and their daily lives throughout the course of a grueling season.

Feinstein takes these 543 pages to give two first-hand accounts of the ups and downs of a season in Major League Baseball. It isn’t all glamorous or even fun. It’s heartbreaking, physically demanding, and even life-changing. But it’s also baseball, the sport we love and devote our whole lives to without question.

The Wrong Stuff by Bill Lee

This 1984 memoir of Lee’s time as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and Montreal Expos in the 60s and 70s is a staple for any baseball fan. Back when the rules were relaxed and the players were wild, Lee was somehow wilder. His stories are almost unfathomable but are still guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

While silly and unserious at times, Lee also takes time to tone it down and focus on topics like politics, civil rights, and war. Especially in times like this, it’s a much needed read. If you know me, you know I love the goofy, unconventional pitchers, and that’s exactly who Lee is.

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach

A heartwarming, LGBTQ+ coming-of-age novel that got me through my college years. It follows five people at Westish College whose lives are upturned by the mistake of one young superstar on the field. It’s a story of love, heartbreak, baseball, and friendship. It’s a long read, but keeps you captivated so you’re turning the pages quickly. This is my favorite fiction baseball novel.

You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian

Another LGBTQ+ baseball novel, this one follows a slumping Robins shortstop and a snobby, sports-hating reporter in 1960. Eddie (the player) does not want to do the interviews and Mark (the reporter) does not want to give them. However, after they get a couple under their belts, they become closer. The novel follows them as they get through the struggles of slumping, fame, and each other.

The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson

You may want to judge a book by a cover with this one. A baseball romance? I know, I know, I did too. However, it’s actually a really good story and definitely grabs your attention as much as the previous two. It follows a self-proclaimed baseball hater who gets the attention of a slumping player by heckling him. She reaches out to him to apologize, but forgets to say she was the heckler. While the two meet up and eventually start to catch feelings, Miss Heckler has to decide how long she wants to live a double life with him.

While I highly recommend reading all of these, I have plenty more recommendations that I would love to share! Feel free to comment or message me for more:)