Feeling Cold? Turn Up the Hot Stove!

It may be cold outside, but nothing warms the hearts of baseball fans like the hot stove discussions of the previous and upcoming seasons.

If you’re like me, you may wonder where the term “hot stove” comes from. Simply put, it’s an expression of baseball fans hovering around a hot stove to keep themselves warm while they discuss baseball in the winter months. In his 2003 book Why Is The Foul Pole Fair?, Vince Staten explores this and many other baseball-isms with fascinating and wonderful detail. Set against the backdrop of a Cincinnati Reds game, Staten covers everything from the innovations of equipment from the earliest days to today, how box scores began, why the foul pole really is fair, what really goes inside a hot dog, and much, much more. He also follows Dayton Daily News and Baseball Hall of Famer Hal McCoy on the typical day of a baseball beat writer.

For numbers crunchers, ESPN’s Jason Stark provides The Stark Truth in which he discusses the most over – and under – rated players in baseball history. You think Steve Garvey was all that and a bag of chips at first? Stark says think again and offers Hank Greenberg as an option. Peter Keating’s Dingers! is all about the long ball. It goes far beyond Barry Bonds passing Hank Aaron and helps one to appreciate the factors that go into arguably the most exciting scoring play of a game.

For a truly unique and inside perspective of the game, Ron Luciano’s The Umpire Strikes Back cannot be beat. Written by Luciano after umpiring in the Major Leagues for twelve-years, this book provides a new insight into the men fans love to hate: the umpires. Ron explains how he got into baseball and worked his way through the minor leagues, his technique of getting angry managers and players to talk about anything but the play they’re upset about, and how his most famous rival, Baltimore manager Earl Weaver, became the thorn in his blue-suited side for many years to come. You’ll be wary to bad mouth an ump after reading this one for the simple fact that you might not hate them as much.

Happy reading and go Reds. (Hey, I can dream, can’t I?)

-Jason, Miami Township Branch