Game Worn

BOOKLIST, Starred Review

Baseball fans love memorabilia, and high on the wish lists of the most avid collectors are uniforms--not mere replicas but actual game-worn jerseys. Sadly, such rarities are well beyond the budgets of most fans, which makes this exquisite coffee-table book all the more entrancing. Yes, there are beautifully composed, striking photos of jerseys, pants, hats, and gloves across the history of the game, from the dead-ball era to the end of the twentieth century; but there are also other illustrations capturing the remarkable scope of baseball memorabilia (scorecards, programs, ticket stubs, magazine ads, including one from Chesterfield showing Joe DiMaggio and Stan Musial with cigarettes dangling from smiling mouths). And don't forget the text: coauthors Wong and Grob contribute stylish and perceptive profiles of the various superstars whose jerseys decorate the text as well as fascinating facts about uniform fabrics and design over the years (Who knew that satin uniforms were once the rage?). Hats off, too, to perhaps the most entertaining collection of pull quotes ever to appear in a baseball book (Tallulah Bankhead on Willie Mays: "There have been only two geniuses in the world: Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare."). A must for every baseball collection. -- Bill Ott

LIBRARY JOURNAL

Baseball is a game of endurance, statistics, and more interestingly, a sport with iconic uniforms. As longtime Detroit Tigers outfielder Ty Cobb once said, "[baseball] is a struggle for supremacy, a survival of the fittest." Wong (Smithsonian Baseball) along with debut author Grob has created a fascinating book about historically significant baseball attire. What makes these garments so special is their importance to the game in which they were originally worn. The authors gives a fantastic description of each uniform and thrillingly guide readers through the moment in history. There are uniforms from Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Christy Mathewson, Jackie Robinson, and numerous others. This captivating look at the subject is unlike anything readers will find aside from visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. The 71 featured uniforms, along with photographs that speak a thousand words, each tell an exceptional story. VERDICT This rare look at the importance of baseball garments is a visually striking compilation that reads like a Ken Burns documentary. A book for all baseball lovers.--Gus Palas, Ela Area P.L., Lake Zurich, IL