Spring Training: Baseball's Early Season

I echo another reviewer's sentiment that some of the photographs seemed to be included simply because they accented the female form (from a variety of angles), rather than for their relevance to spring training baseball. While I was not offended by these photos, from a baseball fan's point of view they did not strengthen my reading experience.


Spring Training by Dan Shanghnessy and Grossfeld   September 19, 2003
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

This book would make a fine reference for a class project
on baseball. Attractions from Florida to Arizona depict
young rookies demonstrating their considerable skills. There
is an excellent introduction called "Renewal in Spring Training"
by the legendary Cal Ripkind. Cal explains how the busy spring
season brings together players with a job to do and rosters
to write. The author explains that a visit to teams in spring
training provides the best opportunity to view players in
close proximity. This work is perfect for baseball enthusiasts.


Not appropriate for children   March 8, 2003
 7 out of 13 found this review helpful

I bought this book for my son and was quite surprised to discover that some of the pictures were inappropriate for an eleven-year old. I'm hardly a prude but I can't understand why a book on this topic would include sexist, suggestive photographs of female fans. I try to teach my son not to view women as sex objects but a handful of pictures in this book have little to do with baseball or spring training and do just that. Shame on the authors, who should know better.


Spring Training, the glory days of today   February 4, 2003
 1 out of 4 found this review helpful

From the minute you open the book, you are not bombarded with a bunch of "pretty pictures," but are brought into a breathtaking and exciting world that we know as baseball. Shaughnessy and Grossfeld show us that baseball is not only about the Red Sox, but it is about the game itself, something that shocked me at first, but then prevented me from putting the book down. The amalgamation of Shaughnessy's writing and the captivating pictures that Grossfeld added make the book amazing. Why spend the money to go to spring training, when you can just pick up the book, and go there for free?


Short and Sweet   January 29, 2003
 2 out of 4 found this review helpful

This is the kind of book a woman like my wife buys for a guy like me because I like baseball so she thought I'd like it. It's okay, full of pretty pictures that [take up] a couple of hours, but there's not much too it. I'd rather be at spring training than read about it. I also think she thought that since it was by Shaughnessy the book would be about the Red Sox, but it's not. Oh well.