Bottom of the Ninth

My review of Michael Shapiro’s new book on the aborted life of the Continental League, a would be addition to the majors, appears in today’s Los Angeles Times. (I sure picked the right day to run a baseball story in the paper.) Bottom of the Ninth is a book that’s absolutely worth your time, though not an easy one, and not without its flaws.

Though we all have a tendency to stick our heads in the sand when it comes to the ugly shenanigans that are the business of baseball — we watch baseball because it’s supposed to be entertainment — unless we keep an eye on history’s fine print it’s impossible to hold accountable those who control the game. Those who are ignorant of the past, are condemned to repeat it. Or perhaps we’d be condemned anyway, but a little bit of knowledge doesn’t hurt, especially if it comes in an enjoyable package.