Books

Where They Ain't
By Burt Solomon, The Free Press, $25

This book takes its title from the oft-cited maxim "...hit 'em
where they ain't" of Wee Willie Keeler, a star among many on the
famous National League Baltimore Orioles of a century ago. In
this readable history Solomon shows that greed was as much a
part of the game then as now.

This Copyrighted Broadcast
By Hank Greenwald, Woodford Press, $24.95

Wittily, the veteran sports announcer recalls a career that
began at Syracuse University in the 1950s and ended as the San
Francisco Giants' play-by-play man in 1996. However, his most
moving chapter is on his daughter, who was born with Down
syndrome.

The 500 Home Run Club
By Bob Allen with Bill Gilbert, Sports Publishing Inc., $22.95

In this review of the careers of the 15 major leaguers who have
hit 500 or more homers, the sluggers are listed alphabetically,
which means that any way you look at them, Hank Aaron is batting
leadoff. The authors reserve space in their lineup for Mark
McGwire.

The Ripken Way
By Cal Ripken, Sr. with Larry Burke, Pocket Books, $22

The subtitle is A Manual for Baseball and Life, and in these
pages the late father of the celebrated son expresses a
refreshing philosophy. "Practice doesn't make perfect," Cal Sr.
observes, "because you can practice bad habits and never get any
better."

Baby Bull
By Orlando Cepeda with Herb Fagen
Taylor Publishing Company, $22.95

The new Hall of Famer recounts a life that is remarkable both
inside and outside baseball for its dizzying ups and downs. From
MVP to jailbird, Cepeda experienced it all, mostly with humor and
good grace.

Fenway
By Dan Shaughnessy with photographs by Stan Grossfeld
Houghton Mifflin, $30

In addition to Shaughnessy's recollections of the game's oldest
(with Tiger Stadium) ballpark, there are contributions from
Stephen King and Doris Kearns Goodwin, as well as former Fenway
stars Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski.

COLOR PHOTO: THE FREE PRESS

COLOR PHOTO: WOODFORD PRESS

COLOR PHOTO: SPORTS PUBLISHING INC.

COLOR PHOTO: POCKET BOOKS

COLOR PHOTO: TAYLOR

COLOR PHOTO: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN