The baseball rookies encyclopedia
"Until now, no single book has brought together so many facts, stories, and stats from more than 130 years of major league baseball rookies. With The Baseball Rookies Encyclopedia that gap is at long last filled, as baseball historians David Nemec and Dave Zeman make a thorough examination of thousands of rookie ballplayers and give readers the definitive guide to each of baseball's freshman classes." "Starting in 1872 and ending with the 2003 season, Nemec and Zeman outline the rookie crops of each year, season by season. The best and worst rookie performances of each year are featured, as are the debuts of future Hall of Famers. One or two exceptional performances from each year are singled out for closer inspection and followed by a timeline of unique and noteworthy rookie accomplishments from each year. At the close of each chapter, a leaderboard lists each season's rookie leaders in all major batting and pitching categories, and the book closes with a page for each of the thirty current major league teams, giving their rookie record-holders." "The Encyclopedia devotes full coverage to rookies from every major league in history, including such rebel enterprises as the National Association, the American Association, the Union Association, the Players League, and the Federal League. The authors provide the authoritative information that historians and fans alike have long awaited on baseball's rich and tumultuous rookie history, complete with stats, charts, facts, and comparisons. With The Baseball Rookies Encyclopedia, all of baseball's 132 rookie classes finally receive the careful attention and analysis they deserve."--Jacket.