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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.
Design Observer encourages comments to be short and to the point; as a general rule, they should not run longer than the original post. Comments should show a courteous regard for the presence of other voices in the discussion. We reserve the right to edit or delete comments that do not adhere to this standard.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.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mark Lamster is a writer on the arts and culture. He is Associate American Editor of The Architectural Review, and is currently at work on his third book, a biography of the late architect Philip Johnson. Follow: @marklamster.More Bio >>
DESIGN OBSERVER JOBS
MORE BY Mark Lamster
05.13.13: The Tower that Beer Built04.23.13: The Bush Library
04.08.13: The Story of Seagram
04.01.13: How to Design an Iconic NY Fast Food Joint
03.19.13: Berlin: Then and Now
03.11.13: The Dallas Way
03.05.13: Inventing the Modern Library
02.20.13: Orange City
02.05.13: The Imaginary Worlds of Stephen Talasnik
01.28.13: Grand Central Turns 100
More by Mark Lamster >>
BOOKS BY Mark Lamster
Spalding's World Tour: The Epic Adventure that Took Baseball Around the Globe - And Made It America's GamePublicAffairs, 2006
Master of Shadows: The Secret Diplomatic Career of the Painter Peter Paul Rubens Nan A. Talese, 2009
More books by contributors >>
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