Mort Gerberg

This is a dream lineup of stories, essays, cartoons, songs and photographs, a book baseball lovers will be cheering for many seasons. Want to hear about the horse who played in the big leagues? How about the midget? The one who played in fiction? Or the one who played in fact? Who’s funnier? Casey Stengel or Yogi Berra? Ring Lardner or John Lardner? Alibi Ike or Babe Herman? Garrison Keiller or Russell Baker? The Dodgers or the Mets? Calvin Trillin or Marv Throneberry? They’re all here, along with a powerful lineup of literary sluggers.

Even an umpire has no trouble calling this one: Joy in Mudville is an instant classic, a book to be shared and passed down from generation to generation.