Cover of Triumph and Tragedy in Mudville: A Lifelong Passion for Baseball

Triumph and Tragedy in Mudville: A Lifelong Passion for Baseball

by Stephen Jay Gould · 2003

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Science meets sport in this vibrant collection of baseball essays by the late evolutionary biologist.Among Stephen Jay Gould's many gifts was his ability to write eloquently about baseball, his great passion. Through the years, the renowned paleontologist published numerous essays on the sport; these have now been collected in a volume alive with the candor and insight that characterized all of Gould's writing. Here are his thoughts on the complexities of childhood streetball and the joys of opening day; tributes to Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, and lesser-knowns such as deaf-mute centerfielder "Dummy" Hoy; and a frank admission of the contradictions inherent in being a lifelong Yankees fan with Red Sox season tickets. Gould also deftly applies the tools of evolutionary theory to the demise of the .400 hitter, the Abner Doubleday creation myth, and the improbability of Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak.

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This book is a delight, an essential addition to Gould's remarkable legacy, and a fitting tribute to his love for the game.

Subject
sciencescienceMore like thisLess of this
Themes
sportssportsMore like thisLess of this
Setting
CaliforniaCaliforniaMore like thisLess of this
Audience
adult
Length
medium · 360 pages
Form
essaysessaysMore like thisLess of this

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