Author Reveals Writing Experiences
ALSO: SABR'S MINNEAPOLIS CONVENTION (No. 52) GETS RAVE REVIEWS
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Pregame Pepper
Did you know…
Phillies reliever Matt Strahm buys the baseball cards of anyone who hits a home run against him . . .
Wednesday’s return of gifted center-fielder Michael Harris II (severe oblique strain), can only help the Braves, who rebounded from their worst loss of the season (9-8 at Denver Sunday) to take consecutive 10-inning wins in San Francisco . . .
The Dodgers also enjoyed a welcome return when Mookie Betts hit a home run in his first game back and returned from infield duty to his familiar post in right field . . .
Veteran left-hander Marco Gonzalez made only seven starts for Pittsburgh before landing on the injured list again . . .
Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis have been in the same starting lineup for Minnesota only 17 times this season, according to STATS Perform . . .
Speaking of injuries, Jazz Chisholm, Jr. foolishly slid head-first into home plate, injured his elbow, and faces probable season-ending surgery after playing so well for the Yankees after his trade from the Marlins . . .
The snake-bit Dodgers rotation took another hit with the news that rookie River Ryan needs Tommy John elbow surgery that will keep him out well into 2025. Tony Gonsolin and Emmet Sheehan are recuperating from similar surgery, while fellow starters Yoshinobu Yamamoto (strained rotator cuff), Dustin May (esophageal surgery), Bobby Miller (shoulder injury), and Walker Buehler (hip and elbow issues) remain on an over-crowded injured list that ace Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) just escaped. Not surprisingly, aptly-named prospect Kyle Hurt is sitting there too after T.J. surgery.
Leading Off
Writing Sports Books: Insights and Experiences, Part 1
By K.P. Wee
It’s not often that I am asked to share my writing experiences, so when an industry contact recently inquired, I decided to take the opportunity to review and reflect on my writing journey. This process of reflection is important to me as it allows me to appreciate how far I’ve come and to recognize the challenges I’ve faced along the way.
Although my current work involves teaching and doing play-by-play in amateur sports, my journey into writing was quite different.
In the past, I was not very comfortable with public speaking. I found that I was much better at expressing my thoughts in writing. Since I have had a passion for sports since I was a teenager, I found writing about sports to be both enjoyable and fulfilling.
I realized early on that I wasn’t adept at debating sports topics with others, which often made discussions about them seem pointless. Instead of engaging in debates, I chose to write about sports on my own computer. This was a more natural and satisfying way for me to engage with my passion for sports.
Eventually, a significant turning point in my writing journey came when I thought, “There are so many books about baseball. I’m sure I can write books too.” This realization came from my frustration that one of my favorite baseball pitchers growing up, Tom Candiotti, was never featured in any of the baseball books I found. Tom, known as the “Candy Man,” had mentioned on his website in the late 1990s that he was planning to release a book about the knuckleball, a pitch he threw often during his impressive 16-year career.
Unfortunately, Tom’s book never came to fruition. This sparked a thought: “Why don’t I write a book about him instead?” Motivated by that idea, I dedicated years to writing about Tom. The culmination of that effort was the 2014 publication of Tom Candiotti: A Life of Knuckleballs by McFarland & Co. That achievement was a milestone in my writing career and marked the beginning of a continuous journey in sports- writing.
After completing the first book, I realized that the process of writing was ongoing. The journey, however, could be quite exhausting. To succeed, you need to be motivated and passionate about what you’re writing. Additionally, finding time to write amidst various life responsibilities is crucial.
Many people might assume that the COVID-19 pandemic was the ideal time for writers because everyone was at home with ample time to focus on writing. For me, however, it was quite the opposite.
Prior to the pandemic, I often found myself writing in local coffee shops. Seeing university and college students working on their school projects in those coffee shops was a source of motivation for me. I felt a strong desire to produce outstanding work, surpassing the quality of their business or science projects. Their presence, even though I never interacted with them, was enough to push me to improve my writing.
When COVID-19 disrupted all my routines, I struggled to stay focused. To overcome that, I downloaded numerous MLB Network documentaries and NFL Top 10 videos from YouTube and played them on a continuous loop while working, particularly when I was finishing my book about Barry Bonds. That approach helped me maintain my concentration and kept me engaged with my writing.
Another significant challenge in writing sports books was finding appropriate photos. Many readers may not realize the difficulties involved.
When I was pitching my books to publishers such as McFarland & Co. and Rowman & Littlefield, I was informed that I would need to find and pay for the photos myself.
While Rowman & Littlefield covered the cost of the cover photo for The 1988 Dodgers: Reliving the Championship Season, I was responsible for securing and financing the interior photos.
One particular team charged exorbitant fees—thousands of dollars per image—which were beyond my budget. On the other hand, some teams provided photos for free, as long as I gave proper credit. Unfortunately, some teams did not respond at all.
This issue of obtaining photos is often not apparent to readers. I once approached a freelance photographer about photo fees, but his response was snotty and condescending. His attitude discouraged me from pursuing this option further.
There are times when expected sources for photos fall short. For example, while working on Don’t Blame the Knuckleballer! I was able to obtain photos of knuckleball pitchers from the Baseball Hall of Fame, covering both historical and modern players.
However, when I needed images for a book about 16 players from the 1980s and 1990s, the Hall of Fame informed me that they did not have photos of those more recent players.
That was surprising, given that they had images of players from the 1910s through the 1950s. One would assume that their collection would include photos from more recent decades as well.
Support, or the lack thereof, can also be a challenge in the writing process. When discussing my work with others, I sometimes encounter dismissive responses. For example, when I mentioned to a “friend” that I was writing about the 1988 Dodgers to mark the 30th anniversary of their last championship, the response was a patronizing “So what?” as if to imply, “And? It’s an absurd idea.”
When I attempted to defend my work, the “friend” was offended and distanced himself from me. Such experiences can be disheartening, but they are part of the journey.
Occasionally, a “friend” might ask in a condescending manner, “How much money can you make from THIS?” I find that questioning someone’s income is impolite, yet it is a question I face from time to time.
I am tempted to respond with, “And how much money do you make from smoking marijuana, drinking, and pursuing your other harmful and addictive hobbies?” but I refrain from doing so.
Those experiences are all part of the journey. They highlight the challenges and triumphs that come with pursuing a passion for writing.
This account represents just the first part of many stories I have to share about my writing journey. I look forward to providing more insights and reflections in the future.
Selected baseball books by K.P. Wee:
Tom Candiotti: A Life of Knuckleballs https://tinyurl.com/tomcandiottikpwee
The Case for Barry Bonds in the Hall of Fame: The Untold and Forgotten Stories of Baseball’s Home Run King https://tinyurl.com/bondshallkpwee
The 1988 Dodgers: Reliving the Championship Season https://tinyurl.com/1988dodgerskpwee
Don’t Blame the Knuckleballer! https://tinyurl.com/dontblameknuckleballerskpwee
Don’t Blame the Knuckleballer II https://tinyurl.com/dontblameknuckleballer2kpwee
Knuckleballs: 162 Great Knuckleballing Wins—Plus Playoffs https://tinyurl.com/knuckleballskpwee
K.P. Wee is a teacher based in Vancouver, Canada. He has written several books on baseball, and he can be reached on X under the handle @kpwee1
Cleaning Up
SABR Completes Convention On A High Note
By Dan Schlossberg
Seldom have so few done so much for so many.
If it weren’t for the devoted members of the Society for American Baseball Research, Walter Johnson would have fewer wins, Hack Wilson’s single-season RBI record would be one short, and Ty Cobb would have two more hits.
Now SABR is telling Major League Baseball that it left out eight more leagues that should have qualified for the marriage of Negro League and MLB statistics.
Founded by 16 rabid fans in the summer of 1971, the group has grown to 7,000-plus, with numerous baseball professionals included. Writers, broadcasters, front-office officials, and even uniformed personnel have joined the ranks as the relationship between the group and Official Baseball evolved over the years.
More than 600 baseball diehards attended the group’s just-completed convention in Minneapolis, where they talked baseball, saw dozens of power-point presentations, perused a half-dozen posters created for the conference, competed in trivia contests, attended games of both the Minnesota Twins and their Triple-A team in nearby St. Paul, and rubbed elbows with Hall of Famers Tony Oliva, Rod Carew, Jim Kaat, and Bert Blyleven, all of whom started with and starred for the Twins (nee Senators).
Many came with empty suitcases they filled with books, cards, and other memorabilia they purchased in an exhibitors room that had scheduled author signings.
They ranged from Tom Zocco, a retired Connecticut resident who has been to all but three of the 52 SABR conventions, to Maxwell Kates, a 46-year-old CPA from Toronto who switched his allegiance from the Montreal Expos to the Detroit Tigers after the expansion team moved to Washington.
Like many SABR members, Kates is a big-time collector. “I have cards, autographs, yearbooks, pictures, and postcards,” he said. “I also collected books signed by Hall of Famers.”
Zocco, 76, holds unofficial records for most conventions attended and most memorabilia collected. The owner of 1900 hardcover books, plus binders of such publications as The Sporting News and USA TODAY Sports Weekly, he built extra bookshelves in his house and eventually moved his sleeping quarters downstairs because his books pushed him out.
Cleveland fan Vince Guerrieri is a member of the Cleveland chapter and the owner of a chair from Cleveland Municipal Stadium, former home of the Indians-turned-Guardians. He too is a collector — even attending The National Sports Collectors Convention close to his Elyria, Ohio home earlier this summer. He also went to Guardians FanFest.
“I have an abundance of cards, bobbleheads, and some other memorabilia, including a few lineup cards,” he said, “and a fairly decent autograph collection.”
Now a fan of Cleveland All-Star Steven Kwan, he’s also met such Indians legends as Bob Feller and Rocky Colavito.
Guerrieri, who turns 47 this month, attended the Baseball Card Committee meeting in Minneapolis.
“SABR has a lot of divergent research interests,” he said. “We have people researching Negro Leagues, minor leagues, women in baseball, and sports memorabilia.”
Author David Krell, chairman of Northern New Jersey’s Elysian Fields chapter since 2017, is a former attorney and TV producer who regarded his trip to SABR as a learning experience.
“You always learn something going to a panel or speaker presentation,” said Krell, 57. “I’m here to be with friends, go to a few games, and speak to publishers.”
The four books under his byline include this year’s The Fenway Effect, published by the University of Nebraska. He also edited two anthologies and is working on two more books, including a Bo Belinsky biography, for 2025 publication.
Both Rowman & Littlefield and Nebraska had extensive book displays in the vendors room staffed by friendly editors who said they were not only selling recent baseball books but also looking for prospective future authors. The former has been coming to SABR conferences for 12 straight years.
Scott Bush, SABR’s CEO since 2018, said the group’s board of directors is determined to expand and diversify membership — goals that seemed to be sprouting fruit with the attendance this year of many more females and younger baseball enthusiasts.
“We spent a lot of time discussing how we can bring additional research resources online and use that as a leading edge to recruit new members,” he said, “and how to make investments in programming that will grow new membership as well.”
Though most SABR members are rabid fans of the game, not all are researchers. Many are interested in history rather than analytics or statistics, while others are heavily engaged in collecting memorabilia.
“We have a really great Baseball Cards committee,” said Bush, 41, who spent years as a minor-league executive before coming to SABR. “They’re interested in all aspects of cards, from artists and designers to writers and photographers. Many are collectors themselves.
“Within SABR, we have members who are connected to collecting whether it’s memorabilia or as researchers. Some of our people collect items connected to their research domain.”
Next year’s SABR convention is scheduled for the Westin DFW Airport Hotel in Irving, TX from June 25-29.
Former AP sportswriter Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ has been a SABR member since 1981 and is the current vice chairman of the Elysian Fields chapter. The author of 40 books serves as a national baseball writer for forbes.com and contributor to USA TODAY Sports Weekly, Memories & Dreams, and Sports Collectors Digest as well as weekend editor of Here’s The Pitch. Dan’s email is ballauthor@gmail.com.
Timeless Trivia
The above Sarah Langs Tweet reprinted here appeared earlier this week . . .
Since then, Judge became the youngest man to reach 300 home runs . . .
He needed 955 games, topping Ralph Kiner, who played in 1,083 before he reached 300 in 1953 . . .
Entering play Thursday, Judge led the majors in home runs (43), RBIs (110), slugging (.707), and on-base percentage (.467) while ranking second in batting (.333) . . .
He was on pace for 57 homers, five short of the AL-record 62 he hit in 2022 . . .
Because Judge spent three years at Fresno State and three in the minors, he didn’t reach the majors before he was 24 — four years older than the rookie Hank Aaron in 1954 . . .
As a rookie, Judge fanned 42 times in his first 27 games before he figured out how to handle major-league pitchers . . .
If he averaged 45 home runs per year — his current pace — he would pass Aaron’s 755 and the 762 of Barry Bonds at age 43, four years after his nine-year Yankees contract ends . . .
Judge would have to avoid injuries, which already cost him two months (torn toe ligaments) and some 100 games in 2018-19 (fractured wrist, strained oblique) . . .
With Shohei Ohtani out of the American League, Judge and Yankees teammate Juan Soto, on pace for his first 40-homer season, will bid for MVP honors in the American League . . .
No American Leaguer has ever won more than three MVP trophies.
Know Your Editors
HERE’S THE PITCH is published daily except Sundays and holidays. Benjamin Chase [gopherben@gmail.com] handles Monday and Tuesday editions, Elizabeth Muratore [nymfan97@gmail.com] does Wednesday and Thursday, and Dan Schlossberg [ballauthor@gmail.com] edits the weekend editions on Friday and Saturday. Readers are encouraged to contribute comments, articles, and letters to the editor. HTP reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity, and good taste.