Clearing the Bases

Clearing the Bases is a much-needed call to arms by one of baseball''s most respected players. Drawing on his experiences as a third baseman a manager and most recently a fan Mike Schmidt takes on everything from skyrocketing payrolls callous owners and unapproachable players to inflated statistics and of course ersatz home run kings. But Schmidt''s book goes beyond the Balco investigation and never-ending free-agent bonanzas that dominate the back pages. It also examines all that''s right with our national pastime including interleague play expansion and most surprisingly better all-around hitters. Riveting wise and illuminating Clearing the Bases is a hall of famer''s look at how Major League Baseball has lost its way and how it can head back home.