Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Blunders: A Complete Guide to the Worst Decisions and Stupidest Moments in Baseball History

BLOOPER: BALL SQUIRTS THROUGH BILLY BUCKNERS LEGS. BLUNDER: BILLY BUCKNERS MANAGER LEFT HIM IN THE GAME. Baseball bloopers are fun; theyre funny even. A pitcher slips on the mound and his pitch sails over the backstop. An infielder camps under a pop-up...and the ball lands ten feet away. An outfielder tosses a souvenir to a fan...but that was just the second out and runners are circling the bases (and laughing). Without these moments the highlight reels wouldnt be nearly as entertaining. Baseball blunders however can be tragic and they will leave diehard fans asking why...why...why? Rob Neyers Big Book of Baseball Blunders does its best to answer all those whys exploring the worst decisions and stupidest moments of managers general managers owners and even commissioners. As he did in his Big Book of Baseball Lineups Rob Neyer provides readers with a fascinating examination of baseballs rich history this time through the lens of the games sometimes hilarious often depressing and always perplexing blunders. · Which ill-fated move cost the Chicago White Sox a great hitter and the 1919 World Series? · What was Babe Ruth thinking when he became the first (and still the only) player to end a World Series by getting caught trying to steal? · Did playing one-armed Pete Gray in 1945 cost the Browns a pennant? · How did winning a coin toss lead to the Dodgers losing the National League pennant on Bobby Thomsons Shot Heard round the World? · How damaging was the Frank Robinson-for-Milt Pappas deal really? · Which of Red Sox manager Don Zimmers mistakes in 1978 was the worst? · Which Yankees trade was even worse than swapping Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps? · What non-move cost Buck Showalter a job and gave Joe Torre the opportunity of a lifetime? · Game 7 2003 ALCS: Pedro winds up to throw his 123rd pitch...what were you thinking? These are just a few of the legendary (and not-so-legendary) blunders that Neyer analyzes always with an eye on what happened why it happened and how it changed the fickle course of history. And in separate chapters Neyer also reviews some of the games worst trades and draft picks and closely examines all the teams that fell just short of first place. Another in the series of Neyers Big Books of baseball history Baseball Blunders should win a place in every devoted fans library.