The Baseball Astrologer: And Other Weird Tales

Rating:
Summary: an enjoyable book
Review: I don't believe a bit in astrology. That being said, I have always enjoyed offbeat, oddball books on baseball - and this one qualifies as both. Fans of baseball history and stats often touch on odd coincidences and circumstances. Ballplayers themselves have - many of them - long been known to have a variety of superstitions and quirks that they hope might improve their play. We've all heard the stories and enjoyed them on one level or another.
Some of us have ourselves ritually worn certain articles of clothing to ballgames in hopes that it could somehow make a difference. Being from Boston, I have indeed sometimes worn red socks to a game. In Boston this year, the story came out about a local man who placed a Red Sox cap atop Mount Everest - and burned a Yankees cap in base camp. Well, it didn't seem to work this season, but there's no harm in trying.
And you won't get harmed reading John's book. In fact, you'll probably have a lot of fun - as I did. There's a lot of baseball in there and a lot of thought-provoking comment as well.

--Bill Nowlin, Cambridge MA

Rating:
Summary: Only for those who think "The X-Files" is nonfiction
Review: It's hard to believe that respected Negro League historian John Holway could write a book this utterly wrongheaded. "The Baseball Astrologer" collects a host of anecdotes, then labors to find some paranormal explanation for them. But correlation is not causation: look hard enough at a large collection of data and you're bound to find some patterns, even if they have no significance whatever.

Hilariously, Holway devotes several pages to debunking biorhythms, which are no more ridiculous than astrology, "good luck charms," "omens" or any of the other foolishness the book presents as fact.

Odds-on favorite for Silliest Baseball Book of the Year. Total Sports should be ashamed of itself for publishing this.

Rating:
Summary: Another Gem From John Holway
Review: John Holway remains one of the best baseball writers extant and this look at the supernatural and unusual side of baseball reflects the depth of his knowledge and his continuing abilith to paint vivid word pictures.