Triumph and Tragedy in Mudville A Lifelong Passion for Baseball [Paperback]

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.Gould is at his best when he uses his critical powers and statistical acumen to challenge speculation.A treat for any fan.A masterpiece in its own right.A jovial and eloquent fan of the game...[Gould] displays an appreciation for the game that goes beyond bell curves and bar charts.A triple treat from the mind of a passionate fan, an incisive thinker, and a lucid writer.In this fine collection, Gould...is part scientist, part detective and, of course, all baseball fan.Makes it clear that [Gould] was as avid and knowledgeable about baseball as he was about paleontology.Intellectual Windex for what David Wells splattered on us earlier this spring.A winning combination of personal memoirs..., essays about players the author admired, scientific inquiries, and book reviews.Gould wrote as enthusiastically about baseball as he did about evolution....his best...essays on the game are gathered [here].It is the lyrical...pieces in this collection that resonate most powerfully. Scientific analysis intersects with flat-out fandom. [Gould] could write, he wasl£+