Reviews
" Baseball before We Knew It is a rare piece of historical research that transforms the historical landscape. It is also elegantly written and lightened with a subtle humor. No one who makes any claim to being a baseball historian or a student of the game can go forward without Block's stunning work."- Sports Literature Association, "Given North American baseball fans' nearly inexhaustible appetite for the arcana of their favourite sport, astonishingly few scholars have ever undertaken the detailed historical and anthropological research to find out where the game actually began. . . . Now, through painstaking bibliographic and archival research, on display in his extensive appendices, Block has established . . . the true forerunner of American baseball. . . . By pushing beyond baseball's reputed origins in an English children's game, David Block has discovered the game's true origins in an even older English game."-Warren Goldstein,Times Literary Supplement., "An amusing and comprehensive look at the surprisingly long and complex lineage of our national pastime. The book is dizzyingly detailed in spots, with exhaustive descriptions of dozens of old English ballgames, but as the author plumbs the murky depths of the game's origins, he turns up bizarre footnotes and conspiracies and unravels the agendas of earlier baseball historians."- American Heritage, "An amusing and comprehensive look at the surprisingly long and complex lineage of our national pastime. The book is dizzyingly detailed in spots, with exhaustive descriptions of dozens of old English ballgames, but as the author plumbs the murky depths of the game's origins, he turns up bizarre footnotes and conspiracies and unravels the agendas of earlier baseball historians."-American Heritage, "This is without question the book for anyone at all interested in the history of the world''s greatest game or, for that matter, in the manufacture of history."- Boston Globe, "A well researched, expertly written, inherently interesting, reader engaging, in-depth study of baseball and its historical roots. . . . No personal, academic or community library Sports History collection can be considered complete or comprehensive without the inclusion of David Block''sBaseball Before We Knew It!"-Midwest Book Review, "The suggestion that America's Game might have originated somewhere besides America so 'inflamed passions and patriotism,' writes David Block, that the idea still burns us. . . . Block has produced a deliciously researched feast that lays this controversy to rest. . . . Block has assembled such a rich pile of evidence for the game's European origins that one might wonder why there ever was a controversy. . . . Once an American reader gets past the disappointment of discovering baseball's deep European roots, Block's book is a perfect delight. He has unearthed magnificent medieval manuscripts . . . That show that baseball is just the latest in a very long line of stick-and-ball games."-Charles Hirshberg,Sports Illustrated, "A well researched, expertly written, inherently interesting, reader engaging, in-depth study of baseball and its historical roots. . . . No personal, academic or community library Sports History collection can be considered complete or comprehensive without the inclusion of David Block''s Baseball Before We Knew It !"- Midwest Book Review, "The suggestion that America''s Game might have originated somewhere besides America so ''inflamed passions and patriotism,'' writes David Block, that the idea still burns us. . . . Block has produced a deliciously researched feast that lays this controversy to rest. . . . Block has assembled such a rich pile of evidence for the game''s European origins that one might wonder why there ever was a controversy. . . . Once an American reader gets past the disappointment of discovering baseball''s deep European roots, Block''s book is a perfect delight. He has unearthed magnificent medieval manuscripts . . . That show that baseball is just the latest in a very long line of stick-and-ball games."-Charles Hirshberg,Sports Illustrated, "Given North American baseball fans' nearly inexhaustible appetite for the arcana of their favourite sport, astonishingly few scholars have ever undertaken the detailed historical and anthropological research to find out where the game actually began. . . . Now, through painstaking bibliographic and archival research, on display in his extensive appendices, Block has established . . . the true forerunner of American baseball. . . . By pushing beyond baseball's reputed origins in an English children's game, David Block has discovered the game's true origins in an even older English game."-Warren Goldstein, Times Literary Supplement, "As if this country doesn't have enough to worry about, it turns out America's national pastime may not even be American. At least according toBaseball before We Knew It,a new book by David Block. Block contends the origins of the game date to the mid-14th century and can be traced to northern Europe and parts of Africa. Hold on there, pal. What about good old Abner Doubleday? 'There's no evidence he even played baseball,' Block says. 'It's simply a case of people passing down stories that have never been substantiated.' Now, there's something we seem to be very good at." -Morty Ain,ESPN: The Magazine, "To quote from no less an expert than John Thorn, Block has created a knowledge base for the origins of baseball on which all future research will rely. That's a big claim, but if you readBaseball Before We Knew It, you'll know it's correct."- John Shiffert,www.baseball19to21.com, "As if this country doesn''t have enough to worry about, it turns out America''s national pastime may not even be American. At least according toBaseball before We Knew It,a new book by David Block. Block contends the origins of the game date to the mid-14th century and can be traced to northern Europe and parts of Africa. Hold on there, pal. What about good old Abner Doubleday? ''There''s no evidence he even played baseball,'' Block says. ''It''s simply a case of people passing down stories that have never been substantiated.'' Now, there''s something we seem to be very good at." -Morty Ain,ESPN: The Magazine, "Given North American baseball fans'' nearly inexhaustible appetite for the arcana of their favourite sport, astonishingly few scholars have ever undertaken the detailed historical and anthropological research to find out where the game actually began. . . . Now, through painstaking bibliographic and archival research, on display in his extensive appendices, Block has established . . . the true forerunner of American baseball. . . . By pushing beyond baseball''s reputed origins in an English children''s game, David Block has discovered the game''s true origins in an even older English game."-Warren Goldstein, Times Literary Supplement ., "This is without questionthebook for anyone at all interested in the history of the world's greatest game or, for that matter, in the manufacture of history."-Boston Globe, "Given North American baseball fans'' nearly inexhaustible appetite for the arcana of their favourite sport, astonishingly few scholars have ever undertaken the detailed historical and anthropological research to find out where the game actually began. . . . Now, through painstaking bibliographic and archival research, on display in his extensive appendices, Block has established . . . the true forerunner of American baseball. . . . By pushing beyond baseball''s reputed origins in an English children''s game, David Block has discovered the game''s true origins in an even older English game."-Warren Goldstein,Times Literary Supplement., "Block's book obviates the need for any other analysis of baseball's origins and roots. Including the illustrations that go back to the 14th-century manuscripts in the Bodleian Library emphasizing pre-Civil War sources, this one volume contains everythingregarding the history of the origin of the American national pastime. Myths are debunked, fables are demystified, and in the end one is left with a comprehensive and convincing historical record."-CHOICE, "By pushing beyond baseball's reputed origins in an English children's game, David Block has discovered the game's true origins in an even older English game."--Times Literary Supplement, 12 August 2005"Baseball before We Knew It is a magnificent piece of work that puts an end to the myths and errors that have clouded our understanding of where and how our national game began and developed. This definitely settled, we are now also clear about the source and cause of the previous notions-altogether a masterpiece of research agreeably presented."-Jacques Barzun, author of From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life-1500 to the Present"Baseball before We Knew It is an important book, erudite, entertaining and truly groundbreaking. David Block goes beyond debunking the game's creation myths to creating a knowledge base upon which all future research will rely. This brilliant book takes a place on my shelf alongside Seymour, Voigt, and Henderson."-John Thorn, editor of Total Baseball, "Baseball before We Knew Itis a rare piece of historical research that transforms the historical landscape. It is also elegantly written and lightened with a subtle humor. No one who makes any claim to being a baseball historian or a student of the game can go forward without Block's stunning work."-Sports Literature Association, "The suggestion that America's Game might have originated somewhere besides America so 'inflamed passions and patriotism,' writes David Block, that the idea still burns us. . . . Block has produced a deliciously researched feast that lays this controversy to rest. . . . Block has assembled such a rich pile of evidence for the game's European origins that one might wonder why there ever was a controversy. . . . Once an American reader gets past the disappointment of discovering baseball's deep European roots, Block's book is a perfect delight. He has unearthed magnificent medieval manuscripts . . . That show that baseball is just the latest in a very long line of stick-and-ball games."-Charles Hirshberg, Sports Illustrated, "Baseball, Block convincingly argues, was not a product of rounders, and its essential form had already been established by the late 18th century. Where, then, did baseball come from? In search of an answer, Block, a retired systems analyst and an antiquarian book collector, has attacked baseball's literary record with methodical zeal. The result is a joyfully discursive romp through the history of ball sports and a compelling new theory of the game's origins."-New York Times Book Review, "A well-researched, fascinating book that examines the history of our national pastime from its earliest origins through its evolution into the modern game."-Tom Tarapacki,Polish American Journal, "By pushing beyond baseball's reputed origins in an English children's game, David Block has discovered the game's true origins in an even older English game."--Times Literary Supplement, 12 August 2005"Baseball before We Knew Itis a magnificent piece of work that puts an end to the myths and errors that have clouded our understanding of where and how our national game began and developed. This definitely settled, we are now also clear about the source and cause of the previous notions-altogether a masterpiece of research agreeably presented."-Jacques Barzun, author ofFrom Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life-1500 to the Present"Baseball before We Knew Itis an important book, erudite, entertaining and truly groundbreaking. David Block goes beyond debunking the game's creation myths to creating a knowledge base upon which all future research will rely. This brilliant book takes a place on my shelf alongside Seymour, Voigt, and Henderson."-John Thorn, editor ofTotal Baseball, "To quote from no less an expert than John Thorn, Block has created a knowledge base for the origins of baseball on which all future research will rely. That's a big claim, but if you readBaseball Before We Knew It, you'll know it's correct."- John Shiffert, www.baseball19to21.com, " Baseball before We Knew It is an important book, erudite, entertaining and truly groundbreaking. David Block goes beyond debunking the game's creation myths to creating a knowledge base upon which all future research will rely. This brilliant book takes a place on my shelf alongside Seymour, Voigt, and Henderson."-John Thorn, editor of Total Baseball, "Block''s book obviates the need for any other analysis of baseball''s origins and roots. Including the illustrations that go back to the 14th-century manuscripts in the Bodleian Library emphasizing pre-Civil War sources, this one volume contains everythingregarding the history of the origin of the American national pastime. Myths are debunked, fables are demystified, and in the end one is left with a comprehensive and convincing historical record."- Choice, "As if this country doesn''t have enough to worry about, it turns out America''s national pastime may not even be American. At least according to Baseball before We Knew It, a new book by David Block. Block contends the origins of the game date to the mid-14th century and can be traced to northern Europe and parts of Africa. Hold on there, pal. What about good old Abner Doubleday? ''There''s no evidence he even played baseball,'' Block says. ''It''s simply a case of people passing down stories that have never been substantiated.'' Now, there''s something we seem to be very good at." -Morty Ain, ESPN: The Magazine, "Given North American baseball fans'' nearly inexhaustible appetite for the arcana of their favourite sport, astonishingly few scholars have ever undertaken the detailed historical and anthropological research to find out where the game actually began. . . . Now, through painstaking bibliographic and archival research, on display in his extensive appendices, Block has established . . . the true forerunner of American baseball. . . . By pushing beyond baseball''s reputed origins in an English children''s game, David Block has discovered the game''s true origins in an even older English game."-Warren Goldstein,Times Literary Supplement, "Block''s book obviates the need for any other analysis of baseball''s origins and roots. Including the illustrations that go back to the 14th-century manuscripts in the Bodleian Library emphasizing pre-Civil War sources, this one volume contains everythingregarding the history of the origin of the American national pastime. Myths are debunked, fables are demystified, and in the end one is left with a comprehensive and convincing historical record."-CHOICE, "The suggestion that America''s Game might have originated somewhere besides America so ''inflamed passions and patriotism,'' writes David Block, that the idea still burns us. . . . Block has produced a deliciously researched feast that lays this controversy to rest. . . . Block has assembled such a rich pile of evidence for the game''s European origins that one might wonder why there ever was a controversy. . . . Once an American reader gets past the disappointment of discovering baseball''s deep European roots, Block''s book is a perfect delight. He has unearthed magnificent medieval manuscripts . . . That show that baseball is just the latest in a very long line of stick-and-ball games."-Charles Hirshberg, Sports Illustrated, "A well researched, expertly written, inherently interesting, reader engaging, in-depth study of baseball and its historical roots. . . . No personal, academic or community library Sports History collection can be considered complete or comprehensive without the inclusion of David Block''sBaseball Before We Knew It!" --Midwest Book Review, "This is without questionthebook for anyone at all interested in the history of the world''s greatest game or, for that matter, in the manufacture of history."-Boston Globe, "To quote from no less an expert than John Thorn, Block has created a knowledge base for the origins of baseball on which all future research will rely. That's a big claim, but if you read Baseball Before We Knew It , you'll know it's correct."- John Shiffert, www.baseball19to21.com, "Baseball, Block convincingly argues, was not a product of rounders, and its essential form had already been established by the late 18th century. Where, then, did baseball come from? In search of an answer, Block, a retired systems analyst and an antiquarian book collector, has attacked baseball''s literary record with methodical zeal. The result is a joyfully discursive romp through the history of ball sports and a compelling new theory of the game''s origins."- New York Times Book Review, "A well-researched, fascinating book that examines the history of our national pastime from its earliest origins through its evolution into the modern game."--Tom Tarapacki,Polish American Journal, "Baseball, Block convincingly argues, was not a product of rounders, and its essential form had already been established by the late 18th century. Where, then, did baseball come from? In search of an answer, Block, a retired systems analyst and an antiquarian book collector, has attacked baseball''s literary record with methodical zeal. The result is a joyfully discursive romp through the history of ball sports and a compelling new theory of the game''s origins."-New York Times Book Review, "Baseball before We Knew Itis an important book, erudite, entertaining and truly groundbreaking. David Block goes beyond debunking the game's creation myths to creating a knowledge base upon which all future research will rely. This brilliant book takes a place on my shelf alongside Seymour, Voigt, and Henderson."-John Thorn, editor ofTotal Baseball, "Baseball before We Knew Itis a rare piece of historical research that transforms the historical landscape. It is also elegantly written and lightened with a subtle humor. No one who makes any claim to being a baseball historian or a student of the game can go forward without Block''s stunning work."-Sports Literature Association, " Baseball before We Knew It is a rare piece of historical research that transforms the historical landscape. It is also elegantly written and lightened with a subtle humor. No one who makes any claim to being a baseball historian or a student of the game can go forward without Block''s stunning work."- Sports Literature Association, "Block''s book obviates the need for any other analysis of baseball''s origins and roots. Including the illustrations that go back to the 14th-century manuscripts in the Bodleian Library emphasizing pre-Civil War sources, this one volume contains everythingregarding the history of the origin of the American national pastime. Myths are debunked, fables are demystified, and in the end one is left with a comprehensive and convincing historical record."-Choice, "By pushing beyond baseball's reputed origins in an English children's game, David Block has discovered the game's true origins in an even older English game."--Times Literary Supplement, 12 August 2005 "Baseball before We Knew It is a magnificent piece of work that puts an end to the myths and errors that have clouded our understanding of where and how our national game began and developed. This definitely settled, we are now also clear about the source and cause of the previous notions--altogether a masterpiece of research agreeably presented."--Jacques Barzun, author of From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life--1500 to the Present "Baseball before We Knew It is an important book, erudite, entertaining and truly groundbreaking. David Block goes beyond debunking the game's creation myths to creating a knowledge base upon which all future research will rely. This brilliant book takes a place on my shelf alongside Seymour, Voigt, and Henderson."--John Thorn, editor of Total Baseball, "Not content with merely demolishing the credibility of Abner Doubleday and Cooperstown once again, Block discerns baseball's true origins in a British children's game of the early 18th century. Masterfully researched and extraordinarily well-documented, this book includes and invaluable 60-page, chronological bibliography of baseball mentions from 1450 to 1861."-College & Research Libraries News, "A well researched, expertly written, inherently interesting, reader engaging, in-depth study of baseball and its historical roots. . . . No personal, academic or community library Sports History collection can be considered complete or comprehensive without the inclusion of David Block'sBaseball Before We Knew It!" --Midwest Book Review, "Not content with merely demolishing the credibility of Abner Doubleday and Cooperstown once again, Block discerns baseball's true origins in a British children's game of the early 18th century. Masterfully researched and extraordinarily well-documented, this book includes and invaluable 60-page, chronological bibliography of baseball mentions from 1450 to 1861."- College & Research Libraries News, "Baseball, Block convincingly argues, was not a product of rounders, and its essential form had already been established by the late 18th century. Where, then, did baseball come from? In search of an answer, Block, a retired systems analyst and an antiquarian book collector, has attacked baseball's literary record with methodical zeal. The result is a joyfully discursive romp through the history of ball sports and a compelling new theory of the game's origins."- New York Times Book Review, "As if this country doesn't have enough to worry about, it turns out America's national pastime may not even be American. At least according to Baseball before We Knew It, a new book by David Block. Block contends the origins of the game date to the mid-14th century and can be traced to northern Europe and parts of Africa. Hold on there, pal. What about good old Abner Doubleday? 'There's no evidence he even played baseball,' Block says. 'It's simply a case of people passing down stories that have never been substantiated.' Now, there's something we seem to be very good at." -Morty Ain, ESPN: The Magazine, "A well-researched, fascinating book that examines the history of our national pastime from its earliest origins through its evolution into the modern game."-Tom Tarapacki, Polish American Journal
