Diamonds: The Evolution of the Ballpark

Michael Gershman has done an extraordinary amount of research and it shows! This is a beautifully written and informative account of the evolution of the baseball stadium. A must have for any true baseball historian.

Michael Gershman's "Diamonds" is a killer book! I was interested in learning about the old ballparks, like Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds, and "Diamonds" gives a complete historical perspective on the architecture, personality, and importance of ballparks in America. Gershman gives a synapis of all the major ballparks of the 19th and 20th centuries. The writing is excellent, and you can tell Mr. Gershman has done some pretty extensive research; while you're reading the book, he makes you feel as though you're actually sitting in the ballpark. Or, at least, you'll want to go back in time and take in a game at one of those great old ballparks.And, as you make your way through the book, you realize that through telling the history of the ballpark, Mr. Gershman is telling the history of baseball itself. Ballparks provide the theatre; the game provides the drama. Anyone just interested in learning about baseball history will enjoy this book.