Stephen Jay Gould

Triumph and Tragedy in Mudville

"Scientific analysis intersects with flat-out fandom. [Gould] could write, he was funny, and he loved, loved baseball."—Booklist

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.

This book is a delight, an essential addition to Gould's remarkable legacy, and a fitting tribute to his love for the game.

"[Gould] loves the sport viscerally, and his interests in science and baseball are as parallel and intertwined as DNA's double helix."—New York Times Book Review

"A jovial and eloquent fan of the game...[Gould] displays an appreciation for the game that goes beyond bell curves and bar charts."—Chicago Tribune

"Gould's assessments of baseball players and teams, books about the game, and the sport itself are smart, well-written, and eminently entertaining."—Kirkus Reviews starred review

"In this fine collection, Gould...is part scientist, part detective and, of course, all baseball fan."—Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, VA, Richard A. Somma, 27 April 2003

"[Gould's] take on Chuck Knoblauch's throwing problems is a hoot."—Orlando Sentinel, Phil Tatman, 6 April 2003

"[Gould] rhapsodizes about the passion of intellectuals and boasts about his family's 'four generations of baseball rooting.'"—Baltimore Sun, Paul Duke, 30 March 2003

"A winning combination of personal memoirs..., essays about players the author admired, scientific inquiries, and book reviews."—Sacramento Bee, 6 April 2003

"Gould wrote as enthusiastically about baseball as he did about evolution....his best...essays on the game are gathered [here]."—San Diego Union-Tribune, John Curtis, 30 March 2003

"A masterpiece in its own right."—Blue Ridge Business Journal, 5 May 2003

"A masterpiece....these 35 essays...are about as entertaining and informative as anything you'll read about baseball."—Sports Journal, Dan Smith, 12 May 2003

"A treat for any fan."—Atlanta Jewish News, 20 June 2003

"A triple treat from the mind of a passionate fan, an incisive thinker, and a lucid writer."—Elysian Fields Quarterly, Mark E. Hayes, Summer 2003

"Gould is at his best when he uses his critical powers and statistical acumen to challenge speculation."—American Scientist, T.G., August 2003

"Intellectual Windex for what David Wells splattered on us earlier this spring."—New York Times Book Review, Alan Schwarz, 25 May 2003

"It is the lyrical...pieces in this collection that resonate most powerfully."—Washington Post Book World, Jonathan Mahler, 18 May 2003

"Makes it clear that [Gould] was as avid and knowledgeable about baseball as he was about paleontology."—New York Times, Michiko Kakutani, 20 May 2003

"Terrific....I've got no qualms at all in recommending this one."—Dallas Sports Guide, Brad Stribling, 1 June 2003

"These writings show Gould's wonderful range of thought, devotion to his subject matter, and love of life."—Science News, 7 June 2003