Spalding's World Tour: The Epic Adventure that Took Baseball Around the Globe - And Made It America's Game: Book Review

Mark Lamster brings us a very interesting read and history of the game we love so much in "Spalding's World Tour: The Epic Adventure that Took Baseball Around the Globe - And Made It America's Game". Lamster attacks this grand project with a style that shows no fear. He does not dumb down his writing at all, and it shows, and makes the book that much more enjoyable of a read.

What makes this book such a fun read has a lot to with the time period in which it's set in. Spalding's World Tour took place in 1888 and the game of baseball was still in its infancy, and about to be branded as America's Game. The cast of characters that are presented in the pages are as colorful and fearless as we imagine Americans being at the turn of the century, and none were as brash, self-assured, confident, or charismatic as the man responsible for the tour himself, Mr. Albert Spalding.

Today we all know of Albert Spalding because of his Sporting Goods franchise, you know, the franchise that provides basketball's to the NBA, among many other sporting goods supplies. Yeah, that Spalding.

Spalding lived the American Dream in many senses of the phrase and he always knew how to brace an opportunity when it presented itself. The baseball world tour was as much a tour to spread the good word of baseball as it was a perfect chance to gain contacts and spread his sporting goods franchise on a global level.

Spalding was never far away from the businessman that he was, however it's undeniable to admit the grand impact he had on the game of baseball. Spalding was one of his days greatest pitchers who went on to own the Chicago White Stockings and their great "stone wall infield". Although Spalding was ever the promoter, he should be given just credit as being one of the grandfather's of the game of baseball. Henry Chadwick (the inventor of the box score among many other baseball stats, you can read more about him in, "The Numbers Game".) and him debated on the origin of the game, however both should be held in high regard in reflection of baseball's history.

Other historical baseball characters mentioned in the book are the likes of Cap Anson, John Ward, Mike "King" Kelly, and more. I've been semi-obsessing on teaching myself more on the history of the game, and Lamster does a beautiful job of painting the color, tongue, and nature of the game and time. This is a book the would not only appeal to the fan of baseball, but a fan of history. Reading about the players sailing across the Pacific to the cannibal island of Hawaii, Australia, Egypt, Paris, and more is entertainment enough.

I highly suggest this book to those curious about the games history. One of the most interesting parts of the book was towards the end when John Ward formed the Players Association. A lot of the labor problems baseball had are eerily similar to today's. The more things change...well, you know the rest.

In short (after quite the long post) "Spalding's World Tour" is worth the money and time invested in the read. It's a book that not only presents a time period but takes you there, all the while educating you on the greatest game on the planet.

Overall: 9.5/10

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Comments

[Peter N]

Another book review...a quickie. A Lou Gehrig bio that truly stands out as one of the best baseball books EVER. It's called THE LUCKIEST MAN, and it has been available in softcover for a little less than a month. I am enthralled. And I guarantee you will enjoy the reading experience. He was quite a man, maybe the best Yankee ever as a human being whose life was too short. Thanks, and rooting for the Yankees while in the hold of this book is quite thrilling! On paper. From 1927 to 1939. Remarkable clubs.

[Derek Hixon]

I'll have to check that out. I read Micky Mantle's bio awhile back, and would love to learn more about Lou.