What may be one of the longest-running literary anthologies in Amer-

ican letters continues with The Fireside Book of Baseball, Fourth

Edition. Previously published in 1956, 1958 and 1968, the Rreeide

baseball books set the standard by which all other collections of

baseball writing must be judged.

Like each of its predecessors, this edition contains morn than

100 text pieces--articles, fiction, poetry, reminiscences and accounts

of games--with more than 35 photographs, cartoons and drawings.

The appeal of the Fireside books has always been in their eclectic

mix. Where else can you find a hint from Heioise about washing

baseball caps in the same company with a short story by Sergio

Ram|rez, vice president of Nicaragua? Here is "Motion to Dismiss:

Charlie O. vs. Bowie K." the litigation behind the Rudi/Fingers/Blue

sales in 1976, alongside profiles of Ozzie Smith, Enos Slaughter and

Denny McClain and a poem about wiffle ball.

The Fireside Book of Baseball, Fourth Edition reflects the time-

less nature of the sport itself and, in Charles Einstein s words, "the

love affair great writing has always had with baseball"