Books

Where They Ain't
By Burt Solomon, The Free Press, $25

This book takes its title from the oft-cited maxim "...hit 'em where they ain't" of Wee Willie Keeler a star among many on the famous National League Baltimore Orioles of a century ago. In this readable history Solomon shows that greed was as much a part of the game then as now.

This Copyrighted Broadcast
By Hank Greenwald, Woodford Press, $24.95

Wittily, the veteran sports announcer recalls a career that began at Syracuse University in the 1950s and ended as the San Francisco Giants play-by-play man in 1996. However, his most moving chapter is on his daughter, who was born with Down syndrome.

The 500 Home Run Club
By Bob Allen with Bill Gilbert, Sports Publishing Inc., $22.95

In this review of the careers of the 15 major leaguers who have hit 500 or more homers, the sluggers are listed alphabetically, which mean; that any way you look at them, Hank Aaron is batting leadoff. The authors reserve space in their lineup for Mark McGwire.

The Ripken Way
By Cal Ripken, Sr. with Larry Burke, Pocket Books, $22

The subtitle is A Manual for Baseball and Life, and in these pages the late father of the celebrated son expresses a refreshing philosophy. "Practice doesn't make perfect," Cal Sr. observes, "because you can practice bad habits and never get any better."

Baby Bull
By Orlando Cepeda with Herb Fagen
Taylor Publishing Company, $22.95

The new Hall of Famer recounts a life that is remarkable both inside and outside baseball for its dizzying ups and downs. From MVP to jailbird, Cepeda experienced it all, mostly with humor and good grace.