XMas gift for Ranger fan?

by ravscloC on Dec 22, 2008 3:18 AM CST Comment 44 comments

So my brother-in-law is a huge Ranger fan, and I want to get him something nice for Christmas. He already has Josh Hamilton's book, but I was wondering if there were any other good "Ranger" or baseball books in general.

He's not that big into reading, but if it's something Ranger-related he'd love it.

Searching online led me to a book called "The History of the Texas Rangers" by
Aaron Frisch. Has anyone read this, and would you recommend it? Not even sure I could find it in a metroplex Barnes & Nobles to be honest.

Finally, other gift recommendations are welcome too, but it needs to be something fairly cheap (no more than $30), and I need to be able to buy it in a store as online purchases won't arrive in time.

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Moneyball by Michael Lewis...

Not a Rangers book, but a great baseball book.

by cmkelly29 on Dec 22, 2008 8:26 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

+1

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

by knockoutking on Dec 22, 2008 9:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Moneyball Movie?

Brad Pitt to play Beane?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210166/

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Dec 22, 2008 12:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

http://www.newbergreport.com/buythebook.asp

by Jamey Newberg on Dec 22, 2008 8:28 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

(he offers, shamelessly)

by Jamey Newberg on Dec 22, 2008 8:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah my bad...

Probably should have brought up your book before I suggested Moneyball.

by cmkelly29 on Dec 22, 2008 8:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Seasons in Hell by Mike Shropshire

It’s about the Rangers from 1973-75. It’s hilarious. talks about Billy Martin, Whitey Herzog, David Clyde.

by texnykazrus on Dec 22, 2008 8:47 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I second this.

"You got a guy coming up there who can’t hit water if he fell out of a boat." - Tom Grieve on Richie Sexson, 5.8.2008
"I’ve been a Rangers fan all my life and I can tell you there’s been plenty of fucking crying in baseball…" - WhipSmart, 6.3.08
"When it comes to Jeff Mathis, the story ends with us putting one in his earhole." - AJM, 7.7.08

by lisa w on Dec 22, 2008 10:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm reading this right now.

it’s excellent.

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on Dec 22, 2008 11:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I've read it at least 4 times and...

…I enjoy it more and more. Great stories and I loved getting some “behind the scenes” info on some of my childhood heroes.

The press box and spring training adventures make the book worth the read but the Whitey Herzog and Billy Martin stuff is what you will always remember.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Dec 23, 2008 10:35 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

BOOOO

What happened to BenMor’s suggestion???

by rothe on Dec 22, 2008 8:48 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

AdaMor

didn’t find it appropriate I suppose.

"that suzuki guy should go back to making cars" - My girlfriend after C.J.'s close in game 2

by tdi1985 on Dec 22, 2008 9:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I sure hope that wasn't it...

because that’s what I bought Adam for Christmas.

"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."

by benmor78 on Dec 22, 2008 5:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

was it Ball Four?

Because that shit really was getting old

Mandatory reading before suggesting a trade

by ab03 on Dec 22, 2008 10:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

there were balls involved

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Dec 22, 2008 10:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"I Would Fight You, But People In My Status Don't Fight", a memoir by miles.

"Please. What the hell do you know about starting a sports-related website and then deciding to leave it to work on other things and then? How dare you, sir." -- Michael Schur, aka FireJoeMorgan's Ken Tremendous, to Will Leitch

by ghtd36 on Dec 22, 2008 9:13 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

a classic read

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Dec 22, 2008 12:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+ 1

"You shouldn't fuck around with windfalls"

LoneStarJon

by LAMuscleFag on Dec 22, 2008 3:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Forward

by Miley Cyrus

I'm Ed Werner, but with real secret sources...

by miles on Dec 22, 2008 11:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

get the authoratitive history of the rangers

the eric nadel book

veryvery good book

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

by knockoutking on Dec 22, 2008 9:15 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

but id get the newberg book first

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

by knockoutking on Dec 22, 2008 9:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Good book I have it

Miami bound...

by boomer1 on Dec 22, 2008 11:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

The book ends after the 1996 season, which is nice because it seems like the previous 20-something years were leading up to that moment and the “current” teams were destined for greatness…but then it’s kind of depressing to look back and see that all we got out of it was a 1-9 playoff record.

But definitely worth it…it’s big and shiny and has lots of pictures…good coffee table book.

P.S. the full name is “The Texas Rangers: The Authorized History” by Eric Nadel

by fightingengineer on Dec 22, 2008 12:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

thanks for the help!

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

by knockoutking on Dec 22, 2008 4:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Get him a bottle of liquor

Any true Ranger fan needs something to dull the pain of watching the worst pitching in the league.

Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.

by tricer on Dec 22, 2008 9:18 AM CST reply actions 4 recs

Rec'd.

by ghtd36 on Dec 22, 2008 9:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

some scotch would be nice.

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Dec 22, 2008 12:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

For a book in general

you can’t go wrong with anything by Bill James. Unless he has some kind of aversion to numbers.

"Evolution happened, now get over it." Michael Shermer

by rodcarew on Dec 22, 2008 9:40 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Nolan Ryan recommends

a Texas Rangers 10 pack. Derek Holland already bought his…

by Anonymous New Guy on Dec 22, 2008 10:00 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

and a case of advil

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Dec 22, 2008 12:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Only the ball was white

Very good read about the Negro League

Miami bound...

by boomer1 on Dec 22, 2008 12:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

If he can make it...

2 tickets to opening day would be a good idea too, though it is at 1pm on a Monday. You can’t buy them yet though, so you could just print a piece of paper saying you’ll get them when they’re available.

by fightingengineer on Dec 22, 2008 12:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs