At The Letters
Mini-Merc
38 Fountain Square Plaza
The Mercantile Library has temporarily relocated its staff and some books to the Mini Merc in the Fifth Third Center on Fountain Square. Books are available for check-out, and discussion groups and literary events are currently being held in other locations.
The Mini-Merc is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you’ve read all the stats, broken in your glove, and have your lucky shirt ready to go, the only other thing left to do for Opening Day is delve into a little baseball lore and history.
In the past, we checked in with our friends at the Mercantile Library to recommend a few books to perfect for baseball season. We asked Hillary Copsey, book advisor and baseball fan, for an update. She offers a selection of books you’ll enjoy, no matter what the hometown nine is doing on the field.
Why We Love Baseball and The Baseball 100
Joe Posnanski
These are great books to leave out on your coffee table during baseball season and read a snippet or two during commercial breaks or peruse on the Reds' off days to get your baseball fix.
Redleg Journal
Greg Rhodes, et al
Everything you need to know about the Cincinnati Reds since 1866.
Cincinnati’s 150-year Opening Day History
Randy Freking
As the subtitle says,
“The hoopla started with a parade.” Cincinnati’s relationship to baseball is special, and this history of our Opening Day celebrations shows that.
Shoeless Joe
WP Kinsella
This is the book on which Field of Dreams is based. We can’t honestly say the book is better, but it is worth a read, too. Nobody captures the magic of baseball better than Kinsella.
We Are The Ship
Kadir Nelson
This is a children’s book about the Negro Leagues that we think everyone should read. The pictures are gorgeous and the story of these athletes who overcame hatred, segregation, and low pay to play the game they loved is inspiring.
MVP Machine
Ben Lindbergh and Travis Sawchik
If you liked Moneyball by Michael Lewis, we recommend this as a follow-up. In a clear, engaging narrative, it looks at how the science of training optimizes players, and what that means for the game.
The Cactus League
Emily Nemens
This novel follows a variety of people through Spring Training. If you’re a baseball fan who enjoys people-watching as much as the game, this book is for you.
The Art of Fielding
Chad Harbach
We love this classic baseball-as-metaphor-for-life story. It’s equal parts touching and funny.
Evvie Drake Starts Over
Linda Holmes
Baseball and lobster and small town Maine. Holmes is an NPR pop culture critic who loves romcoms, and this is an homage to the ones she loves best.