Abstract

A major league baseball monthly; interviews and player profiles, team profiles, feature articles, personal reminiscences, player comparisons; news notes, fielding records and game statistics for baseball fans.
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Reviews (5)

A fine monthly with lots to like!
Another oldie but goodie. I subscribed as a kid and wish I had my mid 1970's issues. A friend bought me a subscription several years ago, and I renew it each year. I'll save the ones I currently have and enjoy them a generation from now.

Since Baseball Digest is a monthly, it's not nearly as timely as, say, Sports Illustrated, and the articles are fairly light and breezy in nature. But contributing editors like John Kuenster always have something interesting to say, and the magazine excels at digging up somewhat obscure players from previous decades and updating them. A great example was the outstanding and somewhat controversial relief pitcher Mike Marshall--I read a truly excellent article in B. D. about Marshall a couple of months ago which rivaled, in my estimation, anything recently published by S.I. and The Sporting News.

There are "regulars" in the magazine, including "The Fans Speak Out" (letters to the editor), Baseball Quick Quiz, which is very challenging, and the crossword puzzle. There are charts, graphs and stats which always inform without being overbearing, and the black and white photos inside are usually good and the color cover is always excellent. Again, because it's a monthly, Baseball Digest isn't quite as timely as the aforementioned fine publications, but it's great for the devoted baseball fan who enjoys following his/her favorite sport year round--there's never a drop in quality during the off-season. Great for the youngest fan all the way to the oldest, and designed that way--you'll never have to worry about the content of what your son or daughter will read in the publication.

REAL Baseball magazine
If you want updates on last week's games -- read SI or USA Today. If you want slick writing and glossy photos, read SI. If you want to immerse yourself in the culture and history of the game, get this. It is the thinking person's baseball magazine, filled with bios of legends, new slants on stats and trends and interviews with today's stars.

A GREAT ASSET FOR BASEBALL FANS !
A great great asset for a real baseball fan. Very interesting reviews of the past, great games, players, statistics, interviews and such as things you really love it. I got the subscription and I recommended a lot because they're a serious company behind this marvelous magazine.
I enjoy a lot reading my BD magazine and you'll do !
Let's read it and say PLAY BALL !

The Perfect Gift For The Baseball Fan
If you have a friend, relative or other love who just adores baseball and wants to keep up with what's happening in the leagues, here is a great digest sized magazine to get. It's packed to the gills with nothing but pure baseball news and stats. What I like about baseball digest is that it often lists oddball stats, things like "batters who hit over 400 homeruns but also had a high percentage rate of strikeouts", and it keeps up with the more common stats like "All Time Hit's Leaders", "All ERA Leaders", etc. In other words, its a magazine that the majority of baseball fans will enjoy reading. I use to have a subscription and I may just take Amazon up on this offer. I love Baseball and I love this magazine. I use it to help me make decisions on who to invest in when it comes to baseball cards, and it has paid off tremendously!!! So not only can you enjoy keeping up with what's happening in America's Favorite Pastime, but you can find out which pitcher is averaging those 150 strikeouts a year, or who is averaging those 35 homers a year, and if you or someone you know collects baseball cards, you'll know who to buy ahead of time. Now if you do collect cards, please allow me to recommend Beckett Baseball Card Monthly, which, by the way, Amazon.com also has a cool subscription deal on.

For the true baseball enthusiast
This is a great magazine for the true baseball enthusiast -- those of us who don't drop baseball when the World Series has ended. Great photos, and lots of indepth coverage of all things baseball. Great magazine! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Once the best...seems to be going downhill
I consider myself one of the original subscribers to BA (I've been a subscriber for around 15 years). Like the other reviewer stated, it really is one of the best, if not the best, baseball magazines you can find. It offers great columnists, nearly unmatched in-depth coverage of prospects and the minor leagues, college, and high school baseball and often includes informative, entertaining feature articles.

That being said, during the past year or so, there's been a noticeable decline in quality of the editing/proof-reading of the magazine. There are often spelling and grammar mistakes now that would never have made it to press in the past. More disturbingly, there's been an incredible increase in the amount of advertisements - and they're placed all over the magazine now instead of towards the back of each issue. This normally wouldn't bother me so much, but the price of the subscription has continued to rise (by about thirty dollars over the past two years). More ads yet higher priced? Shouldn't it be the other way around?

In any event, this magazine is still the premier baseball magazine on the newsstands. I haven't decided if I'm going to re-new my subscription this coming year, though. We'll see if the quality declines any further. I'd recommend sampling a copy at your local newsstand/bookstore (if they carry it) to see if you're willing to pay such a high price for a bi-weekly magazine.

The baseball benchmark
I didn't refer to Baseball America as such. It was Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty who said it. And who am I to contradict? The best columnists in the game, from Peter Gammons, Tracy Ringolsby and Jayson Stark, to detailed information in ALL of baseball, from the Major Leagues to Japan, stats, scores, and the best and most extensive resource on prospect information, there's not a single serious fan in all of baseball who deserves such a title if is not a Baseball America subscriber. You got to read it if you want to know the stars of tomorrow (being tomorrow 6 years or 2 months). Top 10 prospects from every team till its massive Top 100 list, Baseball America covers it all. I know, I have been subscribed for 2 years now, and I can't think of living without it! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The baseball version of America's Sports Bible
Beginning in 1940 with the very first college football edition, Street & Smith's produced the first publications to offer a complete review of the previous season and comprehensive preview of the coming one. Always released well in advance of the start of each season, these annuals provide authoritative previews and predictions from some of the most respected sportswriters in the country. For decades when I only pick up one baseball annual it has been the one from Street & Smith's, which I think still deserves its reputation as "America's Sports Bible."

The main attraction here for fans are the statistics and schedules, profiles of teams and players, commentary and forecasts, plus the requisite fantasy tips required for today's fans. Yes, I know you can get stats on line but there is still something to be said for having a magazine in your hands while watching a baseball game on television. Along with the previews and predictions there are some nice color action shots of the stars of the game. As for those predictions, I understand that Street & Smith's was picked by the Stassen sports yearbook rating service for providing the most accurate predictions among annuals over the last decade.

Be aware that since this is an annual publication "Street & Smith's Baseball" comes up with 13 different covers (often with different posters) for various regions of the country: (1) New England: Johnny Damon, Red Sox; (2) East: Dual: Kazuo Matsui, Mets & Hideki Matsui, Yankees; (3) Atlantic: Pat Burrell, Phillies; (4) South: Rafael Furcal, Atlanta; (5) Florida: Josh Beckett & Marlins team celebrating; (6) Mideast: C.C. Sabathia, Indians; (7) Midwest: Mark Prior & Kerry Wood, Chicago Cubs; (8) Midlands: Angel Berroa, Royals; (9) Rockies: Todd Helton, Rockies; (10) Southwest: Luis Gonzalez, Diamondbacks: (11) Northern California: Eric Chavez, A's; (12) Southern California: Ramon Ortiz, Angels; (13) Far West: Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners. You can track down the one you want with a little effort. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The most professional and entertaining Minor League Magazine
At the yard is a magazine filled with insightful articles, knowledgeable writers and captivating photography. Finally there is a minor league baseball magazine that resembles that of a professional sports magazine such as "Sports Illustrated." I have enjoyed the first 7 issues and look forward to many more! ... Read more