REVIEWS:
–Christopher Lewis – “Dad of Divas” Blog Writer
“This is a great book that truly makes you think about baseball. He brings out some good questions about whether we will ever see another 300 game pitcher. This is a great question, and the way that the author brings out the question through some great introspection into 24 amazing pitchers. This book was a great book that went so deep into their careers. The book does more though than just looking into these pitchers’ careers, but instead makes the reader consider so much more. I found out so much more about the game than I knew in the past, and he brought up a ton of great points that any baseball lover should read! What do you think, will we ever see another 300 game pitcher?”
http://dadofdivas-reviews.blogspot.com/2012/06/book-review-300-club.html
–Team Baseballisms
“Dan highlights just how difficult it will be for future pitchers to reach the mark, while profiling the greatest the game has ever seen.”
–Larry Underwood “Author – St Louis Cardinals IQ – The Ultimate Test of True Fandom” (Scottsdale, AZ)
On June 13, 2003, I was fortunate enough to have the worst seat in the house (dead centerfield bleachers – Row UU) at Yankee Stadium, on a rainy night, when Roger Clemens dominated the St Louis Cardinals to notch his 300th career win. Just for kicks, he also fanned Edgar Renteria in that game to record career strikeout number 4000; quite a “daily double”, to say the least.
The remarkable story of Roger Clemens is only one of twenty-four compelling tales that Dan Schlossberg has compiled in this wonderful book, which asks the rhetorical question, “Have we seen the last of baseball’s 300-game winners?” Based on the way the game has changed (pitch counts, five man rotations, and the like), it seems as though the answer is, “Yes, we’ve seen the last of them; at least in most of our lifetimes.” No active pitcher under the age of 47 is even close to 300; it appears “200 is the new 300”. Winning 15 games in a single season is the “new 20”; and so it goes.
What Schlossberg has assembled is a fascinating historical perspective of those inhabiting the “300 Club”, including in-depth interviews with every one of the game’s living members – a remarkable feat on its own. What true fan of the game wouldn’t be captivated by the thoughts of the legendarily tight-lipped Steve Carlton, over twenty years since he last pitched in the major leagues? Just to sweeten the pot, we also get a glimpse of some of the great ones who fell short of 300; including guys like Bob Gibson who seemed destined to reach this milestone, but lost out due to a bum knee. Staying healthy for so long, isn’t as easy as it sounds; that’s for sure.
This book is filled with enough historical significance and entertaining folklore to make it a “must have” for anyone who loves the game of baseball, in all its glorious perfection; or imperfection. It seems those who reached this lofty goal shared a desire to take the ball as often as possible; pitching on successive days was no big deal to them. As the great Walter Johnson once said, “A pitcher is supposed to pitch, isn’t he?”
It’s not quite so simple these days, Walter. Therein lies the challenge of anyone ever joining this exclusive club, anytime soon.”
–notatechfan (North Carolina)
“I bought this book for my husband who is a huge die hard sports fan and he is enjoying reading it. If you are a baseball fan or know a baseball fan, it is a worthwhile purchase and would make a nice gift for someone who likes to read about sports.”
–Charlene Smith
“Let me begin by saying I know nothing about baseball, but love the feel of a game – the hotdogs, the music, the banter… I met the author, a really lovely man and bought one copy for me and one for a friend – and love the book, and yes, along the way I am learning a lot about baseball.”
DAN SCHLOSSBERG 