Batter up

The start of spring means the return of baseball. If you can’t get enough of America’s pastime, come to the Goshen Public Library and Historical Society and learn more about the game, its history and its players.

The library has an array of books on various aspects of the history of baseball. For example:

“K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches” by Tyler Kepner.

“The New York Game: Baseball and the Rise of a New City” by Kevin Baker.

“Baseball in the Garden of Eden: the Secret History of the Early Game” by John Thorn.

“Why We Love Baseball: A History in 50 Moments” by Joe Posnanski.

“Shades of Glory: The Negro Leagues and The Story of African-American Baseball” by Lawrence D. Hogan.

The library also has biographies on some famous baseball players throughout history. Some standout titles include “Mookie: Life, Baseball, and the ‘86 Mets” by Mookie Wilson and Erik Sherman and “My Dad, Yogi: A Memoir of Family and Baseball” by Dale Berra and Mark Ribowsky. Conversely, if you’re more interested in lesser-known players, you could check out “Where Nobody Knows Your Name: Life in the Minor Leagues of Baseball” by John Feinstein.

You also may want to explore the book “Game Faces: Early Baseball Cards from the Library of Congress” by Peter Devereaux which has a preface by baseball fan and Librarian of Congress in Carla D. Hayden.

If you’re more interested in a compelling story than learning about actual facts, the library also has a selection of novels that revolve around baseball. They include:

“Calico Joe” by John Grisham.

“In A League of Her Own” by Kaia Alderson.

“The Art of Fielding” by Chad Harbach.

“The All American” by Susie Finkbeiner.

“Home and Away” by Rochelle Alers.

And if you are looking for some baseball romance stories, check out “Evvie Drake Starts Over” by Linda Holmes, or come to the Romance Book Club on April 21 at 6 p.m. and discuss “You Should Be So Lucky” by Cat Sebastian.

But baseball in the library isn’t limited to just books. The library also has movies about baseball on DVD including “The Rookie,” “Moneyball,” “Million-Dollar Arm,” “Angels in the Outfield,” “The Hill,” “42” as well as the Ken Burns documentary, “Baseball.”

Finally, why not play a video game about the real game?

The library has “MLB The Show” 14, 15 and 18 for the PlayStation 4. Or if you’re looking for a more retro experience, the library also has “Major League Baseball 2K9” for the Wii.

If you want to find these, or any other items related to baseball, stop at the Reference Desk (next to the Circulation Desk). Or call (845) 294-6606.