Official Major League Baseball Fact Book, 2004 Edition

Produced by The Sporting News, The Official Major League Baseball Fact Book is a treasure trove for baseball fans. Compiling a rather stunning amount of information, it provides a detailed review of the most recent season, a preview of the current season, profiles of current and former baseball stars, a season-by-season review from 1876 to the present, and a section on all-time leaders in various statistical categories. As an example of the book's comprehensiveness, on the page about the Detroit Tigers you'll find the team roster; the season schedule; lists of coaches, scouts, trainers, and physicians; the field dimensions of Comerica Park; ticket information; the director of merchandising, for crying out loud--and a lot more. There's also a complete list of recent transactions, an exhaustive catalog of Hall of Famers, franchise histories, and box scores from memorial games (one of the best parts of the book). Great stuff, and it includes lots of photos. --Andy Boynton