I have the cure: The Blokes of Summer, by Harvey Sahker (published back in April, and available in print or as a PDF download).

The ailment is baseball withdrawal symptoms. For those members of the British baseball community with no great interest in MLB, the symptoms have probably already kicked in. While for the majority who do follow the Big Leagues, the inevitable is just round the corner.

This is not going to be a formal book review, but instead a casual feature. My guess is that Matt Smith will enjoy this book, and he may well wish to apply his far superior reviewing expertise to it. Additionally, his impartial standpoint will be of benefit. If I wrote positive things about the book in a review,  it would too easy for readers to dismiss it as me repaying a favour. Harvey has done some great things for the Croydon Pirates, my former club, including publishing their 30th Anniversary Yearbook, bringing in baseball gear from his native Canada for the team on many occasions, and being a loyal and skilled servant on the diamond. He has also benefited me by supplying numerous pieces of help to Project COBB.

The truth is that the book is, in its own right, fully deserving of any praise I would have bestowed in a formal review, and am about to give in this casual feature. In my view, it makes a formidable addition to the small but growing library of books on British baseball. Continue reading →