It was my honor having Marshall on the show. Fine. I guess we can both share the honors. Really, though ... It was a terrific book written by Marshall and we had a fun, expansive conversation discussing it. I'd love to hear what you think if you wind up listening.
It was an honor discussing my ‘85 World Series book with @byaaronfisch.bsky.social on the “On the NBA Beat” podcast! From my writing style to learning Missouri history to how a friggin’ video game saved the whole project, we cover it all. Listen and share!
Tony credits that experience in Tokyo with changing the trajectory of his career and life. And ever since retiring from playing, he's worked for the Swallows in scouting/consulting.
Here's former Yakult Swallows and Texas Rangers reliever Tony Barnette and me last month at Globe Life Field. Guys from our side of the Pacific, like Tony, who spent six seasons pitching in Japan, are some of the unhung heroes of the transpacific exchange that that exhibit documents and explores.
Anyone in Cooperstown? I'll be speaking with the terrific Bruce Markusen tomorrow at the @baseballhall as part of his 2025 author series. 1 p.m. in the Bullpen Theater. There will be a live stream on the HOF's FB page. Excited for the honor and to celebrate Ichiro and the new Yakyu exhibit too!
As our promo starts to wind down, I'm honored to have appeared on The Baseball Book Club podcast. This was recorded a handful of months ago, so I don't remember specifics, but it definitely was a good conversation: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...
Rob Fitts and the Asian Baseball Committee had Tony Barnette & me at #SABR 53. We loved presenting and will be doing something similar via Zoom this Thursday at 8 p.m. EDT as Rob kicks off the ABC's virtual series. Its free and open to all.
Please register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
My pleasure, and thank you for the kind words and the starter pack links. They're greatly appreciated, and I think you'll enjoy the book if you give it a chance. Happy Fourth of July!
Thanks so much for reading and for the kind words here and elsewhere. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Eric!
A Baseball Gaijin
Just finished reading "A Baseball Gaijin," by @byaaronfisch.bsky.social. The book tells the fascinating story of Tony Barnette, who played six seasons in Japan, then came back to the US pitched for the Texas Rangers. Great insights into Japanese baseball culture.
A great piece on Shin Soo Choi’s retirement.
Until 7, I’m here with former Rangers and Swallows pitcher Tony Barnette at the Grand Slam Team Store here in Arlington. Come say hello! The stadium is so nice. Also, where should I eat after? The options seem endless.
Within the hour here at SABR 53 in Dallas, Steve Steinberg and Lyle Spatz will be accepting this year's Larry Ritter Award for their great Deadball Era book. Congrats to them! I recently interviewed Steve about "Mike Donlin" here www.onthenbabeat.com/2025/06/its-...
We're excited and grateful that the book has been critically acclaimed, but we need all the help we can get spreading the word & boosting sales; it's an admittedly niche subject. It's back down to its cheapest price on Amazon at $22.10 (reg. retail price: $32.99). www.amazon.com/Baseball-Gai...
It was an honor to write for @texas-rangers.bsky.social Magazine's June edition, exploring pitchers Tony Barnette & Chris Martin's parallel journeys that changed everything for them. It's called "Chasing a Dream - From Japan to the Majors" (pp. 40-44): www.digitalpublications-mlb.com/157005/15724...
“Trump is using military forces to stop a protest — I want y'all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us.”
Doechii at the #BETAwards
The TB part starts around the 16:15 mark. Enjoy! Oh, and Rangers fans, Tony and I will be coming to Globe Life Field in a little more than three weeks on Friday, the 27th, when the Rangers host the Mariners. Later that weekend, Elvis Andrus is getting inducted into the team Hall of Fame.
Watching this Texas Rangers podcast interview made my heart swell with pride and gratitude. In it, Tony Barnette discusses w/ Jeff Wilson and John Rhatigan his transformational (stranger-than-fiction too) journey and what having it documented in a book means to him. www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-MZ...
I'm very excited to discuss "A Baseball Gaijin," which follows the inspiring journey of American Tony Barnette, who leaves for Tokyo in continuing pursuit of his lifelong dream to pitch in the majors. But NPB/Japan becomes much more than a means to an end, transforming his life on and off the field.
This is pretty cool. Yesterday Rob Fitts alerted me to his and Yoichi Nagata's discovery that record of baseball being played in Japan now dates back to about a year and a half earlier than previously known, in Kobe in July 1869. Rob's post on the finding: www.robfitts.com/post/newly-i...
My pleasure
Hey Dan. Unfortunately I missed your post on this and otherwise would have shared it. Thanks for the shout-out. Would you like a complimentary copy? I'd be happy to get you one if you don't have it and are interested.
That is my favorite baseball book of the many from 2024 that i read. Highly recommend.
Thanks so much, Elena. Hearing that is really soul-nourishing. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Would you be interested in writing a review on Amazon or Goodreads? I'm sure others would love to hear your thoughts on it.
For now at least - I'm not sure how much longer - Amazon has my book available for 33% off ($22.10). It's the lowest I've seen it anywhere. If you purchase a copy or more for yourself and/or others, I'll match your books with signed ABG bookmarks. Just let me know www.amazon.com/Baseball-Gai...
Appearing on @baseballandbbq.bsky.social was such a joy. Here's the episode for which the guys had me on to discuss "A Baseball Gaijin." Talking to them was just like to talking to old friends. bleav.com/shows/baseba...
Check out my latest interviews. This is a side thing I do for fun, but I've been prolific, reading all these books (not that I want a medal for reading great stuff) and interviewing the authors on them. I'd love for you to listen to some: www.onthenbabeat.com/interview-ce...
Historian and baseball nerd Kevin Baker wrote a tremendous book, "The New York Game: Baseball and the Rise of a New City," so I interviewed him about it. In my biased (but completely accurate) opinion, it produced a fascinating and educational conversation: www.onthenbabeat.com/2025/04/the-...
Thank you for the thoughtful review, @tomhoffarth.bsky.social, just in time for this Japanese baseball day. I appreciate it! fartheroffthewall.com/2025/03/17/d...
I loved every word of @keithob.bsky.social's "Charlie Hustle." Should I have left 40% of it to the final 2 days before the interview? No. Did it add to the drama? Certainly. My lack of professionalism aside, it's an incredible book & an interesting conversation www.onthenbabeat.com/2025/03/char...
