Ok folks, can someone school me on baseball. Are there any good books on the history of the sport, books on tactics or some good biographys?

I also need a team to follow and i'm open to suggestions as long as its not the Yankees or Red Sox.

The last 3 decades for the Pirates has been a bit shameful, so I can't recommend anyone becoming of fan of them now

We do have an amazing ballpark at least!

Follow the team with the identity crisis, The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Ditto for my team, the KC Royals.

what about my team

Montréal Expos :S

same with the padres. only the last decade has been a bit shameful.
petco park is beautiful though.

If you're looking for history, Ken Burn's Baseball was great. And he is actually working on an update that covers the current state of baseball due this fall I think. To me, the lure of baseball is the history of the game, as much as growing up playing it. Thats the worst thing about the steroids is that it totally screwed up the history and kind of erased an entire era. Here's to hoping everything gets back on track. Go Padres!

I can’t recommend any books on the history of the sport but I can recommend you follow one of the greatest teams to ever grace the diamond, the Dodgers. Wiki Kirk Gibson and his 1988 walk off homer in the World Series, and that should be enough of a reason alone. The dodgers have a great history that goes all the way back to Brooklyn. They had greats like Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Roy Campanella, Tommy Lasorda, and the best play by play broadcaster with Vin Scully. You haven’t experienced baseball until you’ve heard Scully call a Game. The Dodgers pioneered west coast baseball when they moved out west from Brooklyn 50 years ago. They have a great rivalry with the Giants; some might say the most intense next to the Yankees /Sox rivalry. Also, the Dodgers play in the National League where everyman that plays on the field has to bat, not like the lousy American League where they have a designated hitter for the pitcher. Some more reasons to root for the Dodgers: They had 4 consecutive rookies of the year in the 1990's; they have dominated the NL west the last few years and have made it to the NL pennant the last 2 years (only to lose to the Phillies both years). Another plus would be that if you ever vacation in California, you will be able to see them in LA at Dodgers stadium ( notice how the name of the stadium isnt some corprate logo) which is one of the nicest stadiums in baseball, or you can see them play in SF at another great stadium right on the bay when they play the Giants 3 to four series a year.

^^^
Growing up in the 80's...the Dodgers were just so much fun. I miss that team and that decade.

In terms of books check out Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. More of a behind the scenes book but interesting.

I'd just get in this and say the NY/SF Giants. I do feel ashamed we have not won a WS in SF yet (damn the A's and Angels), but we've got some heat coming this season.

I can't think of any good books on baseball, at least off the top of my head, but I can make some recommendations for teams to follow. This is like the opposite of Bill Simmons search for an English Premier League team to root forhttp://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060719_2, but I don't know enough about football to make any accurate comparisons. So without further delay, here's my top five suggestions:

Chicago White Sox A disclaimer up front; they are my favorite team. I've lived in the Chicago area my whole life and initially supported the Cubs until I was about 10. Then I switched my allegiance and I don't regret it one bit.
+ One of the least respected teams in the league (the second favorite in their own city), yet they have one championship in the last decade, something the Cubs haven't done since 1907. So they're good if you like supporting teams that are routinely dissed and dismissed. They also have a certain lovable (if you're a fan) assholish charm, primarily due to their catcher, manager, general manager and owner. That "charm" also can also be said to apply their fans.
-Most of the things I said under positives, depending on your outlook.

Chicago Cubs
+ Long history of being baseball's "lovable losers," although the team has made some moves towards being great in the last few years. A lovely historic stadium that has a total party atmosphere.
- They haven't won a title since 1907 and don't usually seem too serious about trying, despite occasional big trades and signings that seem more like an effort to keep things interesting. The fans can be unbearable.

Los Angeles Dodgers
+ A colorful history full of great moments and players. I think straightoutta..LOKASH made a great case for them, and I can't think of much more to contribute.
- Some baseball purists still haven't gotten over their move from Brooklyn to LA over 50 years ago. Seriously.

Atlanta Braves
+ One of the most remarkably consistent teams in the modern era of baseball, although they haven't won a World Series since 1995.
- The tinge of racism that some feel is attached to their name and the tomahawk chop celebration. Your mileage may vary. Personally, I don't think it's anywhere near as bad as the Cleveland Indians mascot, but still worth noting.

Detroit Tigers
+ History wise, they had two of the most incredible and completely opposite people to ever play the game (Ty Cobb and Hank Greenberg), which is a huge understatement. Just read the Wikipedia entries on both to see what I mean. They had the third worst record in baseball history in 2003, but have been on the rise since then.
- Have you ever seen Robocop? Yeah, Detroit really is kind of like that. It's not a fun place, but it's not the worst place in the world.

You could follow the Houston Astros but they will never win.

It is best to just suck it up. Learn to hate Steinbrenner and root for the Red Sox Nation!

Thanks for the book recs, consider me a Dodgers fan now...

You have two daughters and live in the UK.

I got back into baseball in the '90s and realized that I wasn't up to date on the rules and stats and all that, so I picked up "Baseball for Dummies" which was actually a really great refresher.

I won't recommend teams because my favorite hasn't been at their best for a long time.

Tessiiiiiiiie, "Nuf Ced" McGreevey shouted
We're not here to mess around
Bostoooooon, you know we looooooove you madly - Hear the crowd roar to your sound
Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Tessie, you are the only only only

You will have to follow your dreams then, boy

I know, I know. I get enough hassle for not following a premiership footy team (google my team Tranmere Rovers FC, we're shit) and for watching NFL and Hockey. I don't think i'll bother with basketball though...

I 2nd watching Ken Burns' Baseball. REALLY good history of the sport. He's also doing a new episode to cover the mid 90's to today, this fall.

I'm a Brewers fan.