Legendary Lumber

The Top 100 Player Bats in Baseball History

by Joe Orlando

with Tom Zappala and Ellen Zappala
Contributions by John Molori
Foreword by Vince Malta & John Taube

What Critics Are Saying
"Beautifully and profusely illustrated from cover to cover, "Legendary Lumber: The Top 100 Player Bats in Baseball History" is a remarkably impressive compendium of detailed information that is extraordinarily well organized and presented. An absolute 'must read' for all dedicated baseball fans, "Legendary Lumber" is unreservedly and whole heartedly recommended."
- Midwest Book Review
☆☆☆☆☆
"Beautifully and profusely illustrated from cover to cover, "Legendary Lumber: The Top 100 Player Bats in Baseball History" is a remarkably impressive compendium of detailed information that is extraordinarily well organized and presented. An absolute 'must read' for all dedicated baseball fans, "Legendary Lumber" is unreservedly and whole heartedly recommended."
Midwest Book Review
- Midwest Book Review
"Legendary Lumber makes baseball come alive by honoring the actual tools that made these men into legends. Beyond the stories we all know, Legendary Lumber goes into incredible detail about the finer points of the collecting trade, unlocking entirely new levels of information about the players and the game we love."
- Chris Meiman, Curator, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
☆☆☆☆☆
"Legendary Lumber makes baseball come alive by honoring the actual tools that made these men into legends. Beyond the stories we all know, Legendary Lumber goes into incredible detail about the finer points of the collecting trade, unlocking entirely new levels of information about the players and the game we love."
Chris Meiman
- Chris Meiman, Curator, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
“Hitting a baseball is one of the most difficult tasks in sports. To accomplish that task, you need a bat that feels just right. The exact weight and length of the lumber and shape of the handle are so important to every hitter. The bat is almost like an extension of us. Legendary Lumber is filled with the stories behind the greatest hitters in the history of the game and the bats that helped make them famous. This book will help collectors and baseball fans alike appreciate this iconic piece of sports equipment more than ever before."
- Rico Petrocelli, Red Sox Hall of Famer and All-Star Shortstop
☆☆☆☆☆
“Hitting a baseball is one of the most difficult tasks in sports. To accomplish that task, you need a bat that feels just right. The exact weight and length of the lumber and shape of the handle are so important to every hitter. The bat is almost like an extension of us. Legendary Lumber is filled with the stories behind the greatest hitters in the history of the game and the bats that helped make them famous. This book will help collectors and baseball fans alike appreciate this iconic piece of sports equipment more than ever before."
Rico Petrocelli
- Rico Petrocelli, Red Sox Hall of Famer and All-Star Shortstop
“I love this book. It appeals not only to bat collectors, but to others that enjoy baseball and appreciate its rich history. While other bat books are primarily research tools, this is the first book to visually display the beauty of bats used by the best players of all time …while also providing useful information. Thanks for making this book a reality! ”
- Scott Foraker, owner of one of the most comprehensive and finest professional model bat collections in the world
☆☆☆☆☆
“I love this book. It appeals not only to bat collectors, but to others that enjoy baseball and appreciate its rich history. While other bat books are primarily research tools, this is the first book to visually display the beauty of bats used by the best players of all time …while also providing useful information. Thanks for making this book a reality!”
Scott Foraker
- Scott Foraker, owner of one of the most comprehensive and finest professional model bat collections in the world

Legendary Lumber Makes Baseball Come Alive

This beautiful full-color coffee table book showcases the most desirable professional model bats in the history of our National Pastime while detailing the story behind the professional and personal lives of the men who became famous for swinging the lumber.

Hitting a baseball is one of the most difficult feats in sports and the baseball bat is the instrument to accomplish this tough task. Whether it is a thin-handled weapon built for bat speed or a hefty war club crafted for durability, the bat is the baseball player’s most customized piece of equipment. For each player featured in the book, there is a narrative highlighting a significant offensive accomplishment along with the story about the bat itself. Readers learn about the interesting characteristics of each gamer along with specific player ordering habits, the distinct bat preparation and the relative scarcity of the gamers featured.

IPPY Award Winner, Gold Medal, 2018
Ben Franklin Award Winner, Silver Medal, 2018
SABR Ritter Award Nominee, 2018

Legendary Lumber Makes Baseball Come Alive

This beautiful full-color coffee table book showcases the most desirable professional model bats in the history of our National Pastime while detailing the story behind the professional and personal lives of the men who became famous for swinging the lumber.

Hitting a baseball is one of the most difficult feats in sports and the baseball bat is the instrument to accomplish this tough task. Whether it is a thin-handled weapon built for bat speed or a hefty war club crafted for durability, the bat is the baseball player’s most customized piece of equipment. For each player featured in the book, there is a narrative highlighting a significant offensive accomplishment along with the story about the bat itself. Readers learn about the interesting characteristics of each gamer along with specific player ordering habits, the distinct bat preparation and the relative scarcity of the gamers featured.

IPPY Award Winner, Gold Medal, 2018
Ben Franklin Award Winner, Silver Medal, 2018
SABR Ritter Award Nominee, 2018

A Peek Inside The Book

Selected by highly regarded experts using criteria including historical importance, rarity, popularity of the player and bat, visual appeal, market value and more, Legendary Lumber: The Top 100 Player Bats in Baseball History features the most sought-after bats in the hobby. The book also includes a brief history of the baseball bat, and tips about collecting professional model bats.
The players selected for this book represent a cross section of baseball history, from the early days to the present—Nap Lajoie, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and the ultra-popular stars of the post-1980 period such as Cal Ripken, Jr., and Derek Jeter.

From stick magicians like Keeler to Suzuki and all of the greats in between, there is something here for everyone. Enjoy your journey through Legendary Lumber: The Top 100 Player Bats in Baseball History.

A Peek Inside The Book

Selected by highly regarded experts using criteria including historical importance, rarity, popularity of the player and bat, visual appeal, market value and more, Legendary Lumber: The Top 100 Player Bats in Baseball History features the most sought-after bats in the hobby. The book also includes a brief history of the baseball bat, and tips about collecting professional model bats.
The players selected for this book represent a cross section of baseball history, from the early days to the present—Nap Lajoie, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and the ultra-popular stars of the post-1980 period such as Cal Ripken, Jr., and Derek Jeter.

From stick magicians like Keeler to Suzuki and all of the greats in between, there is something here for everyone. Enjoy your journey through Legendary Lumber: The Top 100 Player Bats in Baseball History.

Legendary Lumber

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Legendary Lumber

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