The extent to which remarkable things can happen on a baseball field is virtually limitless. Bats break, balls carom wildly, personalities clash, and playing fields are invaded by uninvited guests. Mudville Madness is for baseball fans who seek something beyond the standard boxscores—something new or rarely encountered. This book is a jaunt into the realm of the extraordinary and (at times) outright bizarre. The most uncommon events in three centuries of baseball history are recounted here in glorious detail, beginning with the game’s earliest days when the rules were in their infancy, through the deadball years, right up to the 2013 season. The epic brawls, bizarre plays, and landmark achievements covered in this book will leave you shaking your head in disbelief.

"Weeks (Baseball’s Most Notorious Personalities) takes readers on a well-researched journey through the uncommon events, statistical anomalies, and urban legends that have sprouted up around the sport since the late 19th century. As his extensive list of references indicates, the author has scoured decades worth of box scores and baseball literature to compile stories of riots on the field, tragedies in the stands, and the quirkiest characters ever to grace the diamond. The book is organized chronologically, starting with anecdotes about the unsavory individuals who filled out the roster of the first professional league and progressing through tales about the game fans know and love today. Along the way, readers will discover little-known episodes involving baseball’s most famous players and also become acquainted with lesser-known figures who stand out for their funny, heartbreaking, or downright odd personalities. Weeks has an engaging, accessible style and a firm grasp of baseball vocabulary, which lends an authenticity to the text. VERDICT Appropriate for all ages; some anecdotes involve violence but they are neither graphic nor obscene. For baseball fans who enjoy learning about the sport’s history, this is a must." - Library Journal, Starred Review