Fifteen years earlier, Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver’s 1984 book, “Weaver on Strategy,” documented the popularity and importance of the home run, which remains a primary source of offense in an increasingly data-driven game.
As the 2020 baseball season finally gets ready to resume after the coronavirus delay, Weaver’s book provides a refresher course on the preparation and intricacies of a baseball season — as well as an amusing chapter on umpiring and why arguing belongs only to the manager.
Many of Weaver’s themes in the 196-page book, co-authored with Cleveland sports columnist Terry Pluto, hold firm despite the game’s increasing reliance on specialization since Weaver’s second retirement after the 1986 season.