Geekweek

“The Baseball Codes,” co-written by a Paly alumnus, details the unwritten rules of America’s favorite pastime in an entertaining, storylike manner.

In many ways, baseball relates to everyday life. Unknown players can become heroes overnight. Honestly, who outside of Oakland had heard of Dallas Braden before he threw his perfect game? Everyone has a specific job that must be done well in order for the entire team to work and it takes dedication and passion to become one of the best.

In real life, there are a series of unwritten rules that govern how we live day-to-day. Think about etiquette for example; people are rarely actually taught manners in class, but rather learn them through observation and trial and error.

In yet another parallel to baseball, the game known as America’s favorite pastime also has a set of these unwritten rules that govern everything from running the bases to how announcers call the game.

Unfortunately, no book exists to educate the masses about all of the unwritten rules of life.

Luckily for baseball fans, however, there exists “The Baseball Codes - Beanballs, Sign Stealing & Bench-Clearing Brawls: The unwritten rules of America’s pastime,” which provides baseball fans with a thorough understanding of the little details of the baseball game often go unnoticed.

Written by Jason Turbow (a Palo Alto High School graduate and former member of The Campanile) and Michael Duca, “The Baseball Codes” provides readers with a memorable reading experience by letting the masses in on the secrets of baseball.

While this in itself would be reason enough to read the book, the manner in which Turbow relates the stories is witty and hilarious.

The most impressive aspect is the amount of research that must have gone into the making of the book.

Each chapter of the book deals with a different aspect of baseball. The opening chapter, for example, deals only with parts of the code that regulates behavior on the playing field.

All of the chapters have their own unique and crazy anecdotes. It is difficult to pick one that stands out from the rest because each is well-written.

The book has a definite focus on the Bay Area, which makes it more enjoyable for baseball fans of the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics. Familiar names like Mike Krukow, who is currently the announcer for Giant games on Comcast Sports Net Bay Area, add a regional flavor that makes the book easily appreciated by Bay Area residents.

Critical to the success of any book is the tone of the author and it’s clear that Turbow is humorous and this is clearly conveyed through the comedic style in his writing.

Reading the book feels more like listening to a story rather than reading it. Frankly, it suits the book perfectly. Baseball thrives on being passed down from generation to generation, and “The Baseball Codes” seems as if Turbow is sitting in a rocking chair and teaching the wisdom to his grandchildren.

For a baseball book, no greater tone could be achieved. Readers are left wanting more from Turbow, even though he has covered every topic and subject imaginable relating to the sport.

Ultimately, this is a must-read for all baseball fans. Most people who have already played or followed the game should know a few of the more oblivious rules in this novel.

However, Turbow also explores the subtle rules, such as how to slide into bases properly and the rules for joining a bench clearing brawl. These provide enough intrigue to be worth reading, even for those who are already very knowledgeable and are life-long fans of the game.

For readers who do not follow baseball, Turbow can make one care about a sport that may not seem initially appealing. The depth and wit of his book makes it fun enough for anyone to read.

Chances are, after reading “The Baseball Codes”, one would be able to “talk baseball” with the best of them.