Cracking the Show

A collection of baseball essays by Washington Post sportswriter Boswell ( The Heart of the Order ) is a major event for diamond fans. He has an abiding affection for the game and most of those involved in it and is optimistic about its future. A Baltimore Orioles devotee, Boswell is a great admirer of Cal Ripken Jr. and has fallen in love with the new field at Camden Yards, but he does not stint in his praise for opposing teams. He is enthusiastic about Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr. and Juan Gonzalez, manager Whitey Herzog and commissioners Bart Giamatti and Fay Vincent. He was devastated when Pete Rose was banished from baseball for life in 1989 for gambling and seems to hope that the all-time hit leader will be elected to the Hall of Fame. Boswell is no Pollyanna, however: he is critical of White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Dodger owner Peter O'Malley and views George Steinbrenner as a man with a serious psychological problem. This is an anthology of excellently written and humane selections. (May)