Baseball: The Lives Behind the Seams

Allen looks at those people connected with the national pastime who do not appear in the lineups but help make the game successful. Some are former players, like Bill Rigney, Vada Pinson and Eddie Lopat, who have turned to managing or coaching, while others are batting-practice pitchers, umpires, public address announcers, scouts, groundskeepers. Allen ( After the Miracle ) does a commendable job of showing how each of his subjects makes a contribution, although the content is heavily weighted toward New York-area personnel. Most interesting is the chapter on American League public relations director Phyllis Merhige, one of the few female executives in the sport. (Mar.)