Bjarkman and Rucker's landmark volume Smoke has made a large impact on the island of Cuba
"A writer is a person for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people."—Thomas Mann
A HISTORY OF CUBAN BASEBALL, 1864-2006 (McFarland, 2007)
The seminal and most comprehensive history of Cuban baseball, from its origins on the island in 1864 through the 45 seasons of "amateur league" competitions and national team triumphs following the 1959 communist revolution. Details on every pre- and post-revolution Cuban season and records of all international appearances by Cuban national teams. Touted by
Library Journal (February 1, 2007) as "the definitive work" on Cuban baseball and featured on Havana's RADIO COCO Cuban League website. Recipient of the 2007
Robert Peterson Recognition Award from the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Negro Leagues Committee.
BASEBALL'S OTHER BIG RED MACHINE: A History of the Cuban National Team (McFarland, in press)
This ground-breaking present volume, penned by Cuban baseball's foremost historian, is the first to chronicle the complete story of baseball's most winning all-time "franchise." Bjarkman unfolds in colorful detail a remarkable half-century success run unparalleled at any level of professional or amateur baseball competition. Ever since Fidel castro seized political power on the baseball-crazy island of Cuba—and in the process outlawed all professional sports—the thrust of the small nation's "national pastime" has been focussed squarely on beating the rival American "Yankees" (i.e. the USA national amateur and professional teams) at their own game during prestigious international competitions. Baseball—in the guise of the showcase national team—has, in fact, become Cuba's greatest single propoganda weapon in an ongoing ideological struggle with "the great imperialist demon" to the north.
WHO'S WHO IN CUBAN BASEBALL, 1962-2007 (McFarland, to appear)
Bjarkman's meticulously biographical encyclopedia is the first of its kind (in English or Spanish) devoted to Cuban ballplayers who have performed in the post-revolution Cuban "amateur" league (1962-2007) and on Cuban national teams dominating international tournaments for the past 45 years (including Olympic Games, World Cup tournaments, Intercontinental Cup and Pan American Games competitions). All major stars and important lesser figures of the Cuban National Series and Selective Series (recently renamed the Super League) are included, as well as every member of all senior-level Cuban national teams of the past five decades. Player profiles are accompanied by career statistics (for all players) and numerous photos (for about one-third of the entries). Important non-playing figures like managers, coaches, league officials (including Fidel Castro) and even broadcasters are also covered.
DIAMONDS AROUND THE GLOBE: The Encyclopedia of International Baseball (Greenwood Press, 2005)
The first comprehensive encyclopedia of baseball as a world sport, with detailed histories of the game in all baseball-playing countries and coverage of all major international tournaments (Olympics, World Cup, Intercontinental Cup, Pan American Games, etc.). The first and still the only volume of its type to chronicle the international version of Cuba's and North America's avowed "national pastime." Winner of
The Sporting News-SABR Baseball Research Award (2004) and Finalist for CASEY Award (2005).
SMOKE—The Romance and Lore of Cuban Baseball (with Mark Rucker) (Total Sports Illustrated, 1999)
An award-winning coffee table pictorial revealing the history of Cuban baseball with both rare vintage photographs and informative historical text. This book has become a valued collectible on the island of Cuba, especially among an older generation of baseball
aficionados. A finalist for CASEY Award and SABR-Seymour Medal (Best Baseball Book of the Year).
BASEBALL WITH A LATIN BEAT: A History of the Latin American Game (McFarland & Company, 1994)
The first comprehensive history of baseball in Latin America and Latinos in the major leagues, with detailed accounts of baseball in each of the major Caribbean Rim ballplaying countries. A ground-breaking book in the early 1990s and also the basis for Bjarkman's later scholarship on Latin American and Cuban League baseball. Winner of the
Macmillan-SABR Baseball Research Award (1994).
THE BASEBALL SCRAPBOOK—The Men and Magic of America's National Pastime (JG Press, 2008, 2004) (Barnes & Noble, 2000) (Dorset Press, 1995, 1991)
A coffeetable-style pictorial celebration of the powerful grip that America's game has on its millions of fans, and an attempt to recreate our baseball history as it lives in the collective readers' memory and imagination.
NEW YORK METS ENCYCLOPEDIA (Sports Publishing, 2003, 2001)
Comprehensive history of one of baseball's most beloved franchises, including numerous photos and statistical summaries as well as a rich and detailed narrative text (with the book's second Edition updated through 2002 season).
THE BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF BASKETBALL: More than 500 Portraits of the Most Significant On- and Off-Court Personalities of the Game's Past and Present (NTC Contemporary / Masters Press, 2000)
Detailed portraits of numerous important figures from basketball's professional and collegiate history, plus debated-sparking chapters on the game's all-time greats and concise overview histories of NBA and NCAA play.
ROBERTO CLEMENTE: Baseball Legend (Chelsea House, 1991)
Award-winning biography for young adult readers and one of four Bjarkman titles in the Chelsea House Baseball Legends Series (which also include Duke Snider, Ernie Banks and Warren Spahn).
Bjarkman with Cuban author Alfredo Santana in Matanzas, Cuba (May 2007)
Major Books by Author Peter C. Bjarkman
*Fortcoming in 2010 and 2011 (in preparation)
Cuba Today (tentative title). Jefferson, North Carolina and London: McFarland & Company, 2011 (in preparation) (Bjarkman's portrait on contemporary Cuba based on the author's dozen years of extensive travel on the communist island)
*Baseball's Other Big Red Machine: A History of the Cuban National Team. Jefferson, North Carolina and London: McFarland & Company, 2010. [350 pp.] (in press, Summer 2009)
*Who's Who in Cuban Baseball, 1962-2007. Jefferson, North Carolina and London: McFarland & Company, 2011. [450 pp.] (in preparation, Summer 2009)
The Baseball Scrapbook—The Mean and Magic of America's National Pastime. Revised Fifth Edition. New York: JG Press (World Publications), 2008. 320pp. ISBN 0-88029-588-0
A History of Cuban Baseball, 1864-2006. Jefferson, North Carolina and London: McFarland & Company, 2007. 490 pp. ISBN 0-7864-2829-5
Diamonds around the Globe: The Encyclopedia of International Baseball. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005. 626pp. ISBN 0-313-32268-6
The Baseball Scrapbook—The Men and Magic of America's National Pastime. Revised Fourth Edition. New York: JG Press (World Publications), 2004. 320pp. ISBN 0-88029-588-0
New York Mets Encyclopedia. Champaign, Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC, 2003. 320pp. (Revised Second Edition) ISBN 1-58261-035-5
Boston Celtics Encyclopedia. Paperback Revised Edition. Champaign, Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC, 2002. 246pp. ISBN 1-58261-062-2
New York Mets Encyclopedia. Champaign, Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC, 2001. 320pp. (Paperback, March 2002) ISBN 1-58261-035-5
The Biographical History of Basketball: More Than 500 Portraits of the Most Significant On- and Off-Court Personalities of the Game's Past and Present. Chicago: Masters Press (NTC Contemporary Books), 2000. 590pp. ISBN 1-57028-134-3
The Baseball Scrapbook—The Men and Magic of America's National Pastime. Revised Third Edition. New York: Barnes & Noble Publishers, 2000. 320pp. ISBN 0-88029-588-0
Smoke—The Romance and Lore of Cuban Baseball (with Mark Rucker). Foreword by Hank Aaron. New York: Total Sports Illustrated, 1999. 259pp. ISBN 1-892129-07-8
Boston Celtics Encyclopedia. First Edition. Champaign, Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC, 1999. 246pp. ISBN 1-58261-062-2
Reggie Miller, Star Guard. Springfield, New Jersey: Enslow Publishers, 1999. 104pp. Sports Reports Series. ISBN 0-7660-1082-1
Hoopla: A Century of College Basketball. Paperback Edition. Chicago: Masters Press (NTC Contemporary Books), 1998. 364pp. ISBN 1-57028-216-1
Hoopla: A Century of College Basketball, 1896-1996. Indianapolis, IN: Masters Press (Howard W. Sams), 1996. 364pp. ISBN 1-57028-039-8
ACC—Atlantic Coast Conference Basketball. Indianapolis: Masters Press (Howard W. Sams and Bell Atlantic Media), 1996. 265pp. ISBN 1-57028-038-X
Sports Great Dominique Wilkins. Springfield, New Jersey: Enslow Publishers, 1996. 64pp. Sports Great Series. ISBN 0-89490-754-9
Sports Great Scottie Pippen. Springfield, New Jersey: Enslow Publishers, 1996. 64pp. Sports Great Series. ISBN 0-89490-755-7
Warren Spahn. “Introduction” by Jim Murray. Philadelphia and London: Chelsea House Publishers (Baseball Legends Series), 1995. 64pp. ISBN 0-7910-1191-7
Top 10 Basketball Slam Dunkers. Springfield, New Jersey: Enslow Publishers, 1995. 48pp. Top 10 Sports Series. ISBN 0-89490-608-9
Top 10 Baseball Base Stealers. Springfield, New Jersey: Enslow Publishers, 1995. 48pp. Top 10 Sports Series. ISBN 0-89490-609-7
Big Ten Basketball. Indianapolis: Masters Press (Howard W. Sams), 1995. 236pp. (Second Printing, February 1995) ISBN 1-57028-003-7
The Baseball Scrapbook—The Men and Magic of America's National Pastime. Revised Edition. New York: Barnes & Noble Publishers, 1995. 320pp. (Reprint Edition, 1996) ISBN 0-88029-588-0
(Polish Edition) Mistrzowie Slam Dunk ("Slam Dunk Superstars"). Krakow, Poland: Wydawnictwo Ryszard Kluszczynski, Limited, 1995. 80pp. (Polish translation by Monika Dawidowicz) ISBN 83-86328-48-7
Baseball with a Latin Beat: A History of the Latin American Game. Jefferson, NC and London: McFarland & Company, 1994. 460pp. ISBN 0-89950-973-8
(Japanese Edition) Baseball & the Game of Life: Stories for the Thinking Fan (Editor). Tokyo: Shinjuku Shobo Limited, 1994. 297pp. (Anonymous translation) ISBN 4-88008-199-X C0097
Ernie Banks. “Introduction” by Jim Murray. Philadelphia and London: Chelsea House Publishers (Baseball Legends Series), 1994. 64pp. ISBN 0-7910-1167-4
Duke Snider. “Introduction” by Jim Murray. Philadelphia and London: Chelsea House Publishers (Baseball Legends Series), 1994. 64pp. ISBN 0-7910-1190-9
Slam Dunk Superstars. New York/Avenel, New Jersey: Crescent Books (Random House Value Publishing), 1994. 80pp. ISBN 0-517-12035-6
Shaq: The Making of a Legend. New York: Smithmark (W.H. Smith and Brompton-Bison Books), 1994. 64pp. ISBN 0-8317-7983-7
The Encyclopedia of Pro Basketball Team Histories. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 1994. 533pp. ISBN 0-7867-0126-9
(French Edition) Historie de la NBA ("The History of the NBA"). London and Paris: PML Editions, 1994. 176pp. (French translation by Sandra Goldstein and Béatrice Comte) ISBN 2-87628-614-9
Baseball & the Game of Ideas: Essays for the Serious Fan (Editor). Delhi, New York: Birch Brook Press (Letterpress Edition), 1993. 211pp. ISBN 0-913559-19-9
Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball: Team Histories—The National League (Editor). Revised Edition. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 1993. 584pp. ISBN 0-88184-975-8
Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball: Team Histories—The American League (Editor). Revised Edition. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 1993. 575pp. ISBN 0-88184-974-X
The Brooklyn Dodgers. New York and Secaucus, New Jersey: Brompton-Bison Books and Book Sales Publishers (Chartwell Books), 1992. 80pp. ISBN 1-55521-761-3
The History of the NBA. New York and Avenel, New Jersey: Crescent Books (Random House Books), 1992. 176pp. ISBN 0-517-06949-0
The Inter-National Pastime: A Review of Baseball History 12 (An Olympic-Year Appreciation of Baseball around the Globe) (Editor). Cleveland: Society for American Baseball Research, 1992. 96pp. ISBN 0-910137-48-X
The Baseball Scrapbook—The Men and Magic of America's National Pastime. New York, NY: Dorset Press (Barnes & Noble), 1991. 320pp. (Reprinting, October 1992) ISBN 0-88029-588-0
Roberto Clemente. “Introduction” by Jim Murray. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers (Baseball Legends Series), 1991. 64pp. ISBN 0-7910-1171-2
Baseball & the Game of Life: Stories for the Thinking Fan (Editor). New York, NY: Vintage Books (Random House), 1991. 212pp. ISBN 0-679-73141-5
Baseball's Great Dynasties: The Reds. New York: Gallery Books (Brompton-Bison Books and W.H. Smith Publishers), 1991. 80pp. ISBN 0-8317-0626-0
Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball Team Histories: The National League (Editor). Westport, CT: Meckler Books, 1991. 548pp. ISBN 0-88736-374-1
Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball Team Histories: The American League (Editor). Westport, CT: Meckler Books, 1991. 575pp. ISBN 0-88736-373-3
Baseball & the Game of Life: Stories for the Thinking Fan (Editor). Delhi and Otisville, New York: Birch Brook Press (Letterpress Limited Edition), 1990. 212pp. ISBN 0-679-73141-5
Baseball's Great Dynasties: The Dodgers. New York: Gallery Books (W.H. Smith Publishers and Brompton-Bison Books), 1990. 80pp. ISBN 0-8317-0655-4
The Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto, Canada: B. Mitchell Publishers (Brompton-Bison Books and W.H. Smith Publishers), 1990. 80pp. ISBN 0-8317-0659-7
The Toronto Blue Jays. New York, NY: Gallery Books Company (Brompton-Bison Books and W.H. Smith Publishers), 1990. 80pp. ISBN 0-8317-0659-7
