We're in the Hall of Fame!

A month before the induction of six players for the Class of 2018, #DiamondsFromTheDugout was given the honor of leading off the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum's 2018 Authors Series schedule. This prestigious annual series showcases top baseball books, and "Diamonds" features more than 40 Hall of Famers among the 115 baseball legends in its pages.

Thank you so much to the entire Hall of Fame staff for your hospitality, as this national No. 1 bestseller is now officially in the museum! On June 6, I gave a 45-minute presentation in the 55-seat bullpen theater, using their state-of-the-art large screen and podium computer to show pictures, videos, quotes and facts related to the book's stars, then signed copies in the Library Atrium. Patrons can find signed copies throughout this summer in the Museum Bookstore.

This book came full circle with this event, held in the same wing of the hallowed institution where it all began during my coverage of the historic 2007 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend for MLB.com. I remember setting out that Monday to write a book about 3,000 random hits, and then Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson telling me that same year about the one hit that had meant the most in his life. Brooks provided the Foreword for this book. Buy it now

MLB Network Radio 12/16 & 12/23

It was a pleasure to spend the last three consecutive weekends talking DIAMONDS FROM THE DUGOUT and baseball on MLB Network Radio, and that included an unprecedented doubleheader of sorts over the last two Saturdays on the SiriusXM network's "Remember When" show. The first audio clip here is from my Dec. 16 appearance with legendary NYC broadcaster Ed Randall, who was without fellow host and career-long Red Sox legend Rico Petrocelli. (By the way, the segment immediately followed Alvin & The Chipmunks and their holiday hit, providing context to the introductory comments.) The second audio clip is an encore return so that I could ask Rico for his thoughts about Yaz's story in the book, from the 1967 AL pennant-clinching game. Listen to that one, and you'll even get bonus material not in the book, because Rico gave me his own No. 1 hit.

No. 1 Bestseller!

DIAMONDS FROM THE DUGOUT was listed today at No. 1 on the Barnes & Noble Top 100 bestseller list for Baseball, and it has moved up to #13 in Sports, passing Tom Brady & Shalene Flanagan. Thanks to everyone who is enjoying this new book from me and Blue River Press, with a Foreword and inspiration from the great Brooks Robinson. See the BN Sports Top 100.

Thanks to the Grandyman

I interviewed Curtis Granderson during the 2016 World Series in his hometown of Chicago, the morning after he received the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award for his humanitarian efforts, especially helping children. He was giving a tour of the new University of Illinois-Chicago sports facility that he made possible with an endowment. After that interview, I asked him what hit meant the most to him and why, and the result is on page 37 of DIAMONDS FROM THE DUGOUT. I hope you will enjoy Curtis' offering, complete with a powerful everyday life lesson. I extend my thanks to the Dodgers' left fielder, a 300-double, 300-homer club member and postseason regular, for the kind book recommendation that he posted on Twitter!

Thanks, Chipper!

Always nice to see my book next to Chipper Jones' BALLPLAYER book in the BN Sports section, and also nice to see him endorse DIAMONDS FROM THE DUGOUT to 1.2 million followers!

See the tweets here.

On TV: Beyond the Game

Thanks to John Vorperian for having me on for an episode of his respected and long-running TV/Internet show "Beyond the Game" in White Plains, N.Y. It was fun to talk baseball and DIAMONDS FROM THE DUGOUT in the studio. CLICK HERE TO WATCH.

The show originally aired on White Plains Community Media for Westchester County viewers on Nov. 3 and 4. If you want to see it there on TV, it will air again on Friday, Nov 24, at 9 p.m. ET, on Fios 45 and Altasce 76. Then it will air on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. ET.

Legends Love Diamonds

One of the great pleasures of publishing DIAMONDS FROM THE DUGOUT is being able to show one's appreciation to the legends who made all those days of our lives so special. Here are two examples of beloved Yankee legends joining in the fun: Don Mattingly and Bernie Williams. Flip to their pages to see which hits they chose as their own personal favorites!