Fantasyland: A Season on Baseball's Lunatic Fringe

Additional Fantasyland: A Season on Baseball's Lunatic Fringe Information

In 2004, Sam Walker, a sports columnist for The Wall Street Journal, decided to explore this phenomenon by talking his way into Tout Wars, a private league generally reserved for the nation’s top experts. Using his baseball contacts and access to locker rooms, Walker spent a year trying to dredge up information that might give him a competitive edge over his eccentric cast of competitors. But in his quest for victory he also endeavored to settle the great question that divides modern baseball thinkers: Can excellence be predicted by statistics alone or is the human element more important?

Together with his crack research team, Sig (a statistician) and Nando (a baseball savant), Walker finds himself possessed by the game and determined to win at any expense, spending weeks on the road interacting with his real Major League players and trying to "manage" them. We follow his descent into sleeplessness, panic, triumph (temporarily), treachery, and even consultations with an astrologer as he keeps his ever-blearier eyes on his elusive goal. The result is one of the most entertaining sports books in years and a matchless look into the heart and soul of our national pastime.

What Customers Say About Fantasyland: A Season on Baseball's Lunatic Fringe:

Walker's exploits into building an AL only fantasy team to go against some of the top Fantasy Owners in the world is a great read, especially if you are a big baseball fan like myself. I laughed out loud countless times.

Now, should I take the best available RB, or go for the top WR or QB from that spot. I have the 8th pick. And my fantasy football league is drafting today.

In 2004, he played in a high-level Rotisserie league with no prize money, spending an estimated $65,000 to finish. Although the one year I played a Rotisserie-style league I didn't like it, this book makes me want to try it again. Lunatic, just like the subtitle.

But not today, I have to go check the standings in my baseball points league. Hmmm. 8th.

He captures the insane feeling of team ownership with the added fillip of professional sports- writer access to "his" players.

His moments with the players themselves are excellent, and I walked away from this book with a few new favorite big leaguers, for many different reasons.I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who plays fantasy baseball or is just curious as to why those who play it are so fanatical about it. It makes for good reading, but to me, not as interesteing as if he would have went it alone or with advice from buddies. Sam Walker traces the origins of the game, profiles the super geeks who advise the rest of us, and gives insight into playing in the most competitive fantasy baseball league. The one downer, I think, is that Walker emptied his bank account to have a staff of two full timers, an actress/temptress and a psychic.

He accuratly descibes the sport, and intertwines the story of how Fantasy Baseball got its humble start. Sam Walker is the David McCullough of Fantasy Baseball. If you are an avid Fantasy Baseball fan, this is an absolute must read. This book is to Fantasy Baseball, what 1776 is to American History.

A fantastic read. This book will draw you in with its hilarious character studies, warm you with its emotional connection, and draw you into the depths of competition amongst friends. So.you think you're crazy about the lengths you will go to in managing your fantasy baseball or football team. Well, Sam Walker has some things to teach you about what he calls the "lunatic fringe" of fandom.