Another vote for a book that accurately predicts what the greatest baseball players from around the world would have hit if they had had a chance to play in the major leagues. How accurate is the prediction? Well, at least one of these baseball legends is still active. Ichiro, the Seattle Mariner's Japanese sensation, was predicted to hit .335, with 31 doubles, 10 triples, and 8 home runs. His actual numbers for his first 550 at-bats, were .342, 31-8-6. That's uncanny predicting. So, if you would like to know what Josh Gibson, Shigeo Nagashima, or Cristobal Torriente would have hit in the major leagues, and how many home runs they would have hit, this book will tell you. Outstanding.

This book is a landmark. It is the first book that discusses the greatest baseball players who never played in the major leagues. They played out their careers in the Negro Leagues, and in many other leagues around the world. One of the most intriguing things about the book is the statistical analysis that allows the reader to see how a player from Japan or Cuba might perform in the major leagues. The book predicted, more than one year ago, how Ichiro would do in the major leagues - and its right on the money! It also predicts how the other great professional baseball players around the world would have performed in the major leagues had they had the opportunity, players like Francisco Coimbre, Sadaharu Oh, Martin Dihigo, Josh Gibson, and dozens more. It's a fascinating educational experience, one that will surprise and shock you. If you want to become a true baseball expert, you have to read this book.

I have been a big Dodger fan for more than twenty years, and I loved this book. It allowed me to relive all the memorable events in Dodger history, particularly the World Series coverage of the 1981 and 1988 World Championships. Mickey Hatcher, Kirk Gibson, and Fernando, were three of my heroes. I also enjoyed all the player biographies, like Bill Russell, Bill Buckner, Ron Cey, and Pedro Guerrero. This is a wonderful book for Dodger fans.

I refrained from purchasing this book for many months based on your two negative customer reviews. When I finally did buy it, I realized that I should have listened to the professional reviewers, who gave the book high ratings. I have several other baseball team encyclopedias, and the Dodgers Encyclopedia is the best of the lot. The World Series coverage, the pennant races, and the no-hitter descriptions, are head and shoulders above any other book of its type. I particularly enjoyed the section on 'Memories Through the Years'. It brought to life many historic moments in Dodger history, like Fernandomania, the exploits of Kirk Gibson, and 'The Infield', in addition to introducing me to Brooklyn through the signing of Jackie Robinson, memories of Ebbets Field, and the tragi-comic career of Pistol Pete Reiser. All in all, a wonderful book!

If you want a fair, unbiased review of this book, check the professional critics who rated it. One critic, who gave it five stars, said 'The Dodgers Encyclopedia can take its rightful place with the best team encyclopedias on the market'. This book contains complete chapters on the Dodgers World Series appearances, their exciting pennant races, and their no-hitters, as well as biographies of over 100 of their top players, managers, sportscasters, and executives. It also has a chapter on other unforgettable memories in Dodger history, such as the zany happenings in Ebbets Field (The Daffyness Boys, The Boys of Summer, The Dodger Sym-Phony, Hilda Chester, Happy Felton, and many more), Gil Hodges four home runs in one game, Willie Davis' hitting streak, Manny Mota's pinch hitting exploits, Roy Campanella night in the Colisseum, Ramon Martinez's 18 strikeout game, Kirk Gibson - the Natural, Mickey Hatcher - the Human Blowout Patch, and many more. The statistics section contains the career batting and pitching records of every player who ever wore Dodger Blue (INCLUDING Zack Wheat). But you be the judge. Read the book for yourself. I think you'll love it.