The 34-Ton Bat
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| Author | Rushin, Steve |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Little, Brown and Company |
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Publication date
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2013 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 343 |
| ISBN | |
| 796.357-dc23 | |
| LC Class | GV873.R87 2013 |
The 34-Ton Bat: The Story of Baseball As Told Through Bobbleheads, Cracker Jacks, Jockstraps, Eye Black, and 373 Other Strange and Unforgettable Objects is a 2013 baseball book written by Steve Rushin. Rushin is an American journalist, novelist, and sportswriter for Sports Illustrated magazine. Rushin was named the 2005 National Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, and is a four-time finalist for the National Magazine Award.
Chapter 1. The Baseball Grenade. Rushin discusses the link between the military and baseball and describes how the military endeavored to design a hand grenade shaped like a baseball which they believed would give American soldiers a natural advantage over the enemy because of the soldier's prowess in throwing balls. In this chapter he also discusses various stunts performed in the 20th century such as catching baseball dropped from planes.
Chapter 2. Stairway to Heaven. Focused on baseball bats, Chapter 2 follows the history of bats and bat manufacturers from the game's earliest days to the development of the aluminum bat. The relationship between players and their bats is highlighted and the book includes several photos of players kissing their bats.
Chapter 3. The Lost City of Francisco Grande. Developed at a cost of $4.5 million by San Francisco Giants owner Horace Stoneham, Francisco Grande was built adjacent to Casa Grande, Arizona as the spring training home for the Giants. The facility, opened in 1961, boasted a private airstrip, an 18-hole golf course, and five baseball fields as well as player rooms, training and administrative offices for the team. Rushin notes that many of Francisco Grande's buildings were decorated with baseball memorabilia such as bats, balls, and gloves and he then continues the chapter with a discussion of the development of baseball gloves. The chapter concludes with an overview of how the catcher's position changed over time and how the development and use of the hinged catcher's glove revolutionized the sport by allowing catchers such as Johnny Bench to catch one-handed.
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