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Fantasyland: A Season on Baseball's Lunatic Fringe Hardcover – March 2, 2006

by Sam Walker (Author)
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Recounts a Wall Street Journal columnist's experiences with playing a season of fantasy baseball against a host of armchair contenders, during which he researched the activity's popularity as well as the factors, from statistics to human elements, that contribute to winning fantasy teams. 75,000 first printing.
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  1. Print length
    368 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Viking Adult
  4. Publication date
    March 2, 2006
  5. Reading age
    18 years and up
  6. Dimensions
    6.4 x 1.19 x 9.52 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0670034282
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0670034284
  9. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When Walker, a senior writer for the Wall Street Journal, enters his first fantasy baseball tournament, he aims high: Tout Wars, a competition for guys who make a career out of analyzing stats to find the best Major League hitters and pitchers. He figures that because he can get to the ballparks in his journalistic capacity and talk to the players and coaches, he'll be in a better position to judge the intangibles and pull one over the pure numbers crunchers. But even with the help of a young research assistant and a NASA scientist, things quickly head south. This hilarious diary of the 2004 season includes several encounters with the players Walker has picked; from Jacque Jones's struggle to refute predictions of mediocrity to David Ortiz's razzing Walker for trading him away. Along the way there are mini-profiles of the Tout Wars competition, as well as explorations of the origins of fantasy baseball (predating even the famed Rotisserie League) and the shaky relationship between dedicated statistical analysts and Major League executives. Readers might even pick up a few tips on how to draft their teams this spring, but the real fun is in watching Walker's well-laid plans unravel.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Fantasy sports leagues are ubiquitous. For the uninitiated, fantasy games comprise a competition among individuals based on statistics of players they select in a real sport--in this case, baseball. Walker, a Wall Street Journal sportswriter, initially avoided contact with fantasy baseball--too geeky--but after burning out on such real-life baseball subjects as steroid scandals, labor strife, and contract negotiations, he decided to write about the game's fantasy side after all. He wangled himself a spot in one of the most prestigious fantasy leagues and decided to research in person the team he would pick. The result was a tour of a dozen spring-training sites in Florida and Arizona during which he spoke to players, coaches, general managers, and trainers. And, of course, he availed himself of the fantasy traditionalist's potpourri of statistical reports, online sites, and daily box scores. It's all great fun, written with humor and a twinkling eye directed at the lunacy of it all; but fantasy baseball and its attendant statistical reliance has spawned an internecine baseball war between old-school traditionalists (most scouts, for example) and the numbers people, many of whom have fantasy backgrounds. In offering a fascinating analysis of this underlying conflict within the sport, Walker gives his account of fantasy fanaticism an unexpected and satisfying depth. Fantasyland has a chance to be the Moneyball of 2006. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking Adult (March 2, 2006)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0670034282
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0670034284
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.34 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.19 x 9.52 inches

About the author

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Sam Walker

Sam Walker

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Sam Walker is a leadership and team-building consultant, columnist and keynote speaker. He works closely with professional, Olympic, and collegiate sports teams as well as elite military units, national law-enforcement agencies, global NGOs and businesses of many types and sizes. Walker is the author of The Captain Class (2018), a critically acclaimed profile of the leaders of the greatest team dynasties in sports history; and Fantasyland (2006), an account of his exhaustive attempt to win the world's toughest fantasy baseball competition. Walker spent two decades at The Wall Street Journal, where he served as chief sports columnist, global sports editor, deputy page one editor and leadership columnist. He attended the University of Michigan and lives with his wife and two children in Los Angeles.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
82 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book enjoyable, fascinating, and diverse. They describe the narrative style as breezy, colorful, and unique. Readers praise the writing quality as well-written and engaging.

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EnjoymentNarrative styleWriting quality
10 customers mention "Enjoyment"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, fascinating, and worthwhile. They say it's a great book for fantasy baseball fans and a wonderful diverse read from their typical non-fiction. Readers also mention that the book can be enjoyed by casual fans.

"...I mention this because this book, while it can be enjoyed by the casual fan, is really meant for the fantasy league fanatic...." Read more

"...Together, the book is worthwhile, but it does not necessarily prove there any secret to the fantasy baseball world...." Read more

"...To me, this was a fascinating read. Very enjoyable and worthwhile." Read more

"Great book. Couldn't put it down since I got it and read in a couple of days. Sam is a very conversational, engaging writer...." Read more

4 customers mention "Narrative style"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the narrative style breezy and entertaining. They also appreciate the interesting anecdotes and colorful stories about some of the Roto pioneers. Overall, readers say the book provides unique insight into America's pastime.

"...The narrative is breezy and a quick read. I would buy the book for this back story alone...." Read more

"This book has very interesting anecdotes but they're dated so I don't find it especially helpful in terms of fantasy strategy...." Read more

"nor entertaining. got some colorful stories about some of the roto pioneers like okrent and shandler...." Read more

"Unique insight to America’s pastime..." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and engaging. They say it's a quick read.

"...The narrative is breezy and a quick read. I would buy the book for this back story alone...." Read more

"...Sam is a very conversational, engaging writer...." Read more

"...If you like baseball and play fantasy baseball it's a fun, quick read, but I wouldn't prioritize it on the nightstand or anything." Read more

"The book is very well written and entertaining even if you never played Fantasy Baseball...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

David Randolph
5.0 out of 5 stars Better Than Moneyball
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2012
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Seven years ago I was talked into playing fantasy league baseball by a friend. As a life long baseball fan I wasn't sure how I would like what I saw as the mathematical side of it. I was wrong...two weeks into my first season I was hooked for life. I mention this because this book, while it can be enjoyed by the casual fan, is really meant for the fantasy league fanatic. I have just recently completed Fantasyland and am glad I have a few years of fantasy play under my belt. It made the book that much more fun since I recognized nearly all the characters in the book. It explains the very beginnings of rotisserie league ball in a factual and humor filled way. That can be somewhat of a difficult task with this subject. The three main characters are Sam (the author), Nando (the old school research assistant) and Sig (the stat geek). Sam wrangles an invitation to the Mt. Olympus of baseball fantasy leagues...the Tout Wars and hires Nando and Sig to aid him in his quest for baseball immortality. The results are absorbing, bittersweet and hilarious. I found myself in the Nando camp as far as judging prospective players for Sam's roto team. Sig was very persuasive, but as I say, the math side takes the hunch factor away and to me, that is a large part of fantasy baseball's appeal. And, after all, players are people, not just machines. I also liked how the author gives the reader a humanistic look at the other Tout Wars baseball experts as well as several ballplayers. I've read Moneyball (and seen the movie) and I found myself skimming through portions of it. Not so with Fantasyland. I read it cover to cover and once started, I couldn't put it down.
Incidentally, iTunes has a podcast (cbs sportsline) now playing that features Nando as one of it's commentators. It's very good and well worth your time if you play fantasy league sports.
2 people found this helpful
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UpperWestSal
4.0 out of 5 stars A Good History of Roto, Slightly Odd Current View
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2007
Verified Purchase
Fantasyland provides an excellent review of the history of rotisserie baseball that has developed into an entire industry. This is much more than a retelling of the commonly cited story about a few baseball fans developing a game at the Rotisserie restaurant in New York. The narrative is breezy and a quick read. I would buy the book for this back story alone.

The odd way Sam Walker goes about trying to win a well-known fantasy baseball league has some significant holes. Hiring a rocket scientist(literally) to crunch numbers and a self-proclaimed baseball talent evaluator is a clever idea, but its never clear why these two guys are remotely qualified to help. The passages describing other gurus in fantasy baseball, many of whom are well-known to avid roto players, is interesting in pointing out the ranks of experts are filled similarly with people of questionable talent.

Together, the book is worthwhile, but it does not necessarily prove there any secret to the fantasy baseball world. Instead, it does a nice job of revealing how a game has become an obsession to so many.
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Michael L. Slavin
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2006
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The author takes the reader thru his project of attempting to put together the ultimate rotisserie team in a league based on the 2004 season where he is a rookie and most of the other players are the so called experts. He hires two employees to help him statistically evaluate the player pool. He even consults an astrologer. He visits teams and players thruout spring training and the actual season to gain further insight. Of course, such activities and that he has press access as a sports columnist for The Wall Street Journal separate him from most fantasy league participants. To quote the author "The problem with building a Rotisserie strategy around inside information is that it always comes with an expiration date. Minds change,injuries defy prognosis, and performance always trumps opinion." By the way the authors team finished 8 in a 12 team league. To me, this was a fascinating read. Very enjoyable and worthwhile.
One person found this helpful
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John
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book...Still
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2015
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Great book. Couldn't put it down since I got it and read in a couple of days. Sam is a very conversational, engaging writer. Anyone who's played fantasy baseball the past 10 years will still know the players referenced and appreciate the parallels to similar players and experiences today. The book is kind of the equivalent of- but still different in many ways than- "Committed" by Mark St. Amant which is about fantasy football. I recommend this book- especially at this price!- to any fantasy baseball fan.
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J.A. Torres
3.0 out of 5 stars Light, interesting read.
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2015
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This book has very interesting anecdotes but they're dated so I don't find it especially helpful in terms of fantasy strategy. If you like baseball and play fantasy baseball it's a fun, quick read, but I wouldn't prioritize it on the nightstand or anything.
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PA Marco
4.0 out of 5 stars Unique insight to America’s pastime
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2019
Verified Purchase
“Touted” as a must read book by one of my long long time friends (since he knew I loved baseball), I found fantasyland to be a wonderfully diverse read from my typical non-fiction reads. If you’re a fantasy baseball participant it definitely is a must read. If you’re intrigued by fantasy sports and its participants this book is for you.
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Jaytodd13
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Fantasy Baseball Fanatics
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2006
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I am a fantasy baseball freak and I loved this book. It's every fantasy player's dream to be able to actual interact and possibly influence the players on your fantasy team. Sam Walker takes us through this experience from pre-draft all the way through the season.

Must read!

One more note - I emailed the author after reading the book to tell him how much I liked it (and also to have him tell the Phillie's GM to bench Ryan Howard, as an opposing player had ghim and he was killing my chances!) and Walker wrote back which I thought was pretty cool.
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Anthony L
5.0 out of 5 stars For the Fantasy Baseball Participant!
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2009
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I laughed out loud countless times. 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.
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Top reviews from other countries

Diogo Carlos Marques
5.0 out of 5 stars Baseball fantasy at it highest
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 3, 2014
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If you dream about fantasy, this is the book to learn and understand how the best fantasy players do it.
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