Fascinating vignettes that provide the true accounts behind baseball’s most unbelievable circumstances fill Can a Dead Man Strike Out?, an engaging collection of questions and narratives from every period in the history of America’s favorite pastime. Unlike standard trivia books, it is the stories behind the answers—and not the answers themselves—that provide the entertaining surprises.

For example, the answer to the question, “Who was the first outfielder to throw out three batters at home plate in one game?” tells the story of “Dummy” Hoy, a deaf mute who had a distinguished 14-year career, and whose disability may have led umpires to use hand and arm gestures when calling balls and strikes.

Baseball historians, statisticians, trivia buffs, die-hard fans, and anyone intrigued by the subtleties of the game will find hours of pleasure in this unique look at our national pastime.