by Paul Semendinger
March 20, 2025
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Please tell our readers a little about yourself.
I live in New York. I spent my early career at Sports Illustrated. Baseball, in all its nuances, is one of the great loves of my life.
Kostya has written numberous baseball books, of course. These include Pete Rose: An American Dilemma, 56: And the Last Magic Number In Sports, and True: The Four seasons of Jackie Robinson.
What do you most enjoy about writing?
Figuring out what and how I think about something. Writing, as has been said, is a concentrated form of thought.
Are there any projects you are working on?
I have a new book out, on March 25, 2025, with St. Martin’s Press. The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America.
Why are people so drawn to baseball?
Each player expresses himself uniquely in his approach and his play. So, each player quickly presents a particular and intelligible personality. Also, there is a beautiful structure to baseball, and a quietness at the center of it.
What is your favorite baseball book? (You can list as many as you wish.)
The Boys of Summer
The Art of Fielding
Ball Four
Outside of baseball, what is your favorite book and/or who is your favorite author? (You can list as many as you wish.)
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
Sophie’s Choice
In Cold Blood
The Giant’s House
The Underground Railroad
The Remains of the Day
A Prayer for Owen Meany
There's a lot of talk about baseball needing to be "fixed." Is baseball broken? If you were the Commissioner of Baseball what change(s) (if any) would you make to the current game?
Phase out the designated hitter.
Wow. We can debate that one day. I don't like many new rules, but I am a fan of the DH. I love to talk about the Baseball Hall of Fame. Which former Met most deserves to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame?
Keith Hernandez
I like how you changed that question to a Met. Very good! I agree that keith Hernandez belongs in the Hall of Fame.
What is the greatest baseball movie of all time? (Yes, you can list a few!)
A League of Their Own
Bull Durham
What is your favorite baseball memory?
-Little roller up along first … behind the bag, it gets through Buckner!.
-As a cub reporter for SI, covering Cal Ripken Jr.’s 2,130th consecutive game played.
THANK YOU!!!