Nutmeg Baseball Network
Books by Doug Malan
Let's Go to the Ballpark! (Mascot Books)This book introduces the experience of attending a professional baseball game through the story of young Cole and his father. Doug and illustrator Kevin Coffey guide readers through the sights, sounds and action of a day at the ballpark to build anticipation in children for their first trip or to help them re-live their visits. Based on experiences with his own sons, Doug has written a baseball-themed children’s book that is a perfect gift for baby showers, budding baseball fans and parents who want to teach children the elements of the sport in a fun and entertaining way. (Buy at Amazon or Mascot Books.)
Muzzy Field: Tales from a Forgotten Ballpark (iUniverse)
For baseball and football historians, Muzzy Field in Bristol, Conn., is considered a living museum of historic importance. Since its creation in 1912, this jewel of a ballpark in central Connecticut has attracted many sports icons, such as Babe Ruth, Vince Lombardi, Martin Dihigo and Satchel Paige. Nestled in the quiet corner of a leafy park, Muzzy Field exudes an aura of classic New England ballpark with its brick grandstand, weathered wooden bleachers and towering pine trees that overlook the manicured grass. Doug's book outlines the famous and infamous moments and athletes that have defined the legacy of one of America’s oldest ballparks. “Muzzy Field” has earned multiple publisher awards based on editorial content and sales and was a finalist for the 2009 ForeWord Book of the Year award. (Available through multiple outlets, including Barnes & Noble and Amazon.)
Baseball/Literature/Culture: Essays, 2008-09 (McFarland)
Doug contributed to this compilation with the astonishing story of the defending World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates and their 1926 game at Muzzy Field in Bristol, Conn. As one of the most significant moments in the old ballpark’s history, this game featured a Pirate lineup studded with future Hall of Famers such as Max Carey, Pie Traynor, Kiki Cuyler, Paul Waner and manager Bill McKechnie. There also was a great deal of turmoil within the team ranks that shaped the Pirates’ season and may have contributed to the drama that played out at Muzzy Field against a team of Bristol semi-pro players from New Departure Manufacturing Co. (Available at Amazon and McFarland.)
