For French baseball fans who struggle with English, finding books dedicated solely to our beloved sport has been nearly impossible.
Gaétan Alibert, whom we profiled earlier, has changed that with his new book. He’s taken the bold step of publishing a work that tells the stories of 10 extraordinary figures—five men and five women—who have left their mark on the global history of baseball. These remarkable individuals each, in their own way, pushed the boundaries of the societies they lived in.
Knowing the history—both the grand and the intimate—is a real treat for passionate fans and curious minds alike.
The writing is fluid, skillfully blending English terms and baseball jargon. Alibert also had a brilliant idea: footnotes. As you read, you might stumble over a proper noun or a technical English term. The footnotes provide the perfect opportunity to satisfy your curiosity and quench your thirst for knowledge.
This book is set to become the ideal gift for all baseball enthusiasts aged 16 and up. Well done!
Let’s hear Gaétan Alibert share his experience as a first-time author and answer the question:
Tell us about the incredible journey from the idea of writing a book to promoting it.
Writing has always been a part of my life since high school, and the idea of publishing a book has been a long-held dream. I just needed the right subject to spark it. My passion for baseball and my desire to share that passion triggered that spark. Even though I already do this through podcasts like Culture Baseball or Hype, or through articles, from my early days at Honus to my current work at The Strike Out and Ecrire Le Sport, being able to do it through the publishing world also brings legitimacy to baseball and softball by releasing a book published by a traditional publisher and distributed in bookstores. This means our sports are taking a big step forward, much like regular articles on L’Équipe’s website or the broadcast of MLB games on beIN Sports. We’re stepping out of the shadows.
*In this regard, I must praise the boldness of my publisher, Blacklephant Editions, founded just in 2021, which took the risk of publishing a baseball book as their fourth title. It was love at first sight. I had already received several offers, but I was waiting for that spark. They responded quickly after receiving my manuscript, and a quick video call was all it took to embark on this adventure together. Since then, they’ve been incredibly attentive and have worked tirelessly to ensure the book’s release coincided with MLB’s spring training, even though the lockout nearly derailed our promotion. In any case, you can’t ask for better support from a publisher for the release of a book, especially a first book and a baseball book, a niche sport in France.
Just days before the book’s release on March 17th, they’re sparing no effort in sending copies to media outlets to promote it. We’re activating our respective networks, and they’re very ambitious for the book, aiming for an international career. The official promotion has just begun, but we already have articles lined up in major media outlets, and a top French club has invited me for a book-signing event. The ball is rolling, and I hope, for French baseball and softball, that it will inspire new talent and generate more media coverage for our sports.
« Une histoire populaire du baseball » Editions Blackelephant ISBN: 2493043065
Available starting today from all bookstores, in-store or online.
Note that baseball cards featuring the 10 characters from the book have been released for the occasion.
(x) Profile on the Baseball TV France app, Portrait category, January 23, 2022.
Interview conducted by Didier CANNIOUX
