Diamond Dollars by Vince Gennaro is as good as it gets when it comes to the business of baseball. The uniqueness of Diamond Dollars is its provocative way of putting numbers to the real concepts that have been talked about by baseball insiders for years, such as the payoff from winning, the dollar value of players, and the true cost of developing players. Diamond Dollars addresses the inefficiencies in the way players are valued and delivers an unparalleled look at the economics of baseball today. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who has a fascination with the business and economics of baseball.
In light of the recent trade of Johan Santana to the New York Mets, this book will provide all of the insight and reasoning behind why the deal was so necessary for the Minnesota Twins. It was incredible how this book changed the way I look at the business of baseball (and I consider myself a know-it-all). Diamond Dollars can answer everything from a pitcher’s real worth, does Billy Beane’s philosophy really work, to building your team from your farm system is really a smart tactic. The way people view sports is beginning to change more and more from sport and entertainment to that of a business entity. While fans are beginning to realize this, most do not understand the true concepts of the business. For anyone out there who has a vested interest in the game of baseball, this book is a MUST!
Aside from being the author of Diamond Dollars, Vince Gennaro is currently a professor in the Sports Business Management program at Manhattanville College as well as a consultant for the Cleveland Indians.