Tomorrow's AL report will be my first of the season and I've enjoyed being back in the saddle again, but don't get too used to seeing me around. There was a time I was prolific at Fantistics (prolific as in being a frequent contributor to both baseball and football, not prolific as in Hemingwayesque), but recent events have made it next to impossible to contribute as much to Fantistics as I had in the past. But my absence has been due to some rather fortunate and exciting developments: I signed a contract with McFarland Publishing last winter and wrote my first book, which will be available to the public next spring. I can't tell you the title of the book because we're still discussing it (it's almost like salary arbitration, but instead of being thousands of dollars apart, we're a couple of words apart). I can tell you, however, that the book is about former Red Sox owner Harry Frazee, American League president Ban Johnson and the feud they waged with each other during Frazee's brief tenure with the Red Sox. (UPDATE: The title of the book was just finalized: Harry Frazee, Ban Johnson and the Feud That Nearly Destroyed the American League). Of course, the Babe Ruth sale is discussed in full detail (why he was sold to the Yankees, whether or not Frazee was really in financial trouble, etc.), as is the Carl Mays case; I go deeper into Frazee's career as a theatrical producer than anyone has before, and I explore Henry Ford's anti-Semitic claims that Frazee was a Jew at the fore of a Jewish conspiracy to oust the National Commission (Glenn Stout introduced this piece of evidence in an article a few years ago, but I go even deeper into the accusations than Stout did). Basically, it's an in-depth look at Frazee, Johnson, and the politics that dominated the American League during Johnson's long run as AL president, especially from 1917 to 1923 while Frazee owned the Red Sox.

Although the book is done and in production, the reason I won't be coming back to Fantistics on a full-time basis is because McFarland was so happy with my first effort, they've offered me a second contract. Assuming all goes as planned, I should begin writing the second book soon. Because of the friendship I've forged with Anthony Perri, I've gladly agreed to contribute reports as needed and he's been kind enough to allow me to post information about my book as it becomes available. Thanks, Anthony!

And good luck to all with your fantasy teams!