Last night, I witnessed a modern day, amazing matchup in the Major Leagues. The Boston Red Sox LHP Garrett Crochet faced the New York Mets left-handed slugger Juan Soto. In fact, Crochet faced Soto three times and registered the same result – a strikeout. 3 at bats, 3 strikeouts, advantage last night goes to Garrett Crochet. Crochet is an elite LHP pitcher in the American League. Soto is an elite LH batter in the National League. It was a great matchup between two of the biggest stars in Major League Baseball in 2025.

This past week, I finished a very interesting book with a similar theme – all time great matchups between pitchers and players. And debating the all time matchups featuring similar elite players of the same generation. The book is “Diamond Duels, Baseball’s Greatest Matchups,” by John Nogowski. Nogowski answers the questions on many, many baseball fan’s minds – how did the greatest hitters of all time (or their generation) fare against the greatest pitchers of all time (or their generation). Cleverly using statistics from their head to head matchups over one year or possibly over a decade long career, Nogowski describes how a batter got the better of a pitcher for one year, but struggled another year. I love this book idea and loved reading about the old timers vs the old timers.

Like…Walter Johnson vs. Babe Ruth. Or Satchel Paige vs Carl Yaz. Or Stan Musial vs Warren Spahn. Nogowski discusses the Ted Williams vs Joe Dimaggio debate. That is a really good one and is probably one of the greatest matchup debates of all time. How about Lefty Grove vs Sandy Koufax? Who was the better LHP? Who could hit the great Pedro Martinez? Not many, but a few were very successful against him. Who is on your fantasy baseball team of all time sluggers hitting 3 and 4 in your lineup? Is it Gehrig and Ruth or Ramirez and Ortiz? Nogowski starts the conversation, and now you can finish it with your family, friends, teammates, and co-workers.

“Diamond Duels, Baseball’s Greatest Matchups” is a chock full of statistics and interesting facts and is sure to start many debates among baseball fans. The book’s stats and facts that will separate you at your next baseball meeting. Think about it…You can thrill and overwhelm and inspire with Nogowski’s book on who hit who well, who got who out consistently, and so much more. I highly recommend “Diamond Duels, Baseball’s Greatest Matchups,” by John Nogowski and have gained a whole new appreciation for those pitchers that could actually get Ted Williams out!