Not Just A Name
D.B. Firstman’s baseball book examining the weird history of baseball player names debuts, while experiencing a life-affirming, personal transformation
"I've been a word nerd since childhood," says D.B. Firstman, author of the new baseball book, 'Hall of Name: Baseball's Most Magnificent Monikers.' "I loved to read as a kid. (her favorite baseball book is the reference dictionary, The Dickson Baseball Dictionary ..... https://www.amazon.com/Dickson-Baseball-Dictionary-Third/dp/0393340082) "My mother taught me to play Scrabble at an early age (I play in Scrabble tourneys nowadays). I've always been into names and their etymologies." 
Word nerds, know etymologies, the study of the origin of words and how their meanings have eveloved throughout time (the word baseball is traced back to 1845, but also makes an appearance in Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey, referenced as rounders).
On the Value Over Replacement Grit Blog, Firstman regularly featured "great names" in baseball history, and found stories in current baseball stories (the 'Ice Cream Roster,' about then Seattle Mariners prospect Jesus Montero having a run in with a team scout over an ice cream sandwich, then lists ice cream related baseball names, and it's a delight). The search for a publisher for a book of write-ups from the feature wasn't successful, but they saw the popularity of self-publishing and went forward with the idea.
"I was looking to branch out in terms of my writing. I had a 7-year-old blog. I had done a major research article for SABR. I wanted to do something else," Firstman said, "After some fits and starts regarding the type of book I wanted to write, I came back to the names, and this time decided to self-publish."
The book begins with a warm, funny foreword by veteran baseball writer Jayson Stark, who shares Firstman's love of the frequent strangeness of baseball names.
After completion of the first draft, Firstman began to consider something else in their life. They spoke publicly in December about being born intersex, and subsequently raised female. In a tweet detailing the experience, they said, "don't want to be a man, but reached a point where I want as little to do with declaring myself female as possible. I'm considering myself non-binary." Later, they tweeted, about the decision, "this is my f***ing Independence Day." In January, they filed paperwork for a name change.
"My awakening/epiphany came on its own schedule," they said. "I'm riding a wave of good vibes now...more comfortable in my own skin and capitalizing on my ability as a writer."
The book has the feeling of matching those "good vibes," with the passion and fun emitting from every page, the love of words is certainly obvious; it's a read for the curious spirit, the baseball fan who loves to learn something new about the summer game. And, as it were, the baseball writer who loves seeing the name "Jarrod Saltalamacchia (SALTY!), and remembering how exciting it was to finally know how to pronounce it when he made his major league debut. Also particularly fun, is the chapter "Dirty Names Done Cheap," with sections on all your filthy faves, including Rusty Kuntz, J.J. Putz, and Pete LaCock. You're learning fun facts, but you're being uniquely educated. Stats are secondary in this baseball hall.
Firstman sees the value of the work, but also recognizes the wonderfully odd humor of the overall tone.
"I think readers will enjoy this book because I thread the needle between "reference book" and "humor book." I'm gently poking fun (but mostly celebrating) the great given names of ballplayers, while educating readers on the names origins. In this way I think it will appeal to scholarly types and people who are just into odd names."
Scholars sit with the non-scholars at the ballpark, and they all enjoy the game.This book captures that same spirit. And as the 2020 baseball season kicks off wrapped in depressing controversies, Firstman's offering is a welcome respite.