ABG Events and Media Reviews/Appearances
You may purchase the CASEY Award-nominated book on Amazon OR IndieBound OR Barnes & Noble OR in store at Barnes & Noble, most independent bookstores or anywhere else books are sold.
*The CASEY Award is a prestigious honor bestowed upon the best baseball book each year. On November 2, 2024, A Baseball Gaijin was selected as one of 10 finalists.
The Running List
Thursday, July 31, 2025 (1-2 p.m.; Cooperstown, NY) – As part of the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s 2025 Author Series, Bruce Markusen will be interviewing Aaron in the Bullpen Theater with a book signing to follow in the Library Atrium. For those interested, here’s a complete list showing the 2025 Author Series programs this summer.
Saturday, June 28, 2025 (10-11 a.m.; Irving, TX) – Rob Fitts and the Asian Baseball Research Committee will be hosting Aaron as he interviews Tony at SABR 53 (SABR’s annual national convention) on the book and TB’s transformational Japanese journey documented throughout. Specifically, the conversation will take place at the Westin DFW Airport Hotel’s Trinity Ballroom 6-8 with a book signing to follow in the Exhibitors’ Room at the Oak Ballroom on the first floor. Aaron and/or Tony will be in the Exhibitors’ Room much of Thursday and the rest of Saturday. Specific hours Tony will be at the table to be announced at least a few days in advance. Stay tuned!
Friday, June 27, 2025 (5:30-7 p.m.; Arlington, TX) – The Texas Rangers will be hosting Tony for his very own Alumni Alley autograph session and book signing ahead of Texas’ game with the Mariners. Aaron will be present too. It’ll take place on the CF concourse at a table adjacent to Globe Life Field’s main retail store.
Thursday, June 19, 2025 (5:15 p.m. onward; Rancho Cucamonga, CA) – Aaron will be selling and signing ABG copies at LoanMart Field at the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes’ game against the Lake Elsinore Storm. Gates (for MVPs) open at 5:15 p.m.; first pitch: 6:30. Look for the ABG table on the concourse.
Saturday, June 14, 2025 – Tony appeared on the Baseball and BBQ podcast with Leonard Aberman and Jeff Cohen.
Friday, June 13, 2025 – “Chasing a Dream: From Japan to the Majors,” an article written by Aaron in the June ’25 issue of Rangers Magazine on pages 40-44 and one that incorporates current Rangers reliever Chris Martin’s similar journey from Japan to Texas.
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 – Lance Smith’s review for his Sports Book Guy blog
Monday, June 2, 2025 (originally streamed live) – Tony’s “DLLS Rangers Podcast” interview w/ Jeff Wilson and John Rhadigan (starts at 16:15 mark)
Saturday, April 19, 2025 – Aaron appeared on the Baseball and BBQ podcast with Leonard Aberman and Jeff Cohen.
Tuesday, April 15, 2025 – Tony appeared on Nithin’s Sports Rush with Nithin Ramachandra.
Monday, March 17, 2025 – Tom Hoffarth’s review for his Farther Off the Wall baseball book review series
Sunday, March 16, 2025 – A Baseball Gaijin was honored at the 42nd annual CASEY Awards in Cincinnati, Ohio, as one of the 10 best baseball books of 2024. Kevin Baker’s The New York Game took the top prize.
Tuesday, March 4, 2025 – Brendan Crowley’s review for his All Sports Book Reviews newsletter
Monday, March 3, 2025 – Tony appeared on the Legends of Packard podcast.
Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 6 p.m. – Aaron appeared on KDVS 90.3 FM’s “Aggie Talk.”
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 – Tony joined the Dinger Dudes podcast.
Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 4 p.m. – Book conversation and signing at Linden Tree Books
Wednesday, December 25, 2024 – Budd Bailey’s 4-Star Review for his prolific book blog “The Sports Bookshelf”
Saturday, December 21, 2024 – SABR’s Allan Roth chapter’s December meeting with Barry Mednick and company w/ Aaron on site at the Garden Grove Historical Society
Friday, December 6, 2024 – Tony and Aaron conducted a Reddit AMA for the r/TexasRangers community.
Thursday, December 5, 2024 – Trevor Raichura’s story for Daily Sports Online entitled “Toreba no Toraba: Barnette’s Dream = Fischman’s Chance!” as well as Trevor’s Japanese-language article
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 – Lawrence Dow’s Fort Worth Star-Telegram piece, “A new book tells the story of a former Texas Rangers pitcher’s journey from Japan to MLB”
Monday, November 11, 2024 – Beyond the PhIrst Page podcast w/ Phebe, Phil and Isaac Cornell
Saturday, November 2, 2024 – Spitball Magazine named ABG a finalist for its CASEY Award for best baseball book of the year
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 – Tony’s “Locked on Rangers” podcast appearance w/ Brice Paterik
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 (noon eastern, 1 a.m. JST the following day) – Tony conducted a live Reddit AMA for r/NPB (Aaron participated too), which has been archived
Monday, September 23, 2024 – Having Read That w/ KSCJ 94.9’s Brian Vakulskas
Saturday, September, 21, 2024 – Book signing and presentation at The Open Book Topanga
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 – Jocelyn Anderson’s Q&A for UC Davis Magazine: “Alum Tells Baseball Player’s Uplifting Story”
Monday, September 16, 2024 – SABR’s Clyde Sukeforth chapter’s September meeting w/ Bruce McClure and company
Saturday, September 7, 2024 – Book signing at San Manuel Stadium
Monday, August 26, 2024 – Tony’s “Japan Baseball Weekly” podcast appearance w/ John E. Gibson and Jim Allen
Friday, August 23, 2024 – Sports Overnight America w/ Fred Wallin, Laura Snoke & Art Sorce
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 – Tony’s “Winning the Moment” interview w/ Cody Adent
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 – Baseball vs. the World w/ Javier Reyes (Tony and Aaron both appear)
Saturday, August 10, 2024 – SABR’s Rogers Horsnby chapter’s August meeting w/ Gilbert Martinez and meeting attendees
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 – 101.5 UMFM’s “Turning Pages” w/ Michael Elves
Saturday, August 3, 2024 – The K.P. Wee Podcast w/ K.P. and Stan Markotich
Friday, August 2, 2024 – Tony’s “Baseball Together” podcast appearance
Tuesday, July 30, 2024 – Tony’s “Mound Visit With Jason Grilli” interview
Tuesday, July 30, 2024 – The Sports Animal ESPN Radio 97.1 Tulsa/96.1 Grand Lake
Monday, July 29, 2024 – Carter Cromwell’s review for JapanBall
Friday, July 19, 2024 – Ed Odeven’s JAPAN Forward piece, “Aaron Fischman Shares Insights on His New Book About Persevering Pitcher Tony Barnette”
Friday, July 19, 2024 – Baseball Together podcast w/ Brig Berthold & Brad Curnow
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 – Rich Tenorio’s piece for the Guardian, A Baseball Gaijin: an American Pitcher’s Journey to Japan and Back Again
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 – Tony’s “MLB Hall of (pretty) Good” interview w/ Mike Santos
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 – Tony’s “Breaking Bats” interview w/ Justin Ayers (starts at 41:06 mark)
Monday, July 15, 2024 – In This Corner with JD: Sports Writers Talk Sports Writing w/ John Doyle
Monday, July 15, 2024 – “Shinjuku’s Guardian Angel – The Story of Tony Barnette” (Tony’s story featured on the YouTube channel “Gaijin Baseball”)
Tuesday, July 9, 2024 – WKNY’s Radio Kingston w/ Warren Lawrence & Dan
Tuesday, July 2, 2024 – Sports Byline USA’s “Titillating Sports” w/ Rick Tittle
Monday, July 1, 2024 – The 40-40 Vision Podcast w/ Khaled Abdallah
Monday, July 1, 2024 – The Twin Bill podcast interview w/ Scott Bolohan
Friday, June 7, 2024 – New Books in Sports podcast interview w/ Paul Knepper
Saturday, June 1, 2024 – Book signing at Excite Ballpark
