Robert Whiting

From BR Bullpen

Robert Whiting is known as the foremost English-language writer about Nippon Pro Baseball.

Born in New Jersey in 1942, his most famous books are The Chrysanthemum and the Bat (1977) and You Gotta Have Wa (1989). His most recent works include The Meaning of Ichiro (2004, republished in paperback as The Samurai Way of Baseball in 2005). He is also the co-author of Warren Cromartie's autobiography, Slugging It Out in Japan (1991). He has also written about other Japanese topics, including about crime in Japan.

Whiting grew up in Eureka, CA and is a graduate of Sophia University. His books are known for discussing Japanese baseball culture, with many specific examples involving interaction between foreign players and native mores.

He was honored by SABR with the Henry Chadwick Award in 2023.

Further reading[edit]

  • Todd Peterson: "Robert Whiting", Baseball Research Journal, SABR, Vol. 52 Number 1 (Spring 2023), pp. 122-123.

Related Sites[edit]