Conversation so far:
When were the Bill James Baseball Abstracts written?
In an effort to reach a wider audience, Bill James began self-publishing an annual book titled The Bill James Baseball Abstract beginning in 1977.
What was in the The Bill James Baseball Abstract by Bill James?
The first edition of The Bill James Baseball Abstract by Bill James presented 68 pages of in-depth statistics compiled from James's study of box scores from the preceding season.
Who read the first edition of The Bill James Baseball Abstract by Bill James?
Seventy-five people purchased the first edition of The Bill James Baseball Abstract by Bill James.
What was an example of the statistical information in The Bill James Baseball Abstract by Bill James?
Runs created. A statistic intended to quantify a player's contribution to runs scored, as well as a team's expected number of runs scored in The Bill James Baseball Abstract.
When was the last edition of The Bill James Baseball Abstract published?
In 1988, Bill James ceased writing the The Bill James Baseball Abstract. He has continued to publish hardcover books about baseball history.

Question: Were they popular?
Self-contained rewrite: Were Bill James hardcover books about baseball history popular?