Conversation so far:
What are Bill James' Abstracts about?
An aspiring writer and obsessive fan, Bill James began writing baseball articles after leaving the United States Army in his mid-twenties.
Where did Bill James write the baseball abstracts?
Many of his first baseball writings came while Bill James was doing night shifts as a security guard at the Stokely-Van Camp's pork and beans cannery.
Why was Bill James writing about Baseball?
Bill James Online offers profiles of teams and players full of facts and statistics hoping to one day map what Bill James has termed the lost island of baseball statistics.“
How many abstracts did Bill James write?
Beginning in 1979, Bill James wrote an annual preview of the baseball season for Esquire, and continued to do so through 1984.
What reviews did Bill James get for his early abstracts?
The first three editions of the Baseball Abstract garnered respect for Bill James' work, including a very favorable review by Daniel Okrent in Sports Illustrated.
Did Bill James sell many of his abstracts?
By 1982 sales had increased tenfold, and a media conglomerate agreed to publish and distribute future editions.

Question: Why were his Baseball Abstracts successful?
Self-contained rewrite: Why were Bill James' Baseball Abstracts successful?