Some of Brister's most notable works include:
* The Life and Times of Mickey Mantle (1974)
* The Roger Maris Story (1975)
* Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life (1977)
* The New York Yankees: An Illustrated History (1980)
* Baseball's Golden Age: The Yankees and the Dodgers in the 1950s (1991)
* The Boston Red Sox: A History (1994)
* The Chicago Cubs: A History (1997)
* The St. Louis Cardinals: A History (1999)
* The San Francisco Giants: A History (2001)
* The Los Angeles Dodgers: A History (2003)
Brister's books have been praised for their accuracy, insight, and engaging storytelling. He was a lifelong fan of baseball, and his work has helped to preserve the history of the game.