Book Description

Of the 256 players, managers, and executives in the Hall of Fame, the names we know well—Ty Cobb, Connie Mack, Willie Mays—account for a small minority. But all other members of the Hall of Fame were celebrated in their day, or else by baseball historians in the days since. Yet most fans know little about these men.

This book contains biographical and statistical information on 16 previously overlooked Hall of Famers, including Morgan G. Bulkeley, Candy Cummings, Roger Bresnahan, Jack Chesbro, Jesse Burkett, Kid Nichols, Bobby Wallace, John Clarkson, Elmer Flick, Eppa Rixey, Jake Beckley, Roger Connor, Vic Willis, Willie Wells, Frank Selee, and Bid McPhee. These men, selections of the oft-criticized Veterans Committee, all enjoyed remarkable careers—and were themselves remarkable stories, as the author discovered. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Baseball's first commissioner cast such a long and powerful shadow over the game, it's often hard to untangle his contribution from his personality, and his life from his lasting myth. The truth that emerges from this exhaustive and engaging biography of Judge Landis has no problem matching the outsized legend stride for stride. Landis moved into the public spotlight to clean up the national pastime after the disgrace of the 1919 World Series, but there was much more to this complex man and his complex career. Judge and Jury chronicles the entirety.

A tough, colorful judge, his rulings could be as unpredictable as he was. Landis could be as severe and stubborn as he could be gentle and understanding, characteristics that both defined his decision-making and confused his critics. Noted as a trustbuster--he went head to head with John D. Rockefeller, fining Standard Oil $29 million--he upheld baseball's exemption from antitrust status from the bench. Known for his harsh sentences, he was almost impeached for his leniency to the destitute. As commissioner, he loved the post, the game, and his perceived responsibility as its primary upholder and restorer of virtue: "You have told the world that my powers would be absolute," he warned the owners who hired him. "I wouldn't take this job for all the gold in the world unless I knew my hands were free." In his regime, they pretty much were, and he used them to grab his share of whatever power and glory he could wrap them around. --Jeff Silverman ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis: Judge and Jury
I rated this book a 5 because it captured the flavor of the Anabaptist spirit. His Mennonite heritage was outlined in the first part of the book. His character certainly was played out, as he mentioned the Landis Family is in the book of "Martyrs Mirror". This man definitely knew no compromise. It was evident that he was willing to help the underpriviledged. For anyone who knows Mennonite Philosophy he fits the ticket. I am not a baseball fan, but I did enjoy reading and seeing his character played out. Definitely worth reading.

A Thorough Biography
Someone once described Branch Rickey as a man of many facets, and they are all turned on. Much the same could describe baseball's first commissioner. Landis, being a baseball fan, appeared to make decisions which would benefit the game. An example would be delaying the Federal League court decision which could have changed the game radically. Rather than make a decision he didn't want to make, he delayed until a settlement could be made with the major leagues. He banned Shufflin' Phil Douglas when Douglas said he would go fishing rather than pitch a game for the Giants he would probably win. This was to get back at his manager, John McGraw, who gave him a vicious tongue lashing and had him given a so-called harsh drying out from alcohol abuse without his wife's knowledge as to his whereabouts. When asked by Landis his side of the story, Douglas didn't defend himself against McGraw's actions and just hung his head. Gambling wasn't a banishable offense prior to the Cobb/Speaker incident in 1927, and Landis seemed to let these two superstars off easy, whereas he was especially hard on Rogers Hornsby. The Rajah, who enjoyed attending the racetrack, stood up to Landis and said his wagering money at the racetrack was no different than Landis losing money in the stockmarket. An unfortunate character in the story is Jimmy O'Connell of the Giants. O'Connell, naively approached Heinie Sand of the Phillies about making it worth his while to lose a game against the Giants during the last week of the season. Sand, knowing what happened to Buck Weaver of the White Sox, reported the incident, and this led to O'Connell's banishment from the game. The sad part of this story is that O'Connell's teammates, Frank Frisch and Ross Youngs played a prank on O'Connell and Jimmy took it seriously. Frisch and Youngs, both Hall of Famers, were never punished. Landis's treatment of the eight Black Sox players would never be upheld today. His beginning statement, "Regardless of the verdict of juries..." tells it all. Landis would do what he wanted. He would never get away with that with either the ACLU or the players' union if they had one at that time. The author appears to defend Landis for his lack of action towards allowing blacks to play in the major leagues. Landis said he feared riots in ball parks if blacks were admitted. Maybe it was true that the time was not right, but he hid behind the tired response stating there was no rule prohibiting blacks from playing in the major leagues. Maybe not, but there was a "gentleman's agreement" that none would be signed. Some gentlemen! Landis was hired by the owners, but he didn't appear to respect them. He claimed to be a player's commissioner, and one way he showed that was in releasing players from the minor leagues that he felt covered up preventing their advancement. You really never knew what Landis' reaction would be to something. He could be very unpredictable with what he would do regarding an issue, and he seemed to play favorites regarding players. He didn't care for Branch Rickey, who he may have felt was hypocritical by playing the part of a preacher while doing things that Landis felt were self-serving. The Judge had his fights with J. G. Taylor Spink, the publisher of The Sporting News because a Saturday Evening Post article referred to Spink as Mr. Baseball and the conscience of baseball. There are some strong willed personalities in this book and the author does an excellent job of bringing this part of baseball and American history to life.

A fascinating backdrop and a paradox for the subject..
Biographer Pietrusza has undertaken a significant task in this biography, and has done admirably. He has fully explored much of what molded Judge Landis, and explores in major league fashion his checkered career as a Federal Judge. The history of baseball, of which Landis was obviously an integral componet is well researched and covered. His interactions with the other greats of the game, like Ruth, Cobb and Rickey give good insight into his character and impact.

The work does have one glaring deficciency, though. I must disagree with a fellow writer, with regard to the book's chronicle of Landis and the efforts to integrate the game. I rather felt that this (certainly the most significant of any shortcoming of his reign) was given less than adequate coverage by the author. Others have written more authoritatively (including first hand reporting of confrontations over the issue) about how intractable a foe Landis was of integration of the American pasttime. This book not only ignores almost all of these, but glosses over the issue in general with little more than an apologist's dismissal. From my perspective, this is an unpardonable transgression.

All in all, though, certainly a book worth reading by anyone interested in either the history of the game, or an exploration of who those with significant power may wield it.

A masterful biography of a complex man
David Pietruza has written an extraordinary book about a complex, fascinating man. I always thought of Landis as a mostly eccentric showman. But Pietruza gives a portrait of a towering figure with a legacy extending far beyond baseball. I bought this thinking I'd find a good baseball book for the dead of winter; what I got was that and more. Landis' early life is particularly interesting. You don't have to be a baseball fan to enjoy "Judge and Jury." It's well worth the read.

They don't make commissioners like that anymore
As the century draws to a close and sportswriters compile lists of the most important men in modern baseball, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis should be right up there with Babe Ruth, Christy Mathewson, and Mark McGwire. Without the stern hand of Landis following the infamous "Black Sox" scandal, baseball may have evolved into a grotesque spectacle more akin to professional wrestling than the National Pastime. The grand jury indictment of eighth members of the Chicago White Sox for throwing the 1919 World Series was a black eye for baseball. The resulting trial featured "lost" confessions by the accused and a post-trial meal between players and several jurors after the not-guilty verdict. Landis had been commissioner for almost a year when he delivered his decision that still keeps Shoeless Joe Jackson out of the Hall of Fame. That is the part of the story that many baseball fans know, but one of author David Pietrusza's main points is the Judge's banning of Buck Weaver, who knew of the fix and did not report it. While it seems unfair, the decision on this matter gave baseball the honor system it previsously lacked. Gambling on games continued, but players with knowledge of a fix were more likely to go to Landis than to risk Buck Weaver's fate. Landis banned many lesser-known players during his 24-year tenure, but he also had tussles with the likes of Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, and Rogers Hornsby on the subject of gambling. Babe Ruth's failed attempt to barnstorm against the Judge's wishes is one of the more entertaining chapters in the book. Branch Rickey's battles with Landis over the farm system in the 1930s foreshadows the clashes between future commissioner Bowie Kuhn and A's owner Charlie Finley over free agency in the 1970s. Pietrusza deftly dispells the myth that Landis alone stood in the way of intergration of baseball. The first part of the book chronicles the somewhat humble beginnings of the son of a Union surgeon from Ohio, who named his sixth child after the Civil War battle that crippled his left leg. Judge Landis, referred to throughout the book by his nickname of "the Squire," was the most successful member of a family that became influential in the midwest as well as Washington, D.C. Indeed, almost half the book details the Squire's law career and eventual appointment as a federal judge in Illinois. Author Pietrusza details each significant case ever to come before the judge, including his decision against Standard Oil and John D. Rockefeller that made Landis a household name. In the 452 pages of text, plus another 212 pages of notes and index, Pietrusza not only tells us about the man, but he puts us back in the times that the Judge lived. Having worked with the author previously, I expected the book to be thorough, but I learned more about politics, history, and yes, baseball, than I ever imagined. In the end, the life of baseball's first--and finest--commissioner is too brief and we feel sad that we shall not see his like again in the game he helped make great. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not Just Another Ex-Jock Book
Jim Kaat's 20+ years on the mound translates into a good understanding of pitching which benefits his announcing and his book writing. Instead of wasting time with gossip, he offers solid and concise analysis of baseball, much of it unconventional.

He thinks that pitchers shouldn't be running before ballgames, because they are strengthening the wrong muscles. Pitchers can best get in shape by pitching and conditioning the same muscles they will need when they are working late in a game. He also thinks that pitchers should be throwing everyday to keep those muscles limber. There must be something to it. When Kaat retired, no one had played as many seasons and his only stint on the DL was when he broke his arm sliding into second base.

He also thinks that pitchers get into trouble over-thinking situations. A good example is Mike Mussina, a Stanford graduate. Kaat makes a good case that there is no substitute for throwing strikes. He points out that even the best hitters can't hit every pitch out in batting practice when they know what's coming. Why do pitchers worry that putting it across the plate is going to be disaster? David Wells is his example of a guy who just battles the hitters with his best stuff.

The book is pretty short, because unlike most authors who go on and on about a subject hitting it at the edges, Kaat aims square in the middle and moves on to something else. The publisher's worry about the book's shortness has lead to a bunch of filler material like Kaat's Teammate All-Star teams and greatest catchers he's seen. There's also a section at the end full of newspaper stories written about Kaat during his playing career.

The main body of the book may be short, but the wisdom contained within is worth more than books twice the size. I think Jim Kaat could write a really good book in the style of George Will's MEN AT WORK if some publisher gave him the opportunity.

Very Easy Read
This book really captures Jim Kaat. Having listened to him broadcast over the years I could almost hear him speaking the words from this book. It's a nice story by a guy who doesn't have an axe to grind with anyone. It was also a great example of how someone can be very opinionated without being controversial or nasty. As another reviewer hinted, this won't go down as a landmark in sports literature, but it is a really nice, easy read and is an all-around interesting story.

Sinatra did it his way. Kaat does it the right way.
I found this book an inordinately refreshing change of pace from the usual self-aggrandizing, back-biting, and vituperative drivel that one often finds in books of this nature. Instead of bludgeoning his readers with an endless series of cheap ad hominem attacks on his ex-teammates, or whining incessantly about the "wanton cruelty" of the "mass media" (again, an all too common feature in sports biographies these days), Mr. Kaat conveys to his readers something much more profound here: His undying and unconditional love for the sport he played.

While it may seem almost Kafkaesque to laud an ex-athlete for "doing the right thing" in his memoirs, that is not to say, however, that Mr. Kaat doesn't offer any criticism of some the men that he played with. It is just done tactfully, and in a manner that is devoid of the sort of malignant narcissism that one finds in say, David Wells' Tell-all tale.

Indeed, this book does feature more than its fair share of criticism against those who Mr. Kaat feels could have done more to help themselves, and their respective teams. For example:

- Did you know that Harmon Killebrew, while a great ballplayer, lacked the sort of leadership skills that one would hope for in a star of that magnitude? His passivity, especially with regards to his sheepish acceptance of any contract offered him by ownership, helped to undermine the position of many of his teammates when negotiating contracts.

Remember, this was long before professional athletes earned the sort of money they do today. They measured their financial success, as did most Americans at that time, in the tens of thousands, not the tens of millions that they do today.

- Did you know that George Steinbrenner, while always willing to spend millions on high-profile free agents, was capable of lying to and then chiseling aging veterans, like Jim Kaat, out of a meager few thousand dollars? (hehe...surprised? Nor was I).

Now, Mr. Kaat does not frame his criticism of King George in quite the same way as I did above. But his anger was, nonetheless, evident. There are, of course, more such examples of this book's critical offerings, but the two I've provided above should suffice.

Any Yankee fan, like me, who has listened to Mr. Kaat broadcast Yankee games for the past nine years, knows that he is literally a bottomless well of baseball anecdotes. One of my favorites from his book is the story he tells about Graig Nettles, the great Yankee third baseman from 1973-83, who had started his career with Minnesota in late-60s.

Kaat and Nettles had been good friends during their days together in Minnesota. Subsequently, after Nettles had been traded to Cleveland and then to New York, the two faced each other many times, with Nettles usually getting the better of Kaat. Kaat speculates that this was so because they had been such good friends in Minnesota. Nettles, therefore, felt comfortable batting against Kaat-too comfortable. One night, Nettles, while batting against Kaat, was being pestered by a moth that kept flying around his face. Nettles jokingly barked out at Kaat, "hey Jim, was that your fastball?" Angered by this, and by all the previous success that Nettles had had against him, Kaat threw the next pitch, a fastball, right under Nettles' chin. Nettles fell backward and looked out at Jim in stunned disbelief. Suffice it to say, Nettles never again enjoyed the same success against Kaat after that.

That is but one of many charming stories that Jim shares with his readers. This is a book that any true baseball fan will enjoy reading. Mr. Kaat's sincerity, straight-forwardness, and love for the game of baseball is as refreshing as a cold iced-tea is on a hot summers day...a day which is perfect for baseball.

A throwback biography
If you remember the typical sports biography before Jim Bouton wrote Ball Four, arguably the best baseball book -- and the only sports book on the New York Times top 100 books of the last millennium -- this is that "good old days" genre.

Kaat, with Phil Pepe, is a long way from David Wells, who now plays for the team for which Kaat announces, the New York Yankees. And the difference just isn't in the books Wells and Kaat had published this year. Wells will finish with about 80 fewer career wins than Kaat, but most certainly has more headlines than Kaat ever did. Considering the careers of the two, that seems somewhat unfair. Not that Kaat would complain.

You'll have to read between the lines when Kaat dislikes someone, although it's clear everything in his 25-year major league career wasn't a "gee whiz experience." In fact, it could be argued Kaat's book is an exercise in tact. His restraint in personal attacks is almost an education.

If you grew up in the '50s or '60s -- particularly in the Midwest -- you might enjoy Kaat's book immensely. Surely Minnesota Twins' fans who have begun to read "Best Places to Retire" will enjoy it.

For any baseball fan, certainly the most poignant aspect that surfaces is baseball might be a warm game to play if you're in love with the sport, but it's a cold business. Despite his near Hall of Fame credentials, Kaat received his share of poor treatment in his career.

For instance, it certainly would surprise most fans under 25 that despite his statistics in Minnesota, he took a pay cut during 7 of his 13 years with the Twins. And when he details his releases from these teams, well, it doesn't say much about people who run the game. I suppose no real baseball follower will be surprised, but they might be interested.

Despite all that, it's clear Kaat's a good guy with more humility than you'll find among some people who work in middling "front office" positions in the game today.

I was a sports writer during the tail end of Kaat's career, and interviewed him a couple times after he left the game as a player. He's as classy and tactful in real life as he is in this book. He's far more entertaining in person or as a broadcaster than he is here.

Still, stories about advice dad gave him when it came time to sign his first pro contract are certainly interesting, and if you have a kid who is a budding big-leaguer maybe reading Kaat's book will educate the youngster about the game, offer some history and help make him a better person. I'd rather have my kid read Kaat than David Wells. ... Read more

Book Description

Before Barry Bonds, before Reggie Jackson, before Hank Aaron, baseball's stars had one undeniable trait in common: they were all white. In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke that barrier, striking a crucial blow for racial equality and changing the world of sports forever. I Never Had It Made is Robinson's own candid, hard-hitting account of what it took to become the first black man in history to play in the major leagues.

I Never Had It Made recalls Robinson's early years and influences: his time at UCLA, where he became the school's first four-letter athlete; his army stint during World War II, when he challenged Jim Crow laws and narrowly escaped court martial; his years of frustration, on and off the field, with the Negro Leagues; and finally that fateful day when Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers proposed what became known as the "Noble Experiment" -- Robinson would step up to bat to integrate and revolutionize baseball.

More than a baseball story, I Never Had It Made also reveals the highs and lows of Robinson's life after baseball. He recounts his political aspirations and civil rights activism; his friendships with Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, William Buckley, Jr., and Nelson Rockefeller; and his troubled relationship with his son, Jackie, Jr.

Originally published the year Robinson died, I Never Had It Made endures as an inspiring story of a man whose heroism extended well beyond the playing field.

Reviews (10)

A man who lived A dream...or did he?
When I think about someone like Jackie Robinson, I think of someone who had an easy life of playing baseball and making lots of money. He was first the first African-American to play in the professional Major League level and was highly respected by everyone. After having read his autobiography, I Never Had It Made, I realized that I was totally wrong. Besides the glory and the fame for having been the first African-American to play in the major leagues, Jackie had to go through many hardships to get where he got. Jackie uses this book to tell the reader of all the different trials and hardships he had to go through before, during, and after his professional career as the 1st and 2nd baseman of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie also tells of all the other things that he did besides baseball. I didn't know it, but Jackie went to UCLA and while he was there, he did many great things. Not only was a great baseball star at UCLA, he was also a big star in football, basketball, and track. After college, he went into the Army and became a lieutenant for the U.S. Army before he signed with the Montreal Royals (a minor league baseball team) in 1945. Jackie gives a lot of the credit to Mr. Branch Rickey, the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers for having the guts to bring him into the team and making the transition as easy as possible. Jackie promised to take in any insults thrown at him while he was in baseball uniform and not to respond to them for two years. This was to pave the way for other black players to be brought into the major league. I personally don't think that I can play a game while people are yelling and making fun of me. Jackie describes what he had to go through in the book. Jackie also discusses the hate mail he got and even the threats people placed on his life. He also tells of his wife and the kind of positive impact she had on him as well. Many people think of Jackie Robinson as being only a baseball player, but he did much more. After retiring from baseball, he did many things in regard to the civil rights issue. He influenced many issues and was even the political scene, helping President Nixon and President John F. Kennedy during their stay in office. He was even apart of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). In the book, you learn more about his relationships with Jesse Jackson, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, and many others. Jackie Robinson accomplished many things and had endured many problems even within his own family. He talks about the drug problems that plagued his oldest son and all the hardships his children had to go through being the sons and daughter of a famous African-American figure. Jackie changed the way of life for many people and gave hope to the African-American community. After all of this, Jackie learns that no matter what his successes were in the white world, he would always remain a black man. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in knowing about Jackie Robinson. You wouldn't expect for a baseball player to be a good enough writer to write a three hundred page autobiography, but I thought Jackie did a great job. The book flowed and it never got boring. I didn't even want to put it down, just kept turning the pages. This book gave great insight into the kind of life African American faced in the early to mid nineteen hundreds and what they had to endure. Jackie Robinson is not only a great icon in the world of professional sports, but in other aspects as well and I think that he did awesome job in writing this book.

I Never Had It Made
This book tells of the struggles Jackie Robinson faced as he made a name for himself in the game of baseball. This is a wonderfully writen autobiography that tells the emotion and physical hardships he faced not only in the major and minor leagues while playing baseball but also in his everyday life as well.While perservering through all this, he succeeded to a degree of breaking the color barrier in the United States. As a child he witnessed constant racism from neighbors, children, and many others that came into contact with him. His mother brought him up to be very strong and independent because when Jackie was about one or two his father went to the city and never returned. He left her with nothing but thier five children who were all too young to work and support the family. Eventually after being forced to move, they went to live with Jacies uncle in California.
This book really showed me how hard he had it. Not only did he have the pressures of playing in the major leagues but also have to worry about prejudist on the field and in the stands. You will see how he didnt have a friend to talk to unless his wife, Rachel Robinson, would travel with him during the season. There was no one who even dreamed of having a black man in baseball until the dodgers took on Jackie. Baseball has never been the same because of the influence this one man has had on the sport itself and many if not all other sports indirectly.
"I Never Had It Made" tells Robinson's early years and influences such as his college experience at UCLA, where he became the school's first four-letter athlete;World War II , playing with the Negro Leagues; and when Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers asked Jackie Robinson to play, which was known as the "Noble Experiment".The league itself recieved a lot of critism from fans during the timethis "experiment" was unvealed.Jackie Robinson expesses his deppest feelings in this book and writes of his relationship's with individual player's and managers. He also talked of the few he had arguments and different views in many areas. There is many accounts of important games such as the 1955 World Series, when jackie Robinson and the Dodgers won against thier rivals.
This book is a great story of one man's determination and detication to a sport he loved to play through thick and thin. He did this in the faces of all those people who said it could never happen,.it would never happen, and blacks will never say in major league baseball in the United States.Jackie Robinson was a true hero

Everyone in America should read this book
This is a very important book. It documents one man's struggle against terrible odds. It should be assigned reading in every junior high school in America. I know that I'll be giving a copy to my kids so that can read the story of a man who said what he believed & fought for his ideals.

I Never Had it Made
"I Never Had It Made" by Jackie Robinson is an amazing biography of one of the most remarkable figures in the history of baseball. There is much more to Robinson than just baseball. From his fight for respect in the US Army to his support of Rockefeller, Robinson deserves much respect for this and is probably one of the best symbols of everything this country should represent. Much of the baseball critics doubted that he could even hit a big league pitch. Tom Candiotti said major league pitchers would "knock the bat right out of his hands." Robinson's critics claimed he couldn't hit because "he was all tied up at the shoulders and could never get around on the pitches inside." Jackie Robinson gave all of us, not only athletes, but every person in this country, a sense of our own strength. However, because I am an athlete, I looked at Jackie a little differently. This is not all about baseball; it's about the deep commitment that Robinson made to achieve justice for himself and all Americans. In 1947 Robinson broke the color line in the major leagues and suffered terrible abuse for doing so. He discusses his relationships with the sports figures he admired, and also recalls his run-ins with those he did not like. It is later about political involvements after his career ended in 1956 and his friendships with Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, William Buckley, and Nelson Rockefeller.

I Never Had It Made
This is an inspiring book that talks about the life of a great sports figure named Jackie Robinson. Who was the man who broke the color barrier in baseball. Despite all odds he does what many people thought was impossible. He had went through many hardships but never gave up. He gave hie people hope and something to shoot for now that he did the impossibe. Jackie Robinson was a hero ... Read more

Book Description

Seven decades of remarkable stories and memorable moments as told by one of baseball's most colorful characters

"Zim: A Baseball Life . . . may be the best decision the Yankee coach ever made. On every page, he is there to be appreciated for his journey as a player, manager, and coach for more than half a century as well as for his wisdom, his humor, and for his just being himself."

­­Dave Anderson, New York Times

"Perfect . . . It's as if we were sitting down with Zim for a few beers and a long night of great stories."

­­Booklist

"A cut above the average baseball autobiography."

­­Publishers Weekly

Don Zimmer's autobiography takes the baseball fan everywhere he's been over his 53 years in the game. From Stengel to Torre, from Pee Wee Reese to Derek Jeter, this is the story of Zim's remarkable journey through baseball.

Reviews (13)

Not just stories, but insight into his character
After reading Zim: A Baseball Life, I was not surprised by the things that happened with Don Zimmer in the 2003 post-season. He's a tough old guy who knows what he thinks, and he has his own reasons to be upset at a pitcher who throws at people's heads (Zimmer was once nearly killed by a pitched ball). Zimmer is willing to own up to his mistakes, and he is the one guy who made a public apology after the incident with Pedro Martinez. It's also not surprising that he threatened to quit because of Steinbrenner's treatment of the coaching staff - the book has several examples of Zimmer leaving jobs when he felt he wasn't being treated right.

Zimmer finds something nice to say about most of the people he's worked with, except for Bill Lee. He hates Bill Lee, who named him The Gerbil. Lee is a counterculture type, the sort I would expect to get under Zimmer's skin. I was disappointed but not surprised to learn that Zimmer finds Bill Lee to be not just insufferable, but almost sub-human.

ENTERTAINING
ZIM IS A GOOD READ. IT IS WELL TOLD, INTERESTING, HUMOROUS, AND NOSTALGIC. DON ZIMMER IS REALLY A UNIQUE MAN. SEEMS LIKE HE HAS BEEN AROUND BASEBALL SINCE THE GAME WAS INVENTED. I READ THIS BOOK IN 3 DAYS, BUT I WISHED I HAD TAKEN MY TIME AND SAVORED IT MORE. IT IS LIKE A FINE WINE IT GOT BETTER WITH EACH CHAPTER. THIS BOOK IS FOR ANY BASEBALL FAN WHO WANTS TO BE ENTERTAINED AND TO LEARN SOME GREAT "WAR" STORIES CONCERNING THE BASBEALL LIFE OF DON ZIMMER. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Last Of The Breed
Geez, what a great, great book. What a great story and what a great life. Don Zimmer is the last of the best generation of ball players, the ones who played because they loved the game and focused on it all the time. It is a major loss that he's still not on a bench somewhere imparting his wisdom. This is by far my favorite baseball book and made me feel young again. I mean, who doesn't love the Zim? One thing though, while reading it. Major League Baseball should give the wives a pension too for all the support they give their husbands over the years. Just buy the book, I promise you, you won't be sorry.

Great Entertaining Book....
Don Zimmer is a true gentleman in the sport. He is old school and brings the experience of playing when players barley got paid.

ZIM
A summary of my book is about Don Zimmer's life. Don zimmer was a professional baseball player. Don Zimmer is now the bench coach for the new York Yankees. People consider Don Zimmer a Baseball mastermind, but he disagrees he quoted in his book that if he was a baseball mastermind he wouldn't have hit a 257 batting average. But I think he is because you can tell that he knows what he is talking about from reading the book. Bill madden (author) Wrote about all the important things that happened in his life from he was born to now. He considers himself as an average baseball player only because he had a 257 career batting average, but he is an a lot better player then average. He played with Jackie Robinson (the first African American player to enter the Major leagues. He played in the pros for a long time and he had excellent experience so when he tells a big leaguer something they better listen because he knows what hes talking about.
I enjoyed reading "ZIM" He gave the readers good tips and I know he gives the Yankees great tips. This book was probably my favorite book that I ever have read because it was really interesting when he told stories about times in his life. I also like the book because he loves baseball and so do I.
By,
K.C ... Read more

Reviews (16)

More than Home Runs, More than Baseball
I was a kid when Hank Aaron broke the Home Run record -- and I grew up thinking that's what he was about, like an early George Foster. The audio book, with a Foreword and Afterword read by Henry Aaron himself, really brings the player and the man to you. He was an all-around player, at least once he found a defensive position where he had major-league talent.

His offense was outstanding, setting many more records than just Most Home Runs and reaching many milestones. He also is a man of conscience and character that pushed through a number of color barriers without the flamboyance of some of today's leaders.

The narrative, read by Courtney Vance, shifts without warning between 1st and 3rd persons. I found this interesting and it helped hold my attention. If you enjoy baseball entertainment like the movie "Bull Durham", this is for you.

Best Read If You Are A Fan
I Had a Hammer is a wonderful book if you are a fan of Hank Aaron or of baseball in general. Aaron gives insights into what it was like to come out of Alabama during the Jim Crow era from his days as a boy, to playing in the Negro Leagues, signing with the Braves, all the way up until his retirement from baseball.

That's the good part. As a life-long, Aaron fan I loved it. Unfortunately, the book lacks much of the passion and drive that led Aaron to breaking Ruth's unbreakable career home run record.

One From The Heart.
Henry Aaron is probably the most underrated baseball player of all time. His story is seldom told or mysticized like other baseball gods. 'I Had A Hammer' is story from the heart. Honest and bold, it tells of Aaron's and other black players' struggle to make it in the big leagues. A must read even if you have the slightest interest in baseball.

Goes Beyond all of the Home Runs.....
In this book, you'll find out that Hank Aaron is not just a home run smasher. Statistics show that he is an excellent all-round player, probably better than most fans make him out to be.

On top of being a star, Aaron's story is amazing with all of the racism, discrimination & hate that he went through.

After reading this book, you will probably wonder why No. 715 was only SECOND on mastercard's most memorable moments. Also, you may, like me, want Hank to keep the home run record forever. I'd rather have someone who worked hard for it than a hideously overpaid A-Rod, or stuck-up Bonds.

Bottom line: get this book if you enjoy sports at all.

Beyond just another sports biography
This is a terrific autobiography that transcends the classification of sports writing. It is written in a style and format that that is compelling and informative. The typical sports biographies tell a series of funny and dramatic inside stories around memorable moments in sports history that the subject participated in. When well done, the reader gets what he or she is looking for and then some. When poorly done we get some stale jokes, old stories and an inept attempt at describing the true meaning of courage. In "I Had a Hammer" Henry Aaron and Lonnie Wheeler have given us a glimpse at a young black man growing up in the Deep South to become the greatest home run hitter of all time. In the odyssey we see the elements of society alternately denigrate and celebrate this gifted athlete. We are given these insights through the co-writer's preambe to each chapter and the personal recollections of key players in the life and career of Hank Aaron. This array of perspectives is excellently done and gives the book a good flow. What gives it the greatest impact is the candid personal recollections of Mr. Aaron. He is outspoken in his contempt for the elements of racism that followed (or is it lead) him every step of the way to the top. Yet he is forgiving of many who may have slurred his race in the past and then later learned to overcome their biased opinions. Much of that transition came through their experiences with him and other early black major league ball players. This is a book about our nation's racial attitudes as seen through the experiences of the author.

Don't be mistaken, this is still an excellent book for the sports fan. The casual fan will come away with a greater sense of sports history. The Braves fan will really enjoy some of the historic events recreated in the middle chapters. The Milwaukee fan need only read the last paragraph of chapter 7 and a tear or two will likely fall. The Atlanta fan will come away with a challenge to accept the validity of Aaron's view of his experiences in that city. Some will and some won't. However, all sports fans will come away with an excellent education on race relations in America from the 1930' to very recent years. They will gain this insight not through a lecture by the authors but by the very human expressions of a man telling his own compelling story. ... Read more

Book Description

Yogi Bera, Whitey Ford, Stan Musial, Sandy Koufax, Willie Mays, Billy Crystal, David Halberstam, Tom Seaver, Regis Philbin...The list of those who eagerly shared a story or memory about Mantle is impressive as one of Mick's 500-foot home runs.

Our Mickey, an unusual and affecting tribute to a generation's most revered baseball player, bursts with powerful emotion and unprecedented warmth.This book includes the heartfelt memories of dozens of ballplayers, celebrities, authors, journalists, and just plain old fans who share their favorite story or anecdote about Mickey Mantle.Many of them will make you laugh.Some will induce a tear.All will provoke strong feelings.

Whether you're a longtime Mickey Mantle fan or just a fan of baseball, this is the one book about a generation's greatest player that will consistently rouse you. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A 4-bagger
First, I am not a Yankees fan, but they have had some great players over the years and Mantle is, arguably, one of the best, and I have always admired his considerable talent. Everyone knows his statistics and how he liked to party, but I was looking for some insights into the man, and this book delivered. The book is a series of reminiscences by teammates, opponents, writers, friends and people whose lives were touched in some way by Mantle. Some are funny, some are poignant, but all of them together give a picture of the man. If you enjoy reading about the person behind the legend, and how he was perceived by others who knew him, then you'll enjoy this book. It's a good read and I recommend it heartily.

Congratulations
Well done! I remember when you two were kicking around the idea of a Mickey Mantle book. Congratulations on all your great ideas coming to fruition. You two make an excellent team. Good luck, I hope you sell them all! I look forward to your next collaboration.

A fresh take on the legend of the Mick
There are lots of Mickey Mantle books out there, but I've never seen another like this. Anecdotes about Mickey from friends, teammates, and notable fans whose lives he touched. It's a fun, fast read as each story gives you a new perspective on one of the most colorful Yankees of all time. Unlike the standard-issue biographies out there, this book reads like a series of quick conversations and it is fascinating and entertaining to hear from such diverse names as Yogi Berra, David Halberstam, Regis Philbin, and Willie Mays. I learned a lot that I didn't know about Mickey, and I highly recommend this for you other Yankee fans out there. ... Read more

Book Description

The life of Mickey Mantle is the rags-to-riches story of the American dream. Born in the midst of the Great Depression, the eldest child in a mining family, Mantle rose to be one of America's ultimate baseball heroes.

In this portrait, veteran sportswriter Phil Berger recounts Mantle's stardom and the high price he paid to attain it. His father's sole passion was baseball, and he fervently dreamed that his first son would grow up to play in the majors. Under his father's relentless pressure, Mickey became a switch-hitter and refined his skills in all aspects of the game.

In 1949, Mantle signed with the Yankees' minor league team in Independence, Kansas. It was a difficult transition for the temperamental ball player. Despite his powerful hitting, Mantle's quick temper plagued him, making his performance erratic and his future uncertain.

However, in 1951, Mickey moved to the major leagues and with the Yankees soon came to epitomize the confidence and success of postwar America. He became the hero of his father's dreams.

The man with this brilliant career also had a dark side. Phil Berger shows us the glorious Mantle and the alcoholic one, the good teammate and the absent father and husband, and all the other contradictions and complexities of one of America's greatest celebrity athletes.

Mickey Mantle's baseball glory still shines through more than thirty years since his retirement, and it began on the dusty plains of Oklahoma, where Mantle's father drilled baseball into his son's bones, along with a drive to greatness. But greatness has its price--alcoholism, and the need to live up to his father's dreams shadowed Mantle throughout his life. Journalist Phil Berger goes beyond the legend to find the man beneath the Yankee pinstripes, the baseball player whose brilliance millions envied and whose flaws they felt themselves. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good for getting an idea abot him.
I did a book report on this two years ago. I the whole book. But had Alot of bad language in it. It tells you alot about him but not great for young children to read for reports. I read that when I was 10. ... Read more

Book Description

Most fans know Ralph Kiner as the New York Mets' long-tenured color commentator, but as a player he was one of the most feared hitters in the game; this autobiography allows Kiner to reveal his life story and to share his learned opinion about many topics affecting the game today. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Baseball from a rare perspective
Ralph Kiner is the personification of a solid role model for any baseball fan. He is a Hall of Famer in every sense of the word. In this breezy account of America's greatest game, Kiner pulls no punches in terms of his feelings about those who have influenced his life--Hank Greenberg, Branch Rickey, former teammates, and his beloved late wife DiAnn. He also does not shy away from today's controversial figures, including Pete Rose and Barry Bonds. Since he was instrumental in establishing the first players' association, he is no stranger to the struggle for such things as free agency.

Those of us fortunate enough to know Ralph Kiner well enough to call him a friend, can testify that he is one of today's outstanding conversationalists who speaks the sort of truth that can come only from real-world experience. Co-writer Danny Peary has maintained the immortal slugger's unique "voice" in helping to craft this page-turner.

To the die-hard baseball fan, this book will trigger some treasured memories of the past; for the newcomer to the sport, it will reveal how the game has evolved over the past 60 years.

This is a "must read" for baseball enthusiasts everywhere. ... Read more

Book Description

Former MLB umpire Dave Phillips was at the center of some of baseball's most unforgettable moments - Comiskey's infamous Disco Demolition Night, Gaylord Perry's spitball ejection, Albert Belle's confiscated corked bat and George Brett's pine tar bat debacle - and he shares with baseball fans the untold stories behind those incidents and many others, giving baseball fans a complete perspective on the life of an umpire. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

30 years of an umpires' perspective on MLB
Many books have been written on sports, some by the players, some by those who watch and some by the people whose job it is to write about them. However, the people who officiate the games have the most unique perspective on the game, how it is played and how it is managed, in the sense of the on-field manager up to the level of the executive. Dave Phillips was an umpire in the major leagues for 32 years and has witnessed many changes in the game.
Two points really stand out in the book. The first is how the umpires get along between themselves, which in many cases, is not very well at all. The stories about members of a crew hating each other so much that they refuse to even speak to each other or making bad calls and blaming others for it were disturbing. The idea that the umpires often do not work well together is a disturbing one, for even-handed officiating is the one thing that no sport can lack.
The second is that baseball really has some serious problems that must be corrected. As Phillips notes, there has been a serious drug problem in baseball for over a decade, with an adverse affect on many careers. The focus has now shifted from cocaine to steroids, but there still appears to be no stomach for tackling the issue. Which is silly, because allowing the players to continue using drugs damages their careers and ultimately their health.
Phillips recounts many of the most memorable events in the last three decades, from Gaylord Perry finally being kicked out of a game for using grease on a ball to George Brett being called out on a home run because there was too much pine tar on his bat. All are presented from the perspective of the umpire, which is an interesting one.
The most disturbing point in the book is when Phillips discusses George Steinbrenner and an incident where Steinbrenner was asking for "special consideration" from the umpires. I found the description disgusting, I have never been a fan of Steinbrenner, but now I loathe him, a position all who care about the game should have.
At the end of the book, Phillips goes over what he considers the fundamental problems baseball now has, from high ticket prices, to the lack of a commissioner tasked with "acting in the best interests of baseball." Clearly, the powerful owners seem unable to learn from other sports. Basketball and football have salary caps with revenue sharing and the popularity of both has soared in the last two decades. In this time, baseball has entered into a state where two players on the Yankees earn more than all the players on some of the other teams. In this environment, some teams simply cannot be competitive, and that destroys a sport.

This Book Sucked
Worst book Ever.

Don't read it, don't buy it unless you need it for TP. I hear this book can turn your brain into mush.

Next time get your facts straight.

I rate this book negative six stars. But positive six stars for TP

This book in very inaccurate!
How can you name a book about the fire in center field at Disco Demolition and NOT mention the name Steve Dahl? That is insane! PLUS what IS mentioned in the text is nowhere NEAR accurate! You cannot say that there were no fans left in the stands I WAS THERE and I was STILL in the stands -- I NEVER went out onto the field and neither did a LOT of other people! I would not buy this book and I would not recommend this book!

And I thought umpires were just blind!

Dave Phillips Call Them As He Sees Them
Former umpire Dave Phillips provides us with a number of anecdotes from his 32 years umpiring major league baseball. Many of the stories are funny, and the book is intended to be light reading of his experiences in dealing with controversial incidents, various managers, and umpires. The book takes its title from Disco Demolition Night in Comiskey Park when fires were set in the outfield to burn disco records between games of a twi-night doubleheader between the White Sox and Tigers. Phillips doesn't appreciate his experiences with senior umpires such as Nestor Chylak and Larry Napp, who Phillips felt were not helpful to young umpires. He does express his appreciation of those such as Bill Haller who helped his career. As other books of this sort Phillips give his opinions on the DH (doesn't like it), a salary cap for baseball, World Series games starting earlier so the games end before midnight, and other issues baseball is facing. He feels, probably correctly, that baseball is in trouble unless positive steps are taken to correct its problems. The book is light reading, would hardly rate as a future classic, and I'm sure Phillips didn't intend it to be. It is an enjoyable quick read, and we are provided with his experiences with many baseball personalities we are all familiar with.

A good summer read
I read this book cover to cover the day I bought it. There are many amusing passages in the book and some wonderful baseball stories. The middle chapters are particularly good. The first and last chapters are a bit too pedestrian. This run-of-the-mill writing style is a problem in a few other places as well. This isn't a "dish the dirt" book. Although Phillips isn't afraid to say what he thinks and who he doesn't like, he avoids being mean spirited. He had a chance to really take a swipe at Sandy Alderson but instead takes the high route and presents a well argued defense for the umpires union. Overall, I found this to be a breezy, enjoyable read. ... Read more

Book Description

Christy Mathewson made headlines in the summer of 1905 for his amazing pitching exploits for the New York Giants, but the 25 year old already had an exalted place in public opinion because of his classic handsomeness, his reputation as a college man, and his moral stance in refusing to pitch on Sundays.

Mathewson benefited from a strict Baptist upbringing, natural intelligence, and superb athletic ability. He excelled in tense situations—"pitching in a pinch" he called it—and won 373 games in 17 seasons, all but one of those victories for the Giants. After his playing career, he was a manager, army officer and baseball executive, played a role in the unraveling of the Black Sox, and fought a courageous battle against tuberculosis. He did not have a flawed personality like Ty Cobb, nor was he larger-than-life like Babe Ruth; rather, he was a man with a keen sense of honor and responsibility for both private and public obligations. This biography documents in great depth his life on and off the baseball field, and draws from sources, old and new, to let Mathewson’s life speak for itself. Not many sports figures can withstand such scrutiny. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the nicer outgrowths of the ascendancy of slugger Sammy Sosa has been the renewed spotlight on the life and career of Roberto Clemente, the player he idolized and modeled himself after. One of the great stars of the midcentury, Clemente was the first Latin to be enshrined in Cooperstown after playing 18 Major League seasons, posting a .317 career batting average, and leading Pittsburgh to two World Series. He prowled right field with amazing grace, possessing what many consider the greatest arm in the game's history. Yet his grandeur resides as much in what he accomplished by example off the field: "Any time you have an opportunity to accomplish something for somebody who comes behind you and you don't do it, you are wasting your time on earth," notes Clemente in his biography. He didn't waste his abbreviated allotment. A true humanitarian--baseball gives an annual public service award in his name--he worked tirelessly to help those in need; indeed, he died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve, 1972, on the way to help earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Born in poverty in Puerto Rico, Clemente rose on the strength of his magnificent talents, but never forgot his roots. His was a complex, often thrilling life; Markusen, a senior researcher in the library at the Hall of Fame, has done it justice in this comprehensive and thoughtful examination of a remarkable human being who lived on and off the field with equal passion. --Jeff Silverman ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Rave Review
I'm not sure where the previous reader is coming from. There is plenty about Clemente the man-- his sense of humor, his pride, his work ethic, his philanthropy. Yes, the emphasis is on baseball in this book, but thoughts on Clemente's personality and character are interspersed throughout. Great descriptions of Clemente in the World Series and in the '71 All-Star Game. I highly recommend this book.

Interesting because of the subject
This biography of Roberto Clemente could have been so much better. It's easy enough to read, because Clemente himself is so interesting, but there are flaws with it. The book is not well-edited and tends to repeat itself too much; for instance, the subject of reporters quoting Clemente phonetically is mentioned several times throughout the book, as if the writer feels the need to reintroduce us to this fact over and over and over. Also, little sense of Clemente as a man emerges.

An excellent read for fans of the GREAT CLEMENTE
The 1971 World Series was the first one that I remember vividly. I was nine years old at the time, and I remember rooting for the Pirates. I also vividly remember how Clemente took over the series. His talents were put on the national spotlight for baseball fans in a big way.

This book in great detail displays not only Clemente's terrific skills as a baseball player, but also his wonderful work as a humanitarian and the numerous good deeds he did for men,women,and children.

The book also discusses the many struggles that Clemente and other Latinos experienced during their careers. Clemente was an extremely proud man, and was justified in his anger when certain people tried to 'Americanize' him.

It is rare for an athlete to become more popular after his death, but I believe that Clemente is a prime example of this. He never really got the national exposure he deserved until the 1971 World Series, and his death in 1972 cut short not only a tremendous playing career, but more importantly deprived the world of no doubt more humanitarian efforts to those in need.

This is the second book written by Bruce Markusen that I have had the pleasure of reading. His talents as a baseball writer are evident, this is by far the best baseball book that I have read. I look forward to the next book!!!!!

FIVE STARS for a greatly detailed book on one of the best baseball players of our time, but most important, one of the best human beings of our time.

A must read for Baseball fans
This book is a necesity for fans of the game, and fans of a truly great baseball player and humanitarian. Roberto Clemente was and still is a role model to all. Bruce Markusen does an incredible job relaying Clemente's legacy to his readers. Roberto is my favorite baseball player of all time, and he played for my favorite team. It is great to see such an accurate portrail of such a legend. To realize that athletes can be more than just a source of entertainment is hard enough to understand, let alone write an entire book on the subject. I highly recomend this book to anyone who would like to learn more about a true "legend of the game". I would also like to add that Bruce Markusen autographed my copy of this book. He is a great author and a class act.

A Great Read
I enjoyed this book thoroughly. Its detail and comprehensiveness make it an insightful read into a complex man. I recommend it highly. ... Read more

Book Description

This inspiring collection pays tribute to baseball legend and civil rights hero Jackie Robinson.Jackie¹s daughter, Sharon, acts as a personal tour guide through the nine heartfelt, hard-won values that helped her father achieve his goals. Jackie¹s values are brought to life through the powerful words of other heroes and pioneers, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Oprah Winfrey, and Christopher Reeve. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The values by which Jackie Robinson lived his life
It is Jackie Robinson's daughter Sharon who first came up with "Jackie's Nine" as part of an educational program called "Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life," an in school program supported by Major League Baseball, which used baseball-themed activities as teaching tools. These nine values are the ones that Sharon Robinson sees as being instrumental in her father's life, a subject which she has written about previously in her family biography "Stealing Home: An Intimate Portrait of Jackie Robinson." She picked nine because a baseball team has nine players and a game is nine innings long.

As far as I am concerned Jackie Robinson and Babe Ruth are the two most important sports figures of the 20th century from the perspective of their impact on society. My argument would be that the popularity of other athletes like Muhammed Ali and Michael Jordan are separate issues from their social significance. You can claim such stars are, in a way, the Babe Ruths of their day, and while Ali and Jordan may well be more popular around the world than the Babe ever was, Jackie Robinson has a legacy that can not even be approached, let alone be equaled (I remember that Larry Doby was the first African American to play in the American League, but I could not tell you who broke the color barrier in the NBA or NFL.). We can argue about who is "best," but who is "first" is a much easier argument to make.

"Jackie's Nine" is essentially an anthology, which includes autobiographical passages from both Jackie Robinson and his daughter as well as profiles of people she sees as carrying on her father's legacy in terms of each of the nine values: (1) Courage: Elizabeth Eckford; (2) Determination: Christopher Reeve; (3) Teamwork: Pee Wee Reese and David Robinson (her brother, not the basketball player); (4) Persistence: Roberto Clemente; (5) Integrity: Muhammed Ali; (6) Citizenship: Marian Wright Edelman; (7) Justice: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; (8) Commitment: Rachel Robinson; and (9) Excellence: Michael Jordan and Oprah Winfrey. This book also includes the eulogy for Jackie Robinson delivered by the Reverend Jesse Jackson.

"Jackie's Nine: Jackie Robinson's Values to Live By" is what I think of as a nightstand book, where you read a section each night before going to sleep because it is beneficial to mull over each of the values and how they manifested themselves in the public careers of Jackie Robinson and these others. Of course, then it becomes impossible not to consider how your own live exhibits these values (or fails to). This is not a book that preaches, but rather one that tries to makes it point by example. Do not be surprised if after reading "Jackie's Nine" you are not interested in reading all of "I Never Had It Made" by Jackie Robinson, "Stealing Home" by Sharon Robinson, "Still Me" by Christopher Reeve, " or any of the dozen books from which excerpts are drawn for this volume.

Jackie's Nine
Jackie's Nine is broken down into values rather than chapters. Each is a true value that Jackie Robinson lived by. His daughter, Sharon, also lived by them after his death. Jackie was a great baseball player of all time who fought for his rights to play. Sharon shares his stories and many other people's stories of courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment, and excellence. Sharon uses flashbacks of when Jackie first started playing ball and of her childhood days to explain some of the values. I feel this would be a good book for baseball lovers and young adults. It is a good book that helps people understand what Jackie's family went through when he started to play Major League baseball. This book is unique because it not only tells about Jackie's values, but it demonstrates other famous people who share similar values. I enjoyed this book because I learned a lot more about Jackie Robinson and other celebrities such as Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan. Athletes of all kinds can come to enjoy Jackie's Nine.

I seldom read a book in one sitting, ...
but I also seldom read a book this good. With chapters on Courage, Determination, Teamwork, Persistence, Integrity, Citizenship, Justice, Commitment and Excellence, this book can be read in one sitting or by the chapter (as each is an individual story). Some of the writing is Sharon's and some of it is Jackie's. Others contribute, including Roger Kahn, Christopher Reeve & Jackie's wife, Rachel. Baseball fans will enjoy stories detailing Jackie's initial meeting with Branch Rickey, stealing home in the World Series and his relationship PeeWee Reese. This is a great book to read with your children or to your children.

A Must-Read for Kids and Adults to Read with their Kids
In a thoughtful, sincere, approachable tone, Sharon Robinson offers young adults wonderful examples of character-building values based on nine by which her father lived his life in baseball, business, civil rights and at home. She has compiled this anthology of writings based on her own stories, her father's writings, and also writings by and about other notable individuals who she feels also embody Jackie Robinson's values. For any young adult looking for guidelines by which to model good behavior and for any parent looking for another means of imparting values on their children, this book is a welcomed addition to the family library. I would give it to any young adult I know. ... Read more

Book Description

"Maybe the good Lord was just waiting for me to put on the pinstripes."

When Joe Torre was fired as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1995, he thought his career in baseball was over. After more than three decades and
4,200 games as a player and manager, one thing had always eluded him--winning a World Series.

He had all but given up his dream when the New York Yankees made him an offer to manage their 1996 club.Encouraged by his wife and others, he accepted, and so began one of the greatest seasons in the fabled history of the New York Yankee franchise and one of the most inspiring, heartwarming stories in all of
baseball.

Here is the ultimate insider's record of that unforgettable season by the man whose personal struggles captured the hearts and imaginations of fans
everywhere. Tough, gritty, but always fair and honest, Torre vividly reveals how he turned a potentially volatile mix of talented youngsters such as Andy
Pettitte and Derek Jeter, seasoned veterans like Wade Boggs and Paul O'Neill, and so-called "problem" players like Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden into a cohesive unit that cared more about winning than personal egos.He explains how he played his hunches and earned his team's confidence and respect as he
focused his players from spring training on toward one goal: the World Series. And he did it all in a pressure-filled sports city that expects nothing less
than a champion.

But how he did it is only part of this remarkable story.For at the same time that Torre was overcoming the odds on the field, his family was facing much
greater hardships off the field.He speaks candidly and emotionally of the tragedy of his oldest brother Rocco's sudden death, and the agonizing ordeal of
his other older brother, Frank, who waited for the heart transplant that could save his life.It was his wife, Ali, who gave him the faith to believe
anything was possible. Together with his sisters Rae and Sister Marguerite, a nun from Queens, they dared to dream the impossible.In a fairy-tale ending
not even the best Hollywood scriptwriter could imagine, Frank Torre got his new heart the day before the Yankees won their first World Series championship
since 1978--and Joe Torre won his first ever.

Here is Joe Torre's own story--told for the first time in his own words--from his early childhood in Brooklyn, to his celebrated baseball career playing with the likes of Hank Aaron and Bob Gibson, to his stint as the first native New Yorker ever to manage the Yankees.Offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at a season to remember and a man who went through so much to reach the pinnacle of his profession, Chasing the Dream is more than just another sports
story.It is a poignant reminder of why we love the game--and how, sometimes, nice guys do finish first. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

King of the Hill
This is one of the best books I have ever read. Joe Torre, through his life's journey, is in my eyes the King of the Hill. All the things he went through in life that he conquered make him the man he is today, and what a gift the Yankees got!

For everyone who said 'Joe who?' when George hired him as manager, I hope you read this book and find out the man behind #6!

The Best Encourging Book I've Ever Read
Chasing the Dream is the best book I've ever read. It let's people know that goal reaching is possible, if you work for it. I now know that I can't procrastinate practice. If I want to achieve my dream I must work for it. Most people believe that goal reaching is impossible, but since I've read this book, my dream is coming closer, and closer to being achived. I defiantly would like to thank Joe Torre and Tom Verducci for making my dream possible and encouraging me to get on the right track. Thanks a million and one. Hopefully you'll see me in the 2008 Olympics for softball (i'll be the one pitching in the final games for the USA team) :)

A must-read for any New York baseball fan.
Chronicles Joe Torre's life from childhood growing up in Brooklyn to his Championship Season with the Bronx Bombers. Insightful and honest look into Torre's personal life and all his days spent on the field and in the dugout.

an excellent baseball biography
Joe Torre does an outstanding job of re-creating the 1996 World Series in stunning and emotional detail. He proves that baseball managers are as much team psychologists as they are the men who make decisions on the field. Clearly for Yankee fans, this book will nevertheless appeal to all baseball fans and readers.

A poignant and emotionally revealing book .
This book is a must for die-hard Yankee fans and admirers of Joe Torre. Joe speaks about his life and the 1996 World Champion New York Yankees in an critically honest and emotionally revealing manner. Joe takes us on his journey in such a way that you feel as if you are side-by-side with him every step of the way. His roller coaster journey of the highs and lows of the 1996 baseball season compounded by personal tragedy, and the miracle of his brother Frank's successful heart transplant are especially riveting. I loved this book! ... Read more

Book Description

When legendary Red Sox hitter Ted Williams died on July 5, 2002, newspapers reviewed the stats, compared him to other legends of the game, and declared him the greatest hitter who ever lived. Richard Ben Cramer, Pulitzer Prize winner and acclaimed biographer of Joe DiMaggio, decodes this oversized icon who dominated the game and finds not just a great player, but also a great man.

In 1986, Richard Ben Cramer spent months on a profile of Ted Williams, and the result was the Esquire article that has been acclaimed ever since as one of the finest