Book Description

Baseball’s Natural: The Story of Eddie Waitkus is John Theodore’s true account of the slick-fielding first baseman who played for the Cubs and Phillies in the 1940s and became an immortalized figure in baseball lore as the inspiration for Roy Hobbs in Bernard Malamud’s The Natural.

The son of Lithuanian immigrants, Edward Stephen Waitkus (1919-1972) grew up in Boston and served in the Pacific during World War II. His army service in some of the war’s bloodiest combat earned him four Bronze Stars. Following the war, Waitkus became one of the most popular players of his era. As a rookie he led the Cubs in hitting in 1946 and quickly established himself as one of the best first basemen in the National League. To the disappointment of fans, the Cubs traded Waitkus to the Phillies in December of 1948. When he returned to Chicago in a Philadelphia uniform in June of the following year, he was hitting .306 and seemed destined for the All Star team.

On the night of June 14 at the Edgewater Beach Hotel, Waitkus’s bright career took an infamously tragic turn. He received a cryptic note summoning him to meet a young fan, Ruth Steinhagen. When Waitkus entered her hotel room, she proclaimed, "I have a surprise for you," and then she just as quickly shot him in the chest. Steinhagen, then only nineteen, was one of the many young women—called "Baseball Annies"–who were fanatic about the game and its players, though her obsession proved more dangerous than most. A criminal court indicted Steinhagen and confined her to a state mental hospital for nearly three years.

Waitkus survived the shooting, made an inspirational return to baseball in 1950, and led the Phillies to the World Series. While Waitkus triumphed over his assault, he could not conquer his private demons. Depression stemming from the attack led to a severe problem with alcohol, a failed marriage, and a nervous breakdown. Waitkus found some happiness in his final summers working with youngsters at the Ted Williams baseball camp. Cancer claimed him in 1972, just days after his fifty-third birthday.

Through interviews with Waitkus’s family, fellow servicemen, former ballplayers, and childhood friends, and aided by fifteen photographs, Theodore chronicles Waitkus’s remarkable comeback as well as the difficult years following his eleven-year major league career. New York Times sportswriter and 1988 Pulitzer Prize nominee Ira Berkow provides the foreword to this compelling rediscovery of baseball’s natural. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Bounding balls and femme fatales
In order to fully understand the events described in this book, one needs to place oneself in the time frame in which they arose.

1949 was a backward period in American history, in which a woman could shoot a man that she did not even know and not even be universally lionized as an empowerment-achieving heroine. It was actually a time in which she could expect to receive a measure of legal and moral reprobation for her actions. Indeed, it was a time when men weren't even universally regarded as worthless, simply for having been born male, and some regarded their lives as having purpose and value. It was a time when millions of people across the country actually found themselves praying for the speedy recovery of the male victim and even lionizing HIM as the hero.

This was the historical setting in which deranged Baseball Annie, Ruth Steinhagen, shot Philadelphia Phillie first baseman Eddie Waitkus. John Theodore's book largely describes what happened to both the assailant and her victim after the shooting, though, of course, he also includes a pre-shooting biography of both of them.

As a misogynist and a baseball fan, I would find it easy to simply regard this book as being the story of woman who committed the unpardonable crime of not only shooting a man - but a male baseball player yet.

Yet - and this is to Theodore's credit - he brings home the realities of Steinhagen's obsession with Eddie Waitkus forcefully enough that even this reader could empathize with it, and I did find myself taking as much interest in Steinhagen's story as I did in Waitkus's.

This reader himself has undergone two or three experiences in which he found himself strongly obsessed to the point of distraction with an unattainable member of the opposite sex - none of which, I hasten to add, ever had the potential of becoming harmful. But by giving his readers a glimpse into the stark and chilling world of a mind trapped in such a grip, Theodore provided this reader with a glimpse into a mind that once resembled his own - differing (however greatly) only in the strength and emphasis of the grip that seized it.

The experience gave me a there-but-for-the-grace-of-God-go-I sensation and strengthened my resolve never again to walk that path. I actually would have liked to read more about Steinhagen - her mental health was restored and she is alive today - than Theodore actually provided, and I imagine that Theodore would have liked to have written more about her. But the book is largely about Waitkus, presumably because there is more information about him in the public record and because people close to him (this is obviously not a surprise) were more willing to talk than were people close to Steinhagen (attempts to contact Steinhagen herself were rebuffed).

I was going to give this book 4 stars on the basis of the author's workmanlike acquisition and delineation of the facts but the Waitkus story, as Theodore weaved it, "grew" on me the more that I read into it.

Of the World War II generation, Waitkus himself was a corking good ballplayer - though not a Hall of Famer. But he was the best defensive first baseman of his era, one who sprayed the ball around for singles and doubles - more J.T. Snow than Lou Gehrig. There was nothing remarkable about his personality - which appears to have been of a blunt, yet affable character, which philosophically took life, including the tragedies that he suffered, as it was dealt to him. Kilroy in a major-league uniform - he would not be greatly remembered today as anything but one of many names from baseball's past, were it not for the shooting.

Yet there was really something almost Shakespearean about the story of his life. His recovery from the shooting and his efforts to restore his baseball career match nicely with the rise to glory of the fabled upstart "Whiz Kids" that were the pennant-winning Philadelphia Phillies of 1950.

But while his physical recovery appears to have been complete and while there is no indication that Waitkus allowed himself to dwell on the past, Theodore tells a story of a man already suffering from the hidden trauma caused by several harrowing war experiences having his trauma heightened by the only experience (occurring, ironically in civilian life) where he was the victim of gunfire.

After arriving at the summit of fame that was his leading role on the "Whiz Kids", Waitkus, turning too often to drink for solace, suffers slow declines in his baseball career, his marriage, and in his life after baseball that culminated in his untimely death from cancer in 1972 at the age of 53. It makes one wonder if Steinhagen's bullet didn't somehow find its target after all.

Yet, in his final years, he finds redemption in his continuing relationship with the children that were the product of his marriage and in being an instructor in Ted Williams's baseball camp. Theodore actually misses the opportunity to embellish upon the irony inherent in the fact that Ted Williams had to deal with his own personal demons while he lived, but it was the book's bittersweet ending that moves it into an elite classification in my judgment.

One minor baseball point that Theodore missed was another brush that Waitkus had with baseball history at the end of the 1951 season, featuring a historic Giants-Dodgers pennant race. Had Jackie Robinson not made a remarkable catch of Waitkus's low line drive in the final game between the Dodgers and the Phillies, the hit would have won the game for the Phillies and knocked the Dodgers out of the pennant race. The Giants would have won the pennant in the regulation season, and Bobby Thomson's miracle homer in the third game of the post-season never would have happened. Waitkus would have achieved the "spoiler's" fame later found by Joe Morgan and Gene Oliver.

Sign Him Up!!
Here is a first rate baseball story, albeit with a limited audience. "Baseball's Natural" is the story of Eddie Waitkus, who played first base for the Cubs, Phillies and Orioles from 1941 and 1946-1955. That 3 year WW2 break is significant. Many believe that the period after the War to 1960 was a golden age for Major League Baseball. Those were the years of the (pre-expansion) original 16 teams. The NFL was just coming out of the shadows. The NBA and NHL were minor sports by comparison. To appreciate BN, it helps to remember that period, even if one is not familiar with Waitkus. Eddie was a slick fielder and above average hitter with a bright future. He was intelligent, popular off the field, well-spoken and an inquisitive, well-dressed young man. Then, one night in June of '48, he visited a woman in a Chicago hotel room and was shot! He recovered from the physical wounds but not from the mental ones. Somehow the dual demons of the shooting and his WW2 experiences drove him slowly to drink. He was a quiet drunk, not a rowdy one. He hung out in nice bars. His downward slide was slow, almost imperceptible, but just as real. Waitkus was out of baseball by 1955. He never found a second career and was dead by the age of 53. Why is "Baseball's Natural" worthwhile? Because it is a sensitive tale that grabs the reader's interest and holds it. It is a quick reading story. It is also quite well researched, with a wide range of supporting interviews and photographs. Many baseball books deal with the established stars; it's nice to read one that features an average guy. And because we sense that many players must have their own private demons that are invisible to the even the most devoted fan. At the time of this review, Baseball is officially in "hot stove" season, a perfect time to give "Baseball's Natural" a tryout.

A Must Book For True Baseball History Fans
This book really tells the true story of Eddie Waitkus. If you are a true baseball history fan this book is a must for your collection. At waitkus.org you will find more information about Eddie Waitkus. Read the book, visit the website and you will get to know the man as well as the baseball player.

A Good Man Who Had A Hard Life
Author John Theodore has provided the reader with the most detailed account of the 1949 shooting of former Philadelphia Phillies' baseball star Eddie Waitkus by an obsessed 19 year-old female fan in a Chicago hotel. At the time of the shooting Waitkus was the leading vote getter among first basemen for the upcoming All-Star game to be played in Brooklyn, New York. Waitkus managed to overcome the attempt on his life and became an integral member of the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies Whiz Kids team that went on to win the National League pennant only to lose the World Series to the New York Yankees in four straight, but hard fought, close games. Waitkus's career began to wind down a couple of years later as he was waived out of the National League, and became a member of the 1954 Baltimore Orioles who were playing their first year in Crabtown after moving from St. Louis. His playing time was very limited and in 1955 the Orioles cut him loose, and he once again returned for a brief period of time with the Phillies. The post baseball years were not kind to Waitkus who, like so many other players during this time, had no training beyond baseball. He tried a job in sales, but hated it. He fought the demons of alcohol, and the memories he had of World War II when he fought in the Pacific in addition to the memory of the evening in 1949 when he nearly lost his life in the Chicago hotel room. He did find happiness as a batting instructor in a Ted Williams baseball camp for young boys. Here he was doing something he loved among kids who shared his devotion to the game. Eddie Waitkus died in 1973 at the age of 53 from esophageal and lung cancer which was most likely brought on by his many years of heavy smoking. I did find a few spelling errors in the book along with the fact that the song Take Me Out to the Ball Game was written in 1908, not 1909, as the book mentions. If you associate the name of Eddie Waitkus only with the unfortunate shooting incident, this book will provide you with additional information about the man's career in addition to details regarding that unfortunate evening in 1949.

A Good Man Fades Away...
It is common knowledge among baseball historians that Eddie waitkus provided the basis for "The Natural", a short story and film success.

The true story of Waitkus is far more tragic than the fictional version. This book successfully portrays the life of this somewhat obscure ballplayer. John Theodore does a fine job of researching Waitkus' life and career.

He also does a fine job of covering the little known details surrounding the woman who shot Waitkus on that fateful evening at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago in 1949. Her name is Ruth Steinhagen and her semi-successful reentry into society after release from an Illinois mental institution is chronicled.

It is one of the saddest stories ever in the world of sports.

Waitkus, who survived 2 years of intense combat in the South Pacific during WWII, returns from the war to resume a baseball career which sees him headed for superstardom, only to fall to a crazed females obsession with him.

Waitkus played in 1946,'47 and'48 with the Chicago Cubs. He was an All-Star and .300 hitter. Many considered him the best fielding first baseman in the game.

His trade to the Phillies for the 1949 season was considered a coup for the Phils. He was exactly what the youthful "Whiz Kids" needed; a quality veteran who could hit, field and lend class to the organization. He was hitting over .300 and leading the All-Star balloting in the National League when disaster struck in early June.

His subsequent recovery and contribution to the Phillies pennant winning 1950 team was the "feelgood" story of 1950. It wasn't to last however.

Waitkus was pursued by the residual demons of the shooting and latent WWII memories. He slumped in 1951 and, always a drinker, began to smoke and drink more heavily. Even marriage and a subsequent family which he loved dearly failed to assuage his demons. His physical skills reduced by the shooting, his continued late hour drinking contributing to his weakened condition, Waitkus never was able to fulfill his potential and by 1955 he was out of baseball.

Then the serious problems began.

Unable to find a job that satisfied him, he drifted from one job to another, finally ending up living in a rooming house near Harvard University and working the summers at what he knew best; an instructor at Ted Williams baseball camps. The end came suddenly in 1972 when a weakend Waitkus died from lung cancer at age 52.

In spite of the tragic aspects of Waitkus' life, Theodore successfully highlights the fact that Waitkus was a genuinely good guy; highly respected by all of his teammates, his family and Ted Williams. And most of all, the young campers he taught baseball to in the final years of his life. Many of them did not know he had played in the majors. They just knew that he knew a lot about baseball and that he loved working with them.

Theodore can be faulted only in failing to provide a good bibliography...otherwise this is an excellent biography and an important contribution to baseball history ... Read more

Book Description

At a time of unprecedented success for Latin American players in Major League Baseball, "Reflections on Roberto" offers a colorful and moving examination of the legacy left by one of the most dynamic players in baseball history, and someone who was undoubtedly one of its most selfless humanitarians. Legendary Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente died tragically almost 30 years ago during a mission of mercy to aid Nicaraguan earthquake victims, but his impact on the game will never be forgotten.Along with numerous essays, stories, and sidebars by author Phil Musick, "Reflections on Roberto" offers hundreds of color and black and white photos of Clemente, the man who led the way for players born outside of the United States. To this day he is an international hero who has the highest award in baseball for sportsmanship and community activism named after him. He also made history by becoming the first Latin American player to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. "Reflections on Roberto" is a touching and moving portrait of the man, and will prove to be a cherished addition to any baseball fan’s collection. ... Read more

Book Description

Barry Bonds: Baseball Superman is the biography of the game's first four-time Most Valuable Player. In 2001, Bonds broke the greatest record in sports, the all-time single-season home run record held over the years by Babe Ruth, Roger Maris and Mark McGwire, and arguably had the greatest season in baseball history. There is no doubt that for most fans, Barry Bonds is a man of mystery. Author Steven Travers documents the superstar's 2001 campaign as Bonds defied the very bounds of conventional logic and perfected the art of long-ball hitting. Travers also describes Bonds's childhood in Riverside, California, the hometown of his father, Bobby; his successful high school career in the Bay Area, and his All-American career at Arizona State. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Falls Flat
Being a great Barry Bonds fan, I wanted to like this book. I truly did. But its flaws were too glaring; it came across as one of those "strike while the iron is hot" books. Such books rarely offer anything of lasting quality.

Author Steve Travers tries to offer readers an insightful look into Barry Bonds The Man. While the attempt is admirable, I couldn't help but come away with the impression that the attempt failed. I came away knowing little to nothing new about what makes Barry Bonds tick. And isn't that why Bonds fans would be drawn to this?

A good portion of the book is fleshed out with pulpish sports writing. It's passable, but too often lacks passion. Some passages scream "written too quickly!" Where was the editor? (...)

Bonds fans should remain patient; a definitive book on this superstar is inevitable. This ain't it.

Steve should write more books like this
I decided to post this because of something I just noticed. I read Brent Bozell's book and was going to write a review of it (I liked it). I previously wrote a review of Barry Bonds: Baseball's Superman, written by my friend Steven Travers, so I checked it out. I was amazed to see all kinds of negative reviews of his book, which sold well and even won an award, I think. Then I read these reviews further and discovered that none of it had anything to do with Steve's book. It turns out Steve writes reviews of books and movies on Amazon himself. Like me, he is pretty conservative. He wrote some reviews about Michael Moore, books and documentaries by him, a few about him, etc.

Anyway, the stuff Travs wrote about Moore was not real flattering of Moore, but it looked to be researched and was basically within the framework of the stuff a lot of people write and say about Moore, who is pretty controversial either way you cut the mustard. It turns out somebody turned the Moore supporters on to Steve, how I'm not sure, but they all decided to give a bunch of negative, fake reviews of Barry Bonds: Baseball's Superman. Lord, I could not believe some of the stuff people were saying about my friend's book. Terrible reviews. One stars. Calling him a liar, claiming all kinds of untruths about him, and the Bonds book had nothing to do with politics. One clown apparently wrote more than one of the reviews, and when I looked at other reviews I saw this dingleberry shadowing Steve's reviews, sort of the way a kid repeats what another kid says on a schoolyard. The guy looks like he has several aliases or something and gives Steve "unhelpful" votes even when Steve gives the best review in the lot.

Here is a sports book and people were writing stuff like, "Boycott this book because of what Steve said about Michael Moore." Are you kidding? A guy gives his honest opinion, like it or not, and you're calling for a boycott of some totally separate entity! This in a nutshell is why the left is losing. All they do is protest, strike, complain.

This is the way the left operates. These people just hide and do hit-and-runs. Steve puts his name and email address up there like a man. If you like him or not, and he's opinionated so you might not like him, you know who he is and what he stands for. These people are cowards. Just shut up or, if you have anything to say, be up front about it.

Anyway, I'll say it again. Steve's book was excellent. Write some more of them.

Never cared for Bonds
And, I'm still not much of a fan. But, after reading this book I began to understand why Bonds has been a misunderstood player and person for many years. I always knew that Bonds was a great player, but this book forces me to acknowledge just how great a player and interesting person Bonds really is. If you're going to have one book on your shelf about the greatest player of this generation (and maybe any generation) this is the one!

A woman's POV
As a woman I have developed more enjoyment for baseball since the Giants moved to Pac Bell Park, where the games are a happening, an event. Reading BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN brought back all the experience of being at the park. I did not feel like this was only interesting for men. I think anybody would like this book.

One of the best sports books I've read in years
I loved this book very much. The first chapter's descriptions of Bonds breaking Mark McGwire's record is nothing less than pure poetry. The writing just rolls off the page, placing me in the chilly night air ("in a town that Mark Twain once said was the coldest Winter he ever spent in the Summer"), to the fabulous descriptions of how sports are the one place where we can lose ourselves and see man's heroism without life and limb being on the line. Who else writes like that? Murray in his prime maybe. This is a book about history, and baseball history second. ... Read more

Book Description

In Away Games, first published in 1999, award-winning journalists Marcos Breton and Jose Luis Villegas examine the story of Latin baseball as seen through the eyes of Miguel Tejada, a young Dominican shortstop and one of many promising Latin prospects in the Oakland As organization.

Just as African American players electrified baseball in the 1950s, Latin ballplayers are transforming Americas pastime today. Sammy Sosa, Pedro Martinez and his brother Ramon, Raul Mondesi, Manny Ramirez, and Vladimir Guerrerothey are baseballs future, and they come from places most Americans have never heard of and from lives most Americans could never even imagine. This riveting tale of Tejadas journey from the barrios to the starting lineup of a major league team gives voice to every kids dream of playing baseball. For some the dream ends in glory and riches, for others in harsh reality and failed potential. The story of Latin baseball is an incredible talebaseballs last, great untold story. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

One of best baseball books
This book is awesome, one of my favorites. I have read it more than once it is so good. What makes it so great is it tells the story of the latin baseball player that happens so often these days. From step to step, the book shows the reader how Miguel Tejada got from the barrios to America, to MLB star. What makes this bok so special is what a great story Miguel Tejada is. In his town, he was not regarded as a great player. But as soon as he was in a league there, he was great and never stopped. Now he has an MVP. A great job by Marcos Breton for the book and Jose Luis Villegas for the great pictures.

Tejada's 2002 AL MVP makes this story even more amazing...
I was a fan of shortstop Miguel Tejada before I read this book and was overjoyed when he won the AL MVP honors this past year. The book opened my eyes to the incredible struggle and long odds that Dominican players - or any Latin players - face to make it in the major leagues. It makes Tejada's accomplishment seem that much more amazing and important to me. His story is interwoven with a lot of baseball history that I would not have otherwise known, and it is one that kids my age and up (8th grade) would enjoy because it makes you think.

A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
THIS BOOK IS A REAL "SLEEPER". BRETON TAKES THE EVENTFUL LIFE OF ONE LATIN BALLPLAYER AND INTERTWINES THIS WITH THE HISTORY OF THE STRUGGLE OF ALL LATIN BALLPLAYERS. THE STORY OF SOME OF THE LATIN PIONEERS IS AN UNEXPLORED TERRITORY IN BASEBALL HISTORY. BRETON BRINGS THESE STORIES OF PREJUDICE, TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY TO THE SURFACE. I LEARNED ALOT FROM THIS BOOK, AND WAS WELL ENTERTAINED IN THE PROCESS.

Important Issue, Badly Written
Breton and Villegas make the case that Latin ballplayers are exploited and then, in the overwhelming majority of cases, tossed away by major league teams. Miguel Tejada was one of those who, it turned out, wasn't just cheap filler for an organization's minor league chain, but instead broke through to the majors. This surprised the A's organization which originally ranked him below other Dominicans who have since faded and returned to island obscurity or the life of an undocumented alien in New York City. Unfortunately, the author's case is buried by some truly stilted prose in a narrative that wanders all over the map without giving Tejada himself much more life in the book than as a paradigm for the author's argument. I happen to know already a fair amount about Latin ballplayers so this book brought me neither increased insight into them as a group or to Tejada as an individual.

Cuatro Balos: A baseball story absent from the sports pages
Being a baseball fan since Orlando Cepeda led the Cardinals over Yaz's 1967 Red Sox, I thought I was well versed about the history of minorities in major league baseball. (The Jackie Robinson story became gospel in my house.) After reading "Away Games," I had to eat some humble pie. The sports pages, which I read cover-to-cover as a youth, never made mention on how the Clementes, Tiants, and Marchials made it to the majors. Authors Marcos Breton and Jose Luis Villegas provide that missing story. "Away Games" is about how major baseball exploits young Latino men in the same way that the film "Hoop Dreams" documented basketball's exploitation of inner city black youth. Breton and Villegas elaborate on how the baseball establishment entices Dominicans into their camps and then uses them like throw away parts. I only wish the authors would have kept their focus on Miguel Tejada- "the star" of the book- rather than flip-flopping between his "life and times" with the history of Latino baseball players. (Actually, there are two books in one here- Tejada's baseball journey and the history of major league baseball in the Caribbean.) Far from being an enjoyable book, "Away Games" is often painful to read especially for gung-ho baseball fans; however, it should be included right next to the censored sports page as we're implored to "root, root for the home team." ... Read more

Book Description

Honus: The Life and Times of a Baseball Hero is a biographical look at the life and times of the great Honus Wagner. Not many fans know the full story of Honus Wagner, and Wagner himself was largely responsible for the public's ignorance. Being notoriously shy, he declined to talk about himself or baseball to sportswriters of his time. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A little disappointing
This book was a bit disappointing because there really was not a lot of in-depth background information on Honus Wagner the man. Seasons were covered in five pages and, in one instance, the text reviewed one game by stating that Honus had hit, "a three-run double, but the Pirates lost 5-2." How can the Pirates lose 5-2 if Honus hit a three-run double? There seemed to be many errors of this nature in the book as the editing was not very crisp.

I tried not to be too harsh in my review as I know the material on Honus is not easy to find, but even the material that is available in the text is not presented very well. Honus Wagner was arguably the greatest player of his time and a simple, interesting person off the field, so his story is indeed an important one to baseball fans. Unfortunately, I don't think this biography is the one you want to read if you want a well-written, in-depth portrait of Honus Wagner.

Honus: The Life and Times of A Baseball Hero
This is an outstanding biography about one of baseball's most overlooked stars, Honus Wagner. It starts in his baseball beginnings in the Iron and Oil League to his death in 1955. It provided great information but got into too much detail in his retirement. This is a great baseball biography for all fans to enjoy.

Honus: The life and Times of A Baseball Hero
I thought this book was a great biography of one of baseball's least appreciated stars. It starts with his beginnings in the mines to his death in 1955. I thought this book had too many minor details in his retirement ventures. I think this is a book that all baseball fans will enjoy. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

When's the movie?
What a great book. This book was recommended to me by a friend who said I would not be dissappointed. I certainly wasn't. The book was well written and the pictures were action packed. The author did a good job of balancing the off-the-field struggles with the on-the-field successes of one of the most underappreciated players of this or any era. I am looking forward to Cody's next book which should be loaded with stories of America's Team, The Dallas Cowboys.

One of the greatest baseball books I've ever read
Calling this book "genius" is not praising it highly enough. Cody Monk, one of the best sports writers in the world, tells a truly inspirational tale of the "rags to riches" story of Major League Baseball's best player, Alfonso Soriano. Through the hardships of growing up poor to the culmination of a dream in winning the World Series as a member of the New York Yankees, Alfonso Soriano has led a truly fascinating life. Wonderfully written, inspiring, and a captivating page-turner, "Alfonso Soriano: The Dominican Dream Come True" deserves a spot on everyone's bookshelf.

Muy bueno!
It was much better than CATS...I'm going to read it again and again. But seriously, folks...I just turned the last page of this fascinating read, and have nothing but good things to say about it. The Dominican Dream coming true... An inspiring story penned by one of the finest authors today, Cody Monk, otherwise known as "The Shakedown." I'll be the first to admit that I have an extremely short attention span when it comes to reading. Usually if it's anything longer than Cody Monk's weekly online wrestling column, my eyelids start to droop and I'm off to la-la land. Yet this story of drive & determination kept me awake at night. Very hard to put down. Discover your own dream and learn a little bit about yourself. READ THIS BOOK! ... Read more

Book Description

"Yogi Berra: An American Original" recalls the legendary life and times of one of America’s most enduring personalities. Drawn from the archives of the "New York Daily News," this book represents the most complete collection of Yogi Berra materials ever published. With over 150 classic photographs, Yogi’s Hall of Fame career is captured in beautiful detail—including rarely seen pictures from his early years in Yankee pinstripes to his World Series heroics on the great Yankee teams of the 1950s and early 1960s, through his ups and downs as manager and coach of the tradition-rich Yankees and the upstart Mets, and concluding with his life after baseball. ... Read more

Book Description

In Red: A Baseball Life, Red Schoendiest details all of theevents that shaped his life, on and off the field, as hemoved from the playing field to the managers office to his currant position as a special assistant to the general man- ager of the St. Louis Cardinals. Schoendiest played, coached and managed in nine World Series. He played 10 All-Star games and managed the National League squad in two. In 1989 he was inducted into baseballs Hall of Fame. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

It was funny,sad,and it was great.
It was fab. when he talked about his children and grand-children ... Read more

Amazon.com

Alexander's marvelous biography of McGraw does what McGraw's own My Thirty Years in Baseball couldn't: it lets the volcano that was the man erupt in all its raw glory. A true baseball original, McGraw, as Alexander describes, "ate gunpowder every morning and washed it down with raw blood." He loved to win, but he hated losing more, and as manager of both the old Baltimore Orioles and New York Giants, he's the only skipper in the game's history to win almost 1,000 games more than he lost. McGraw was so outsized, flamboyant, fiery, and, at times, sentimental, that it would be easy to caricature him; Alexander's remarkable achievement here is that he doesn't (nor does he succumb to hero worship or bubble bursting). His triumph is letting McGraw stand on his own two spikes; the man--and the legend--have no problem standing up for themselves. --Jeff Silverman ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Souless and dull
I suppose I should be grateful to Alexander for doing some original research but it's hard to get excited about a book that has no enthusiasm for it's subject and some how makes a fascinating man dull. I recommend the great Frank Graham's McGraw of the Giants. It's out of print but readily available at used book stores. Graham covered McGraw for years, knew him well and, more importantly, knew countless sports writers who covered McGraw from his days in Baltimore. Graham examines his controversial subject with a critical entusiasm that brings this great but very flawed man to life. As Graham skillfully shows, McGraw's edge was sometimes so sharp as to be repellant but he was an innovative genius at baseball marketing, administration, selecting and motivating players as well as on the field strategy. If you're a baseball fan, he's worth studying.

A good book on McGraw
This is the first book I have read from the many that Charles Alexander has written about turn of the century baseball players and I have to say that Mr. Alexander is a voracious researcher as he has facts and events of McGraw's life down to every little detail. For this, he is to be commended as he has certainly put to paper, atleast to this point, the definitive book on John McGraw.
However, this is not a short or an entertaining read by any stretch of the imagination as Alexander's book is decidedly bland in its detailed accounts of seasons past. After detailing McGraw's many outbursts on and off the field, Alexander chronicles McGraw's gambling misdeeds and even possible corruption (to the degree of the 1919 Black Sox). But Alexander does not write with a lot of imagination. His work reads exactly like you might expect a chronological account might: vanilla.
Although I enjoyed reading this book and appreciated all of the facts and research Alexander did on McGraw, I cannot say that this is one of the better baseball books I have read. Still, it remains the only book of any substance on McGraw, so if you want to learn about one of the most important men in the history of baseball, this is your book.

OK, but not wonderful
The first half of this is a pretty good read, as the author provides some decent context about the development of baseball around the turn of the last century.

The second half has a tendency to degenerate into repetitive and awfully superficial chronicle, and doesn't bring the 20's and 30's to life in the same way as the earlier sections--even though there were colorful characters galore available.

(I noticed the same flatness in large sections of Alexander's history of baseball, Our Game. There too he often retreats to mere narrative, and away from insight.)

If you've read the 50 or so better baseball books available, or if you enjoy hearing oft-told tales told once more, this is a pleasant enough way to kill two or three afternoons.

To understand John McGraw is to understand baseball
John McGraw dominated the landscape of baseball from 1890 until 1933. He came to demolish the enemy in score and spirit- and often succeded. He was the Master of an age where sportsmanship was considered a negative. From his days as a star and ringleader of the dirty & scrappy (NL)Baltimore Orioles until his death soon after managing the first NL all-star team, McGraw played key roles in nearly every major event in baseball's most formative years.

In 1901 he helped formed the American League, then tried to kill the AL in 1902. Why no World Series in 1904? McGraw. Inventor of the Hit-and-run? McGraw. Originator of collarless uniforms? McGraw. First to use Relief specialist in the bullpen? McGraw. First in 3 World Series in a row? McGraw. 4 in a row? McGraw. Only his pupil Casey Stengel has matched McGraw for total pennants. His career placed him in a pennant race NEARLY EVERY YEAR in 5 DECADES! (As Manager 10-1st, 10-2nd, 4-3ed place finishes in 32 years.)

Alexander presents the events of McGraw's life in chronological order- enabling the reader to use 'John McGraw' as a reference book for what happened in baseball in any given year due to the detail provided by Alexander. Charles C. Alexander writes history books about baseball; not mere collections of tales and legends set to prose. His facts are throughly researched and documented. However, even well written history books sometimes become tedious in detail. This book is no exception. Personally, I prefer an overkill of facts to haphazard story telling. Not quite as well written as the masterful 'Ty Cobb' and compelling 'Rogers Hornsby' by Alexander, but still the cream of baseball biographies.

Totally Enjoyed
After many, many years of being a huge baseball fan and having heard all of the stories about the great Manager, John J. McGraw; I felt I knew a lot about this very interesting man. But after reading this wonderful book written by Charles Alexander, I find that Mr. McGraw was not only a very complex individual, but a great study into the inside workings of a man who just hated to lose. This is a great book for any devoted fan who has a deep interest in the history of our National Pastime. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Sheds light on a forgotten legend
Jim Kaplan sets out in this well-researched book to resurrect the figure of Lefty Grove, a 300-game winner whose career spanned those of Walter Johnson and Ted Williams. For the most part, he convincingly makes his case that Groves deserves to be included among a handful of baseball's elite pitchers and that he was perhaps the best lefthander hurler ever.

Whatever shortcomings the book may have, the reader is bound to be impressed by Kaplan's knowledge of Grove's career (he takes us through each of his 17 big league seasons and four that he spent at the minor league level) and his painstaking efforts to convey a sense of the time in which Grove played. When he describes one of Grove's many confrontations with Babe Ruth, the writing has the ring of truth. Particularly effective is his recounting of the famous 1929 World Series game in which Grove's Philadelphia A's scored 10 runs in one inning to wipe out an eight-run Chicago Cub lead en route to winning the world championship.

Kaplan brings to life several key figures of Grove's time, most notably Connie Mack, Grove's manager with the A's and a man who not only strongly influenced the lives of his players but also the organizational direction of baseball. Long before the 1997 Marlins were broken up to save money, Mack was doing the same thing, jettisoning big names and large salaries to build teams anew. He also offers a valuable analysis of Mack's and Grove's 1929-1931 Philadelphia A's, convincingly arguing that these teams (that also included Hall of Famers Al Simmons, Mickey Cochrane, to name a few) were the equal of the more celebrated 1926-1928 Yankees, whose 1927 edition is generally considered the greatest in baseball history.

Also of note is the final section, which analyzes the careers of Johnson, Grove and Sandy Koufax and offers the reader statistical food for thought in considering who was the greatest lefthander ever.

Kaplan's writing is solid but unspectacular and he lapses at times into a cheerleading tone, particularly when he discusses Grove's great achievements (which included nine ERA titles, a 31-4 season, a career .680 winning percentage and a 1935-1939 resurrection of his craft, during which he transformed himself from a fireballer into a finesse pitcher.)

Kaplan's otherwise fine description of the last day of the 1941 season, in which Williams secured his .406 average by going six-for-eight after refusing to sit on the bench for a doubleheader, is marred by the writer's tone of breathless admiration for the player's feat. Nothing wrong with being a fan when you write a baseball book, but I prefer that the author for the most part let the facts speak for themselves.

All in all, Kaplan produces a portrait of a driven, often disagreeable man who hated losing and was impatient with the shortcomings of mere athletic mortals. The picture of Lefty is convincing, but Kaplan uses the same strokes pretty heavily to produce it.

The baseball fan/historian will find this a very useful look at this undeservedly obscure figure and will find it particularly interesting to revisit an era of the sport that differs so radically from the present one.

Outstanding portrayal of Lefty Grove
When I told friend of mine (a sports fan) that I was reading a book about Lefty Grove, he asked "Who is that?" Considering Grove was probably the greatest pitcher who ever lived, this public ignorance is unfortunate. Robert Kaplan in American Original does a very good job of letting us know who Grove was. Grove's terible temper and hatred of losing are brought to life in this book. Kaplan also includes a statistical breakdown of Grove's career and a detailed comparison between him and some other great pitchers. No true baseball fan should miss this book!

GOOD BOOK ABOUT GREAT PITCHER
LEFTY GROVE AMERICAN ORIGINAL IS WORTH READING. I ENJOYED THE TELLING OF HIS CAREER AND LIFE. HE WAS PHENOMINAL TALENT WITH A HOT TEMPER TO GO WITH IT. THIS NOVEL IS WELL WRITTEN AND KEPT MY INTEREST ALL THE WAY. I RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE WHO ENJOYS BASEBALL HISTORY AND THE GREAT MEN WHO PLAYED IT.

Great pitcher, dull character
The text is not bad but something is really missing. I think the plain fact is despite Lefty Grove's greatness, he was a dull uninteresting guy himself. He's not even loathsome and looney like Ty Cobb to make for a "the glory meets the train wreck of a life" read. As far as pitchers of his era, check out "Walter Johnson: The Big Train" by Henry Thomas which is a far better book. Although "Lefty Grove: American Original" is an extremely well researched book giving it a good feel for the times, a better bet is probably to check out the books on manager Connie Mack and his A's of the '20s.

LEFTY GROVE: TEMPERMENTAL SOUTHPAW FLAME-THROWER
LEFTY GROVE, IS CLEARLY SHOWN VIA KAPLAN'S FINE BIOGRAPHY, TO BE CONSIDERED, THE GREATEST PITCHER IN BASEBALL HISTORY AS WELL AS MORE FIERCE, THAN THE GREAT TY COBB, IN TEMPERMENT, IF A GAME WAS LOST-FORMER HALL OF FAMERS ARE REPORTED TO A TEST, THE FASTEST SOUTHPAW, IF NOT OF ALL, FLAME-THROWER, EVER!!!..IF YOU LOVE BASEBALL, THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ, AND AGAIN!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Armando Marsans, who joined the Cincinnati Reds in 1911, was the first Cuban star of the major leagues.Events in baseball have often mirrored America's social development-Jackie Robinson's breaking of the color barrier is one example-and the story of Armando Marsans has much to teach about the United States and Latin America during the early 20th century.

In detailing the career of Marsans, this work also recapitulates baseball history in Cuba and describes the early development of professional baseball in America. Examples of how Americans reacted to Marsans as a player and a person, and the prevalence of Latino stereotypes during this era, are fully explored. Part biography, part sociological study, this book introduces the reader to a physically gifted player and to a young, powerful America struggling to find its own identity in its new ethnic makeup. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The best player you've never heard of.
If he were playing today, Armando Marsans would be a household name. Until this remarkable book, Marsans' name survived only in boxscores, in the occasional mention in the sports pages, and in the memories of those few surviving fans who remember seeing him play. Through his in-depth research, Toot manages to rescue the player from obscurity and bring his story to life.

Toot's book is also an interesting sociological study of our country's first hispanic celebrity's struggle for acceptance. Further, it provides an eye-opening picture of the early days of baseball, when players played year-round, when sharp metal spikes threatened devastating injury with every slide, and when there was still the prospect of multiple professional leagues in the US.

If you love baseball and America...
...then you have to read this book. Toot is that rare breed of writer who can weave together an impressive array of details and facts into a compelling story. This is a great baseball tale with larger-and-lower-than-life characters, nail-biting games, and interesting off-the-field background. It's also an important book about the integration of hispanics into baseball--their experience and the reaction from the American baseball community. In this day and age of hispanics playing such an integral role in baseball, it's more important than ever to understand where they got their start. ... Read more

Book Description

In January 1936, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson became charter members in an exclusive club: the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. By 1998 the membership had grown to 237 players, managers, coaches, umpires, executives, writers and broadcasters. This biographical dictionary provides pertinent information on all 237 of the Hall of Fame inductees. Statistical summaries are complemented by revealing insights into little-publicized aspects of the careers of baseball's greatest achievers. A brief history of the Hall of Fame is also included. ... Read more

Book Description

Melvin Thomas Ott was smaller than most home run sluggers, at 5'9", 170 pounds, but he could sure hit 'em as far as the big boys. Over a 22-year playing career with the New York Giants, Ott slapped 511 homers, then a National League record. At the tender age of 20, he erupted on the scene with career highs of 42 home runs and 152 RBIs. He went on to win or share six home run titles, appear in 11 All-Star Games and play in three World Series. It was a foregone conclusion when Ott was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951.This is the first-ever biography of baseball's renowned "nice guy." Every aspect of his remarkable baseball career is covered, from his jump to the big leagues at age 17 to his tragic death at age 49. Ott's managerial and broadcasting careers are also discussed. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Add This Book to Your Baseball Library
Author Fred Stein has provided us with a well written biography about Mel Ott, one of the greatest players in the storied history of the New York Giants baseball team. Milton Shapiro wrote a biography of Ott in 1959 on a more juvenile level and it was long overdue for another more detailed biography of Master Melvin. Ott arrived at the Polo Grounds in the mid 1920's for a tryout on the recommendation of Harry Williams, a friend of Giants' manager John McGraw. McGraw didn't want anyone tampering with Ott's batting stance in the minor leagues and wanted to keep a close watch on the young teen ager. After gradually breaking Ott into the lineup and with the added confidence, Ott became one of the most popular players ever to play with the Giants. The book covers the story of Bill Terry's succeeding McGraw as Giants' manager as well as Ott's career as Terry's successor at the helm. It may be true that Ott didn't have the disposition to be a manager. When he acted up over an umpire's decision, his ranting just didn't appear to be real. I read with great surprise that Ott didn't attend his Hall of Fame induction at Cooperstown in 1951 because he was managing the Oakland Oaks in the minor leagues. I remember very well when Ott broadcasted Detroit Tigers' baseball games with Van Patrick from 1956 through 1958 and enjoyed him very much. His death in November of 1958 was a great loss to all of baseball and to those who followed the Tigers on the radio. Many athletes may be great on the field, but are a disappointment off the field. Ott didn't disappoint those who looked up to him. The book is easy to read and should be enjoyable for anyone from teen agers to adults. Thanks, Fred Stein for a great effort. I only wish the book was available in hard cover.

Very nice telling of Mel's story
This book really showed me how good Mel was as a player and as a person. He was my great uncle, and although I never got to meet him (since he died before I was born), this book provided me with a great opportunity to learn more about him and how he lived his life. I recommend this book to any Mel Ott enthusiast or just about anybody who likes baseball, as it tells about one of baseball's best players and best people.

A fascinating account of baseball as it once was!
I initially ordered this book because I wanted to learn more about the life and times of a hall-of-famer whose mono-syllabic name appeared so often in baseball's record books. But I came away with a great appreciation for baseball in far simpler times. The author's love and affection for his boyhood hero and his undying devotion to our national pasttime leaps from the pages.

A must read for anyone who loves baseball and heroes. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This definitive biography of Ted Williams provides a balanced portrait of the man, the ballplayer, the war veteran, and the hitter. This last side of Williams--the man in the batter's box, the last player to hit .400, the Splendid Splinter--is the most widely and fondly remembered. But Linn also gets beneath the varnish on the bat, examining the Williams known by teammates and sportswriters as difficult and moody. Finally, this is an assessment of a ballplayer who was frequently ignored by the press, despite accomplishments the likes of which we may never see again on a professional diamond. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Teddy Ballgame gets his due
Ed Linn says that Williams was the greatest hitter of all-time, he should have won 5 MVP awards, and his 1941 season was more impressive than DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak. That he gave up his potentially most productive years to fight in two wars says as much for his character as it does for his projected totals. The biggest hurdle to recognition was his rascally personality that alienated hometown Boston sportswriters.

In a media age, it is very hard for accomplishments to be recognized without supporting prose. But in Williams' case, his attitude not only cost him prose, but MVP votes from local sportswriters. Had the hometown scribes written glowingly about his .406 average in 1941 the way the New York papers lionized DiMaggio's hitting streak, he may have won his first MVP. Instead it took time for that accomplishment to be realized, and it continues to grow as the years pass without any .400 hitters. Add the two Triple Crowns he won without getting the award and you have to wonder what sportswriters were doing with their votes.

Linn doesn't comment much on Williams' years as the manager of the Washington Senators. It's just mentioned to say that Williams wasn't cut out to be a manager. He says a little about Williams' service record, but reminds us that he was John Glenn's wingman. And we get just enough about Williams home life to know that he wasn't the best husband. This book isn't about those things it's about Williams the great hitter.

Linn stresses that Williams proved his greatness by the way he played when his tools were diminishing in the 1950s. While the rest of his body was breaking down with injuries his bat could still light up a ballgame. That he won the 1958 batting title at age of 39 is a feat that Linn says is amazing. Linn makes a dramatic telling of his last at bat home run by explaining Williams before and after the contest.

This is an informative and thorough telling of Williams the ballplayer and a good choice if you want to know more about Williams and his era in the big leagues.

What a great book!
If you want to know everything you possibly can about Ted and his effect on the game you need to read this book.

The Authoritative History of Ted Williams
This is an absolutely FABULOUS book. It details not only the career, but also the life of the greatest hitter who ever lived. I am generally not a big book reader, but I could not put this one down, reading it in a little over a day. I guarantee that if you are a baseball fan, you will love this book!

Excellent Biography
Biographies often waste time describing things like the "childhood home". While this book gives an overview of Williams' early life, it focuses on his historical impact on baseball and his attitudes toward the game. Linn does an excellent job of measuring Williams statistically and creating the perspective of his career that, as a 34 year old, I did not get to experience first hand. An understanding of each season, his teammates and adversaries, creates for me an appreciation that did not exist before. Some great segments on Ted's mentality toward the game and hitting specifically, was great not only for me but also my 10 year old. Note: this is a biography NOT an instructional manual - see The Science of Hitting for the "other half of the story.

HITTER is like a triple off the Green Monster...
Ed Linn's HITTER is a excellent biography on Ted Williams life and baseball career. It's a solid 400 pages about Williams, his youth, his personality quirks and flaws, his talent at hitting a baseball, and his glorious seasons at Fenway Park. What Ed Linn does best is to write about The Kid's best seasons and comparing them to other baseball greats using statistical analysis. Also the many stories about Williams' war with the Boston Press. Linn was very careful to write both the good and bad of Williams, and is not afraid to criticize his behavior. The only reasons why this book isnt a home run is because I feel that there could have been more details in certain situations,or maybe Linn suffers from the same problem as Ted Williams had in front of the Fenway Crowd, they both did such a good job that you just wanted a little more from them. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is an inside look at Brickhouse's half-a-century in broadcasting. From his basketball covering origin in Peoria to his friendships with fellow broadcasters, Brickhouse recalls the memories and the moments of his celebrated career. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

JACK BRICKHOUSE IN DA HOUSE
THIS IS ALOT OF THIS AND THAT FROM VETERAN BROADCASTER JACK BRICKHOUSE. HIS CAREER IN CHICAGO IS LEGENDARY. HE GIVES A ALOT OF GREAT STORIES OF HIS CAREER, OPINIONS, LIFE IN GENERAL, AND SOME HUMOROUS LETTERS SENT TO HIM OVER THE YEARS. A VERY NICE READ FOR ALL BASEBALL FANS. RECOMMENDED.

Brickhouse Review
If you love baseball and the Chicago Cubs, this book is for you.Jack Brickhouse was Cubs' baseball during the time I was growing up on the north side of Chicago and he was a welcome member of our family, through the TVand radio.

Later in life, we became close friends and he was a mentor tome. A finer gentleman you will never meet. The book is a history of theCubs from the mid-40's through the 90's and it also tells the story ofWGN-TV, one of the nation's great independent stations.

Hey! Hey! This book is a grandslam homer in the ninth inning. ... Read more

Book Description

Jeter is a collection of Daily News stories and photos describing Derek Jeters rise to stardom as a shortstop for the New York Yankees. It features color photos throughout and stories about famous and not-so-famous moments in his career. Moments like playing in his first World Series and having his car stolen. Some of his accomplishments include winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award, receiving the Joan Payson Award for community service, and being named to the All-Star team.

Derek Jeter is known for a lot more than just his excellent skills in baseball; he has a huge fan base that includes all kinds of people, especially females, of all ages, bitten with "Jetermania." There are many websites set up by loyal followers to document his every move and share it with the world. This will be a book that baseball lovers, as well as Derek Jeter lovers, will want to own. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Nice pictures
This book is full of pictures and stories that are interesting; stories about his signing out of high school; pictures and highlights of outstanding plays in his years with the Yankees who have won three series since he arrived.

Not real informative.
For the first time since reviewing books from Sports Publishing Inc. I was disappointed with the overall writing of a book. This book is a compilation of pictures and quotes of a rising superstar in the world of Major League baseball.

While the book is filled with dozens of photos and some of the chapters are interesting, for the most part the book lacks any real story line. The book does not talk about the career of Derek Jeter nor the authors examine Jeter in comparison with other great shortstops of the past.

The book would make a great gift to a true New York Yankee fan but true baseball purists will find this book sorely lacking any real value. The price is $24.95 and for the money you get very little.

Overall you could and can spend your dollars more wisely on other baseball or sports books. Sports Publishing has a great website and if you spend a few minutes there you will find a whole host of sports treasures. ... Read more

Book Description

The Waner brothers, Paul and Lloyd—also known as "Big Poison" and "Little Poison"—played together for fourteen seasons in the same Pittsburgh outfield in the 1920s and 1930s. More than half a century after retiring, they still rank as the best-hitting brothers in major league history with a combined 5,611 hits—517 more than the three Alou brothers, 758 more than the three DiMaggio brothers, and 1,400 more than the five Delahanty brothers. And both Waners are in the Hall of Fame, the only playing brothers so honored.

This work tells the story of the Waner brothers from their early lives in Oklahoma through their playing days, which included a World Series against the legendary 1927 New York Yankees. It is also the story of two American eras: the Roaring Twenties and the Depression years. Both put up impressive numbers individually: Paul amassed 3,152 hits, and his .333 lifetime average ranks among the highest ever in the game. Lloyd, a lifetime .316 hitter, collected 2,459 hits, and had it not been for health problems, he might have cleared the 3,000 hit milestone as well. Together, they were baseball heroes. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Thorough job
This book contains tons of info about the days of baseball back in the 1920s and 1930s. The Waners were fascinating, often forgotten today. I'm glad we get books like these and not more of the usual stuff on all the guys who get too much ink, like Ruth, DiMaggio, Mantle.

A model for all baseball biographies
I loved this book. Unlike so many baseball biographies, it captures the good and bad alike about the players, offers interesting, fascinating nuggets of information about the game and even American history. Excellent job Clifton Blue Parker! I think this guy's one of the best up-and-coming baseball historians.

High quality book, lively writing
Excellent portrayal of American baseball history through the rollicking lives of Paul and Lloyd Waner. Fun to read!

Magnificient!
Clifton Blue Parker hits a homerun with this book on the Waners. Parker does a great job telling the story of the Waner brothers and has a wonderful use of quotes from both brothers throughout the text. He frequently uses unpublished materials from Lawrence Ritter's The Glory of Their Times interview with Paul Waner.

Much like one of the other reviewers, I read through this book quickly. An absolute must for Pittsburgh Pirate fans!!!

P.S. - The only historical error of significance is that Parker is not familiar with the 1934 Goudey baseball card set.

Smash Hit!
Magnificient -- I read this book in two days flat. It's written beautifully with deep attention to the cultural history of baseball in the '20s and '30s. ... Read more

Book Description

As never before, this writing covers the life of Emmett Ashford on his path to becoming the first Black major league umpire. From 1940's Central Avenue high life to Alaska, this book exposes the man off of the field: