5 comments about Steinbrenner: The Last Lion of Baseball.

1. I contacted the seller "The Book Shack" after my book purchase (ASIN:0061690317 Steinbrenner: The Last Lion of Baseball) to see if I would receive it by 9/8/10. The seller contacted me immediately the same night to advise that it was not likely that I would receive the book by this date. Since the item is a birthday gift I cancelled the order. I was impressed with the quick response to my request and I will definitely shop with them again.



2. I puzzled over this fascinating portrait of an unforgettable man.
   
   Why did a man with all the money, breeding and business sense to succeed, fail to recognize that his biggest barrier to steady success was himself?
   
   Madden and the people interviewed here make much of his father's cold relationship to him - that George Steinbrenner, no matter what he accomplished, was constantly put down and belittled by his father. That may be part of it. Much of his life can be reduced to episodes of the tough-Prussian side of him, his father's side, stomping over others, followed by periods where George the unloved child feels remorse and the pain suffered by those he's treated like his father treated him.
   
   But it's still baffling. Steinbrenner had a slew of talented baseball men working under him over his years with the Yankees. Gabe Paul, Lou Piniella, Billy Martin, Gene Michael, Al Rosen, many others. All he would have had to do to be even more successful - the Yankees won 7 World Series but there was a long drought in which his management of the team went from bad to worse - would have been to do what he did, but less of it, and more quietly. That's it.
   
   He had good men under him. He could have let them do their jobs. Their baseball instincts were right again and again. Yankee pinstripes made it easy to attract the best. And if it was just his style to be the the hands-on, top-down, ulcer-creating type of boss, he could have kept doing that. On average these guys could put up with Steinbrenner's constant orders, even his many reversals and devious dealings, but often the straws breaking the camel's back were his public criticisms of them.
   
   I was a reporter. I know that reporters constantly stir the pot and sometimes the people they write about have to make public statements about things they'd have preferred to keep out of the press. I also know reporters need something to stir the pot with. Constantly speaking up, as Steinbrenner went out of his way to do, gives them that. If you shut up, work hard and do good, your work speaks for itself and the circus dies down.
   
   Steinbrenner was born to money, the fifth generation of a family to own a major Cleveland shipping company. He had one of those rigorous you-won't-be-spoiled upbringings featuring a military boarding school that rich peopole often give their kids. He went to work in his family's company and had to make real business decisions. He was no dilletante. He was one of a young coterie of powerful business leaders in Cleveland, intent on breathing some life into a moribund industrial town. He was also a good athlete, a talented musician, a patron of the arts, a philanthropist.
   
   His sports background made him dangerous as an owner. He'd hurdled in college, been an assistant college football coach, and before buying the Yankees had owned a minor league basketball team and and made a play for the Indians that nearly succeeded.
   
   Steinbrenner was an sportsman, but not a baseball guy. Real baseball guys didn't need Steinbrenner second-guessing them. Time on college football fields in the 1950s didn't necessarily translate to a baseball field in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Steinbrenner's instincts and sports business sense, though, were often correct, and his baseball guys weren't infallible.
   
   There was a real contradiction in Steinbrenner. He had old-fashioned senses of dignity, honor and patriotism, expressed far more often than was common by the 1980s, but he blatantly contradicted them regularly. I'm not so innocent that I think one can run a business empire while being Mr. Nice Guy every day. You will invariably find yourself at some point saying, "We need to get rid of this person even if we reassured him two months ago" or "Can you get me some dirt on this guy?" or "I know he's a great guy, but his best years are behind him, get rid of him." You will stab people in the back sometimes, you will spy on people, you will bend the rules, sometimes until they break.
   
   But basic to others' honor and dignity is holding your tongue publicly. Steinbrenner managed this sometimes. He is quoted often saying the right thing publicly despite what we see he really felt and said behind the scenes. But he didn't manage it enough. Too often, his need to be the tough guy and be seen as one - not just by his subordinates, but by the public - outweighed his good sense.
   Ironically no one questioned his right to be the tough guy and the boss. He really did sign the checks. He really did change baseball and build strong Yankees teams by opening his checkbook to intiate the free agent wars, signing the best available even if that meant supplanting last year's stars, and recognizing before others that last year's stars were beginning to wane.
   
   But effective tough guys wield their power more judiciously. Effective tough guys don't have all the Yankees' best men scheming to leave- Winfield, Gossage, Mattingly, Piniella, Paul, Rosen - just to get some peace and quiet far away from him.
   
   Steinbrenner's inner turmoil was reflected by his tantrums and impulsivity - firing someone on the spot, blasting them in the press - tempered by remorse he subsequently felt, where he'd quietly reinstate them or make other amends. The Billy Martin affair was the best known of these. The book, however, is essentially one nonstop recital of this pattern, involving practically everyone on the Yankees. This is how Steinbrenner shot himself in the foot, leading to the Yankees' long years on the skids.
   
   The book also left me wondering one other thing. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Steinbrenner's health had not yet failed, he gave enough room to Joe Torre and Brian Cashman to bluild and run a great team - interfering, but not excessively, and letting these talented guys do their jobs. What caused him to mellow? Was there any realization? Was it the sobering effect of his two-year suspension following the Dave Winfield affair? Was it aging? Or had he just matured? This is the biggest unanswered question in this very fine book.



3. I rarely read books, normally getting bored pretty quickly. But this book kept my attention the entire time, full of stories on how nuts Steinbrenner really was. If you like baseball, you'll enjoy hearing some of the inside stories from historical moments in the game.



4. I recommend this book to all Yankee fans, but especially to the older readers who remember when "George" originally purchased the Yankees from CBS in 1973. This book will give you the behind the scenes view of what was going on that didn't make it into the newspapers.
   
   There were two great things about this book, first was the story itself, all 400+ pages of it; and second was the way Bill Madden (author) came across - I could not put the book down!



5. Another great read from Madden. Love him or hate him, George Steinbrenner changed baseball. Took a 8.5 million investment and turned it into 1.5 billion.
   
   The players in all of baseball owe THE BOSS their gratitude.

5 comments about Beyond Belief: Finding the Strength to Come Back.

1. This is a great inspirational book. It shows the power that Christ has to change ones life, even a drug addict. It is very honest and forthcoming. I would not recommend for very young readers as there is alot of detailed stories about drug use in the book. Overall it is a great book and I hope he is able to stay clean. If you are a baseball fan and a Christian you will love this book.



2. Amazing story about JH. Very descriptive and tells the amazing story of his life and the things he has gone through. 10 stars!



3. Fame and fortune can be an insidious beast. We see it all the time; from Hollywood to New York City and all points in between. Becoming rich and famous has its perks; it also has its perils. For those suddenly thrust into the spotlight, with too much money for their own good, it's easy to get just about anything under the sun - including practically any illegal drug imaginable.
   
   Josh Hamilton is a very gifted baseball player who fell into the abyss of substance abuse early in his career. His story is not unlike many others who preceded him - from Steve Howe to Darryl Strawberry. They were among the elite living the fairy tale life of a major league baseball player; but everything came too fast; too easily. Their rapid ascent came with an equally sudden descent; instead of focusing on the action between the lines they were swept up in the chaos of chasing those little white lines, at all hours of the day or night.
   
   In Hamilton's case, crack cocaine was his drug of choice. His actions off the field have been well-documented; the parties, the strip clubs, the seamy underbelly of the drug world; it consumed him and nearly destroyed him.
   
   His story is a familiar one. We hope he's found the strength to really come back. His words are encouraging for those of us hoping he'll beat his demons, once and for all. It's not an easy battle, but this kid seems like he's finally on the right track. He makes no excuses; blames nobody but himself for his trouble, and that's definitely a step in the right direction.
   
   In the end, Hamilton delivers a message of hope for a long-term recovery. It's an inspirational message for anyone going through a similar ordeal. This is a story we hope provides that happy Hollywood ending for a very gifted athlete. Only time will tell.



4. How does the number one overall pick in the 1999 MLB draft, go from can't miss prospect to drug addict? Why would someone with enough natural ability to draw comparisons to Mickey Mantle self destruct? What happened to cause Josh Hamilton to choose a life of drug addiction above a loving family? More importantly, though, how did he go from spending $100,000 in six weeks on a crack addiction to major league All-Star starter in three years. Beyond Belief is the inspiring story of Josh Hamilton's descent into the depravity of human nature and God's remarkable rescue.
   
   I'm a Texas Ranger's fan and have been since the early 1990s. I love the team even though the wins are usually not as abundant as the losses. When Josh Hamilton joined the team in 2008, I knew very little about him, but that didn't last long. By the end of the season I owned a Hamilton t-shirt, knew he was a remarkable talent on the field, and a glowing testament to God's redemptive power. Though I caught plenty of sound bites about his past during the season, I'm grateful to finally read the complete story. It's shocking at times, sad at others, but in the end the hope that led to Hamilton's recovery is what this book is about.
   
   To say Hamilton is a good player is an understatement. He's an amazing talent with truly God given abilities. I've watched many Home Run Derbies, but I'll never forget watching him launch 28 in 2008. When he's healthy, he's one of the most fun players in the league to watch. In 1999, he was an all-American boy when Tampa drafted him straight out of high school. It was never so much a question of if he would make it to the majors, but how quickly. Tampa was willing to pay this kid, two days out of high school, $3.9 million to sign with them. He was expected to be a major contributor, but things obviously went very wrong. Hamilton's story is inspirational on many levels. Not only is it honest in its approach to addiction, but also in the hope it offers others, and the glory it brings to God. While Beyond Belief chronicles the ups and downs during his baseball career and personal life, it has a greater purpose than just baseball or Josh Hamilton--it's about God, the big picture, and a remarkable rescue. Though not without fault or setbacks, in the few years since his return, Hamilton has been transparent with the media in a way that backs up the faith he mentions frequently. As stated many times throughout the book, Hamilton's journey is a God thing and to share it with millions of readers and baseball fans is not only courageous, but inspiring.
   
   I know sports/athlete books are not for everyone, but I highly recommend this one. Like most in this genre, it's very easy to read and not exactly high quality writing. While it does contain some baseball/career information, for the most part it's a life story. By far the human element outweighs the sports related themes and I think people who simply enjoy inspirational stories will find this one interesting and engaging. I loved it. For parents, kids, addicts, friends and families of addicts, sports fans, MLB teams and their owners this book raises some tough questions while at the same time providing a measure of comfort, support, and encouragement. To his credit and without excuse, Hamilton takes full responsibility for his destructive behavior. There are important lessons to learn from his life, but ultimately this book is a story of relying on faith to overcome addiction. It's truly uplifting and again I'm grateful for the opportunity to read it.



5. I picked up the book last night and couldn't put it down! I finally finished it this morning and what a great story. I watched the 2008 All-Star Game Home Run Derby and was very impressed with him. I briefly read about his story but I didn't know it was this extreme until I read the book. It's a great book for anyone, especially baseball fans! I'm not a Rangers fan but I truly enjoyed reading it. This new edition has an epilogue that explained the events in January 2009 when he relapsed. I saw some of the drunk photos online before I got to reading the epilogue and was horrified. But after reading the final chapter when he and his wife both explained what happened after the relapse, I truly believe that he's a great athlete and will support him in the future. I hope they make this into a movie too, the plot is sensational and it's very motivating.

5 comments about The Bullpen Gospels: Major League Dreams of a Minor League Veteran.

1. The condition of the book, delivery and service were excellent. Right o0n the money. Welcome the opportunity to do business again.



2. this book is great it is hillariuous pardon my spelllin im 7 there is tons of swaerin which makes this book lol i reccomend this to old people like u



3. The Bullpen Gospels is masterful storytelling, yet down to earth and so accessible. It's a human story placed in the setting of minor league baseball. Anyone would enjoy this.
   
   Barnes & Nobel and Borders both refused to carry this book in my area, but Amazon came through.



4. That's right, I was dining at a Cracker Barrel outside of Baton Rouge and hit upon a piece in this book that caused me to explode right there at my table...
   
   I bought this book a few months ago at the urging of a mention in Jayson Stark's column. It sat on my bookshelf week after week before finally I found myself in need of something to keep me company on a business trip. This book did the trick and then some, and I am sorry that I waited so long to read it.
   
   Have you ever laughed yourself into a fit? I mean, to the point where you are shaking and gyrating so hard that you can't even answer those who are asking 'what's so funny?' That happened three times while reading this book. On one occasion I had to put it down for awhile because I just could not move on.
   
   This is not a book that takes you play-by-play, pitch-by-pitch through Hayhurst's games. In fact, little of the book takes place between the foul lines. This is more of a romp thru the ups and downs of a season in which you scale mountains with the author, but also find yourself crawling thru the valleys.
   
   Don't be fooled, though. In addition to uproarious laughs, the book caused me to tear up a few times. Hayhurst shares some of his experiences with everyday people, stories that will make you stop, think and be grateful for what you have.
   
   Parts of this book might be offensive to some, or full of delinquent behavior to others, yet this is an honest and raw account of the author's battles, both public and private. Though full of locker room banter, absent from these stories is any machismo-laced arrogance.
   
   The only disappointment for me came at the end: I would've enjoyed another 100 pages at the least.
   
   If you enjoyed Seasons in Hell, rest assured that you'll really appreciate this book as well.
   
   Seasons in Hell: With Billy Martin, Whitey Herzog and "The Worst Baseball Team in History"-The 1973-1975 Texas Rangers



5. To me, Ball Four is the classic baseball diary book. Gospels is okay. but IMO no where near as good as the glowing reviews here portray it to be. I am glad I bought and read it, but doubt if I will ever re-read it (I will re-read good books many times). i tried to give it three stars but am not sure if the website is recording this vote correctly

5 comments about Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend.

1. I know Mays's numbers pretty well, so Hirsch's point that you couldn't really appreciate Mays by his numbers alone spoke to me and I did learn quite a bit from the book.
   
   -- The Arm: Hirsch emphasizes Mays's great arm and his many spectacular assists and double-plays from the outfield. I was surprised that I hadn't heard more about that before: I had assumed that the Golden Gloves were for catches. Throwing is also something that the most commonly cited statistics don't reflect.
   
   -- Hard Work: Mays's having to fight through slumps and periods of serious exhaustion was admirable.
   
   -- Positioning: Mays's hard work on positioning in the outfield was an eye-opener.
   
   -- Shyness: Hirsch portrays Mays as sticking to baseball to the exclusion of practically everything else and being modest and reticent about most other things in life.
   
   -- Team Player: Mays's outstanding role in supporting or guiding his team-mates was new and interesting to me.
   
   -- Family Background: Hirsch seems to treat Mays's family background with revealing objectivity, making it interesting without romanticizing anything.
   
   One comment kept popping to mind at various times as I was reading: in the frequent comparisons with other all-time great players, Honus Wagner's name never comes up. Wagner is no secret: he was the National League's best hitter for average and for power, best baserunner, and at shortstop best defensive player for a long era. He played with championship teams and I have never heard that he was hard to deal with (unless you were trying to beat the Pirates). As Hirsch notes, Wagner was a charter member of the Hall of Fame, being picked in preference to Speaker, Alexander, and others. If you were choosing up sides, you wouldn't go far wrong picking Wagner first. It seems to me that as Hirsch was putting Joe DiMaggio on his short list he could have mentioned Hans Wagner too.



2. If someone was going to write a biography of Willie Mays, this is about as good a job as one can do, even though it did border on the hagiographic on many occasions (no surprise, since it was written with Mays's cooperation). However, the problem for me (and I feel almost sacreligious saying this) is that Mays himself doesn't come across as that fascinating a guy. Was he perhaps the best player ever? Absolutely. (In fact, if he hadn't missed 1952 and 1953 and hadn't played in Candlestick and the Polo Grounds, there is no telling how many more home runds he would have had.) Does he come across as an extremely hard worker, team player and generous to a fault? Again, yes.
   
   But notwithstanding all that, his talent outweighs his charisma--by alot. This perhaps explains in part why there are comparatively few quotes from Mays himself in the book--he's not that quotable. Contrast this to say, Babe Ruth, who is a MUCH more interesting guy than Mays.
   
   The best parts of the book are from his childhood until 1954 when the Giants won the Series. This part includes his upbringing, how he got to the Majors, the racism he had to endure, his relationship with Durocher, the 1951 season, the 1954 season and of course, The Catch. However, after the Giants won the World Series in 1954 (only his second full year in the majors), Mays didn't experience much team success (except for winning a pennant and losing the World Series in 1962 and 1973). Therefore, there is alot in the book of simply recounting his individual successes year after year, but without ever reaching the team success that he achieved in 1954. In fact from 1954-1973, the only variations from this pattern are discussing the move to San Francisco and then the trade to the Mets.
   
   As I say, I give the book 5 stars because this is about as good a Mays biography as could be written. However, through no fault of the author's, Mays simply does not come across as the most interesting guy. In fact, I know that there is a recent biography of Hank Aaron, and I am hesitant to read it for the same reason. Incredible accomplishments on the field does not guarantee a fascinating biography (although, in fairness to Aaron and that book, I could be completely wrong about that).



3. This is an interesting book, at times exciting, but the book could have been at least 20% shorter. There is some repetitious material which gets boring. But overall it is a good read.



4. I was one of those kids of the late 50s and early 60s fortunate to grow up in the Bay Area, old enough to be a Giants fan, and lucky enough to have a dad who took me to several games at Candlestick. So I got to see Mays in action numerous times, as well as his amazing teammates of that era: Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda, Jim Davenport, et al. My dad and I even got to sit in a third base box for the sixth game of the 1962 World Series. I was in heaven, especially when the Giants won.
   
   I was one of those who grew up and into my adulthood thinking that Willie Mays was the best ballplayer of all time. This book confirms that. Now I know for sure that he was. Not only was a genuine, all-around, complete ballplayer, but he was a gentleman, modest, and a very kind man. He was and still is my hero. God Bless Willie Mays. And God Bless James Hirsch for writing this wonderful biography.



5. The first book that was sent was in an envelope, and all of the corners were mangled. I called and was expressed another copy. I was very pleased with the service.

No comments about The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood.

5 comments about The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron.

1. Howard Bryant is one of the best writers about baseball today. He respects and loves the game, yet doesn't mind challenging it when it falls off the tracks. In this book Bryant does a very good job at showing how racism was a pervasive element in Henry Aaron's life. He makes a very good argument that Aaron was never given his due because he never played in the large baseball markets. But at the same time, he does recognize that Aaron's personality played a large role in why he was never recognized for what he did until the end of his career.
   
   I would criticize this book as being over which ironically is something Bryant claimed Aaron never want to do. I also disagreed that Hank Aaron becoming the first African-American owner of a BWM dealership is something to be proud of. It is yet another athlete cashing in on their fame while more deserving parties are overlooked.
   
   This is a very good book and I recommend any true fan of baseball read it as you will enjoy it. It is well written and does not idolize Hand Aaron, nor does it demonize it. Read it for a good, intelligent read!



2. Howard Bryant is tremendously thoughtful and often says things that others are unwilling to say or unable to see. He is the voice of reason on ESPN's Sports Reporters and has the freedom and knowledge to express his views on a wide range of sports for NPR and on ESPN's website.
   
   It was with great anticipation that I picked up this book about perhaps the most underappreciated superstar in sports.
   
   Layer upon layer of slights and disappointments and outright racism that Aaron was forced to endure as a boy in Mobile through being unceremoniously traded to the Brewers at the end of his career conjure an image of a man that quite naturally came to have a difficult time trusting anyone.
   
   It becomes obvious how little access Bryant had to Aaron himself, yet he uses interviews with the many people who crossed Aaron's path to shape this story.
   
   Perhaps my first baseball memory is of Henry Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's HR record. At six, I drew a picture of the event and sent it off to the Braves and was rewarded with a B&W photo of the Hammer and a simulated autograph. We've long known how little joy he experienced throughout the process. The sad thing is to know that as the years have passed, he still finds little pleasure in this tremendous accomplishment--and all of his accomplishments on the field.
   
   Clearly the book is meticulously researched. The editing, on the other hand is simply terrible. Missed words, referring to a rookie as a legend, using elected in place of inducted (when referring to the HOF) and many other instances serve to undermine the credibility here. Let's hope these mistakes can be corrected in the paperback edition.
   
   This book doesn't answer all the questions I have about Aaron, but it does paint a picture of a complicated man and makes me want to learn even more. In that respect, it is a great success and enjoyable read.



3. What did Aaron really want when he labored for the Milwaukee Braves? He certainly earned recognition for his clutch performances, but, as Bryant maintains, Aaron was young and inexperienced and sensitive and afraid to speak up in a white world racist to the core in the 1950s, so he largely let his bat do the talking. Confidence came later, and his early reticence probably had a lot to do with his fear that lack of schooling in the South would make him appear a simpleton to a world largely hostile to black aspirations. Too bad Bill Bruton, a far more articulate teammate and friend of Aaron's in their early days, was not alive to provide Bryant with his thoughts about the young Aaron.
   
   Bryant's book is good on the '50s Braves, but his description of individual games could have stood better editing. Consider as an example the following head-scratcher: "Burdette labored to hold a 4-2 lead. With one on and two out, Willie Kirkland ripped a double to put the tying runs at the corners..." (pp.243-244). There are several annoyances like this one, and it really detracts from the flow of the narrative to have to stop and ask yourself how can runners be on first and third after a double.
   
   On the other hand, Bryant's chapter on Jackie Robinson is a marvel of brevity and brilliance. [I only hope he someday decides to write a biography of Robinson, for there is no one writing today about baseball with Bryant's feel for the part racism played in its history and the corrosive effects it had on all players black and white]. And the way Bryant introduces the '58 Braves season by highlighting the fourth game of the '58 World Series---a game I saw, incidentally---as the highwater mark both for that season and, in fact, for the entire franchise's history in Milwaukee is absolutely masterful.



4. As some of the other customer reviewers have indicated, this is a book about America in the 1950s and 60s, just as it's a fine personal account of the great Henry Aaron. I found it exceptionally well-written, with the baseball action always vivid and the cumulative portrait of Aaron across the decades no less riveting in a different way entirely. This is because, even with Aaron's cooperation (a coup in itself), the author had to meet the challenge of portraying a relatively private man who never wore his heart on his sleeve (well, maybe with the exception of his uncharacteristic, in-air fight with Rico Carty). Howard Bryant succeeded admirably -- his analyses of Aaron the man and athlete are clear and penetrating, and the reader comes away with well-rounded pictures of both realms. No matter what cruelties he encountered (including from the press) amid his many triumphs, Aaron stayed true to himself and proved to be more of unassuming role model than people knew when the steroid era dawned. Seeing places like Mobile, Milwaukee and Atlanta through the prism of Aaron's experience, we learn a lot about America (south and north) and baseball in an era when both nation and sport moved slowly to more enlightened levels. The story of the Braves' move from Boston to Milwaukee is fascinating in itself (as are the portraits of teammates Spahn, Mathews, Adcock, Bruton and Burdette). Bryant also gives us deep thematic contrasts between Aaron, Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson. There's a lot of rich baseball history in "The Last Hero," and throughout it towers a class act whose ambition to be the best baseball player alive was matched by his pure strength of character. A genuine page-turner.



5. My husband has been a life long fan of Henry Aaron, and he thought this book gave a different take on his life both professionally and personally. Liked it very much.

5 comments about The Yankee Years.

1. This book was great. I'm not a Yankees' fan but this was great hearing about the championship runs and then how it got out of control.



2. The book recounts the roller coaster story of Torre's years resurrecting the World Series dominance of the storied Yankees. A good, although poorly written, book, it describes the chemistry in the clubhouse between players like Jeter, Williams, Mussina and Cone that lead to eight World Series appearances and four World Championships in 8 years. Even more interesting was watching the deterioration of the team through loss of key personal by free agency, trades and retirement.
   
   Finally, the book describes Torre's ouster by the front office men who replaced Steinbrenner in his dotage. I'll give Torre credit for being very professional and even handed, even in his description of how Cashman et al screwed him over.
   
   I mentioned that the book was poorly written, and it is. It is kind of wild and all over the place. It will talk about events across multiple seasons at the same page, then go back to one particular season. It also took a lengthy expository break to describe the current state of the art in Baseball statistics which wasn't really necessary. I blame the SI guy who co-wrote it.
   
   All in all, it is a great book for a baseball fan, especially a Yankee fan.



3. Gives you an inside look of the decline of the Yankees during Torre's last years. Excellent writing and great insight.



4. Joe Torre's recent book is a KEEPER ! Great read and a lot more revealing then in his previous books, when he was still manager of the NY Yankees.



5. Great book with a lot of insight on the Yankee organization including successes and failures. Great detail on the owners and players. Loved it.

5 comments about Fifty-Nine in '84: Old Hoss Radbourn, Barehanded Baseball, and the Greatest Season a Pitcher Ever Had.

1. It was refreshing to read about a baseball legend that hasn't already been written about to excess. Radbourne's 59 wins in 1884 will never be topped. Here is the inside story of that remarkable season, both on the field and off. Recommended especially for 19th century baseball buffs.



2. A simply brilliant account of one of the greatest feats in the history of sport. Want to know what it was like to be alive in 1884? This is the next best thing to being there. A must for any sports fan and any student of American life.



3. Fifty-Nine in '84: Old Hoss Radbourn, Barehanded Baseball, and the Greatest Season a Pitcher Ever Had
   
   If you love baseball, then Ed Achorn's Fifty-nine in '84 is a "must-read". You will be taken back to the early days of base ball, played without benefit of gloves or guaranteed salaries. Meet Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn, arguably the best pitcher ever! Mr. Achorn's meticulous research into the game combined with his infusion of human interest information about the early ball players and owners is most entertaining. The photographs of the men who played, the beautiful scorecards the owners created for the fans, the copious statistics listed therein, all add up to a winning combination! This book is a "home run!"



4. This is one of the best books about 19th century baseball I've ever read. Much of the appeal of the game revolves around numbers, and two pivotal numbers are in the title. "Fifty-nine in `84" refers to the number of games won by Providence Grays pitcher Hoss Radbourn in the 1884 season. Baseball was a different game in the 19th century, rawer and more hard-fought, but even by the standards of the day, 59 wins by a pitcher in a single season stood out as an outsized achievement, one which was never to be matched.
   
   Edward Achorn has done more than recount what is arguably the greatest single-season pitching feat in baseball history; he's brought the man who accomplished it back to life. Radbourn strides across these pages in all his stubborn, quietly vain glory, along with his teammates and rivals around the National League. Achorn has also managed to capture the sights, sounds and smells of those times in vivid prose that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.
   
   Radbourn went through amazing ups and downs during the 1884 season. He started the campaign not fully recovered from a sore arm and faced a rival for acclaim in young pitcher Charlie Sweeney. At one point, Radborn was even ready to walk out on the club; but then circumstances turned in dramatic fashion, and he made the audacious promise to singlehandedly pitch the Grays to the pennant. How it all played out unfolds in these pages.
   
   This is also a love story, for Radbourn later married Carrie Stanhope, proprietor of a local house of prostitution. Unfortunately, no documentary record of their romance survives, so Achorn is forced to rely on informed speculation about what was happening off the field as Radbourn was accomplishing his great feat.
   Although Radbourn had some more decent years on the mound, surpassing the 300-win mark for his career and eventually earning a plaque in the Hall of Fame, 1884 was clearly the highlight of his life and career. The man, and his achievement, are done splendid justice in this book.--William C. Hall



5. As an avid reader of early baseball histories, this is one of the best reads. Very well researched, it not only covers Redborn and the 1984 season, but give a wonderful feel of the era.

5 comments about Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend.

1. This work is more than just a biography of a great pitcher but also the biography of a nation when baseball was the only game in town and when opportunities were limited not by a person's ability but by the color of one's skin. The author begins his story by displaying for the reader the heartbreaking poverty and un-just conditions that Satchel Paige grew up in. Throuhgout the book we see a man that has to struggle with the limits put upon him by society and his continuous triumphs in the segregated world that he lived in. In addition, the book delivers on its promise and is a great sports biography of one of baseball's greatest pitchers. Throughout the book we see how Satchel's exploits on and off the field both captivated, mystefied and at times infuriated his opponents and his allies. The reader is taken on a wild tour of Paige's barnstorming adventures with white baseball players such as Bob Feller and other baseball greats. In addition, we learn that Paige despite being limited by the color of his skin was one of baseball early free agents, selling his services across the United States, the Caribbean and Mexico to the highest bidder. It is a great read not just for the baseball fan but those that want to know about what it was like to African-American in the United States during the first half of 20th century. An epic and illuminating work, I urge all those that have an interest in the Negro Leagues, American History or even the Civil Rights movement to pick it up.



2. Having more than a passing interest in the Negro leagues, I sat down and anxiously tore into what I'd hoped would be more than just another fawning half-hearted attempt to justify the exclusion of talented figures such as Mr. Paige from the professional ranks. I say professional ranks loosely as I would argue that the talent level combined with the unconscionable work, travel and social conditions the Negro leaguers routinely endured required a greater concentration of skill and discipline than their counterparts in the Majors. Nonetheless I quickly became disenchanted as the author fell into a pattern of building the case why Satchel should have been the first to integrate the majors while ignoring time and again personality flaws that made him a fan favorite yet did little to endear him to the owners and controllers of the negro league franchises. A funny thing it is indeed to read how Satchel railed against the negro league owners and complained of their frugality while openly seeking the favor of the major league owners and managers who refused to have anything to do with him outside of the off season sideshow. In essence, good ole Satch was good for a few laughs and a little extra doe in the off season yet I seriously doubt his absences, tardiness and overall unpredictability would have been tolerated had the call to integration come in the mid 30s instead of late 40s.
   
   Again contradictions and selfishness were the theme of Satchel's career as he expressed no concern for the fans he disappointed or the teammates whose paydays he risked when he decided to pursue other avenues despite scheduled obligations elsewhere. Again this is an aspect of the the Paige story that the author either chooses to ignore or never considers. While Mr. Tye never fully addresses Satchel's misdeeds, he wastes no effort in recounting for us the shortcomings of Josh Gibson both those confirmed and those that are and probably will always remain a matter of speculation. This is one of the more disappointing aspects of the book. Somehow the author misses the irony of arguing how deserving Satchel was of breaking the color line despite a career based on unpredictability. He also intimates that Satchel's success in building a loyal white fan base somehow was instrumental in the fight for civil rights. I would argue Satchel's antics actually had the opposite effect. In all due respect to Mr. Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry "the real stepin fetchit" who unlike Paige knew when to cut the act and conduct himself as a man of strength and character. I suppose we can chock this up to the three years Perry spent studying at St. Joseph's College in Montgomery, Alabama. Nonetheless, you get the point. While Satchel shuffled and skipped out on his obligations, he was reinforcing the long held notion that black men were childlike and irresponsible.
   
   We are best served viewing Satchel as a tremendous baseball talent, yet when it comes to professionalism, morality and the civil rights struggle lets not fall into the trap of hero worship and falsely construct an image of Satchel that is historically inaccurate.



3. This exceptional book is not only an empathetic biography of a great American hero and character, it captures an Era that was invisible to most of "white" America. I whole heartedly recommend this book for all readers, not just baseball fans.



4. There are several thorough and quite competent reviews of Satchel that truly provide insight into the book and a peek into its subject. What more can another reviewer add to the 29 predominantly favorable reviews currently presented here? I thought about that as well and still I felt that I could provide at least, a tidbit into why a prospective reader should delve into reading Larry Tye's work.
   
   Being an American history buff, and an avid baseball fan, I had perceptions of Satchel that were, in part, based on historical facts. I was very familiar with Paige's Major League statistics and his limited performance during his brief MLB tenure. Having visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown on a few occasions seeing Satchel's plaque, I wanted to learn more about him and the other Negro League notables. Being a dyed-in-the-wool Dodgers fan, I had a biased perspective of MLB's integration and didn't fully understand the Negro League experience from a personal point of view.
   
   Larry Tye, tasked with undertaking a monumental task of research, interviews and writing, provides and incredible piece that seemingly gives the reader much more than a glimpse into the experiences from a player's perspective. Exactly what it was like to grow up in African American (not a term used back in the early 20th century) in the Deep South as well as in Jim Crow America, I will never know, but Tye gives the reader a taste of what Satchel Paige endured.
   
   This work does spend some time addressing the almost mythical statistic-accumulation this hurler amassed during his career, but this work is truly about the struggles Mr. Paige dealt with. From his meager beginnings in Mobile to his incarceration as a youth (which became a turning point for his life), to his dead-arm troubles in the late 1930s, and his personal relationships, Satchel is an assembly of anecdotes, quotes, news articles, and Paige's own recollections that sheds a great deal of "qualified" light various aspects of his life.
   
   As was addressed earlier, Satchel is a work that extends beyond the realm of baseball fans or Negro League aficionados. It is a deep dive into the fabric of Leroy "Satchel" Paige and who he was to those close to him, his fans, his opponents and to Paige himself.
   
   Satchel is an in-depth story that deals with the single most important goal of Satchel Paige: his acceptance as the best pitcher who played the game.



5. Leroy "Satchel" Paige was one of the most colorful and most talented pitchers in baseball history. This is a very well researched and well written book about his life. Larry Tye does a good job of seperating the myths from the facts regarding Satchel. If you are interested in baseball history, you will probably enjoy this book.

4 comments about Happiness is like a Cur Dog: The Thirty-Year Journey of a Major League Baseball Pitcher and Broadcaster.

1. As a native Pittsburgher who has since moved around the US (too much), I look for ways to reconnect with home and this book immediately got my attention. Nellie King's years broadcasting for the Pirates (1967 - 1975) coincided with the beginning and heights of my being a baseball fan. He was a much-loved announcer alongside Bob Prince, with a knack for storytelling and enriching the play-by-play with his inside baseball knowledge. Nellie always came across as a nice guy, someone who would be easy to know. This wonderful autobiographical book is like a trip back over those years, and very like listening to Nellie on KDKA radio again. It ranges over a lot of baseball and broadcasting ground, through King's own playing years and that of the players and teams he encountered, and beyond. I have to say the title threw me for a while, but it refers to a story and advice given by Branch Rickey, the legendary GM for both the Pirates and the Dodgers, about the idea that you can't force happiness anymore than you can force a cur (mutt) dog to like or pay attention to you -- "if you go about enjoying and focusing on your work, happiness, like that dog, will remain there beside you." It's also a good book for those Pittsburgh fans who might want a reminder of how the Pirates rose to be competitive again in the 1950's after many rough years! Beat 'em Bucs.



2. Rather than simply quote in my review what other reviewers say I will provide you with my own thoughts. Nelson King was one of the many baseball cards I collected during the 1950s and I also remember hearing him along with "The Gunner" Bob Prince doing Pirates' games during the Bucs' glory years. This is a life story of Nelson King who has lived a very interesting life. Following the death of his father the five year old King had to be sent to an orphanage by his mother because she had no financial means of taking care of him. King immediately grabbed my attention by stating that those who berate government assistance programs fail to realize that there was nothing during the Great Depression to assist those in need. Benefits that we now enjoy are taken for granted, as if they were always part of our lives. As a society we have become less tolerant and arrogant towards those who need our help.
   
   King recounts his years making his way through the low minors in addition to his time spent in the military. His was no easy route in pursuit of his dream of pitching in the major leagues. He made his debut in fabled Ebbets Field in Brooklyn by striking out future hall of famer Duke Snider despite it appearing the distance to home plate appeared to be as though he was pitching from second base.
   
   Arm trouble brought a premature end to King's career, and he eventually found his way into broadcasting reaching the pinnacle by teaming up with the legendary Bob Prince. King relates his experiences in the booth with Prince and his experiences with Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Bill Mazerosksi, and others.
   
   I did find a minor mistake in the spelling of the name of pitcher Arnold Portocarrero. Also, on page 214 King states that Yankees' announcer Jim Woods "moved across the Hudson River to do New York Giants games with another broadcasting legend, Russ Hodges. It should be the Harlem River and not the Hudson.
   
   I found the book to be a quick interesting read. Every biography of a baseball player need not be of a superstar, and I enjoyed reading about players from Nellie King's era since it brought one of my early bubble gum cards to life.



3. "As he vividly recounts in this warm, understated memoir, Nellie King's career began in a time when a ballplayer had at least three jobs: what he did during the actual season, what he did delivering packages or bailing hay during the off-season, and what he had to do 24 hours a day to make sure he didn't get released with no more than ten days' notice and not even a bus ticket home. It is almost unfathomable to consider the pioneer-like hacking through the woods of hidden opportunity that King so fondly recalls. A part-time Cardinals' scout liked what he saw of him in a glorified summer high school league and invited him to a tryout. He got a uniform with a three digit number on it. Hooking on with a team in Louisiana he arrived there by bus in the middle of the night, clueless of who to contact or where to go. He was released twice before his 19th birthday, and made it back into organized ball only because that first scout had gone to work filling out the rosters of some independent clubs. And that only got him into the Pittsburgh system because the owner sold those obscure franchises to the Pirates ... Nellie King has simply written a book about the backbone of baseball, a tale like that of 75 percent of the players in the game's history. And in its own matter-of-fact style, it's terrific."



4. Happiness is like a Cur Dog: The Thirty-Year Journey of a Major League Baseball Pitcher and Broadcaster
   
   "1960 was the start of Nellie King's second career as a broadcaster working at small radio stations near Pittsburgh. It was the year the Pirates became "World Champions" by defeating the New York Yankees in a seven game World Series on Bill Mazeroski's "walk-off" home run. Where do you go from there? Well, in 1967 Nellie replaced Don Hoak on the Pirate broadcasting team. It's a whole new reason why this book is a great read. In his early years working with Bob Prince he had the chore of closing most of the games. Bob would say, 'There's a fly ball to the outfield and when it comes down, Nellie will be back with the re-cap.' With a King and a Prince, how can you go wrong?"
   
   -- Ralph Kiner, Hall of Famer and Mets Broadcaster
   
   
   "From Branch Rickey to the colorful Bob Prince, Nellie King has had a 30-year ride in pro ball that will keep you turning the pages of his book. To say it's a must-read is an understatement. Thanks, Nellie, for taking us along!"
   
   -- Joe Garagiola, Hall of Fame Broadcaster
   
   "Nellie King's memoirs take Western Pennsylvanians on an enjoyable trip through many of the great moments in the area's sports yesteryears, particularly those seasons when the Pirates were at the top of the baseball world. His reminiscences strike familiar chords when he writes about his local radio days covering the Masters and other tournaments in my golfing heydays. Nellie has always been one of the `good guys' in the sports world, and that comes through on the pages of this book."
   
   -- Arnold Palmer, World-renowned Pro Golfer
   
   "Lanky, long-armed Nellie King pitched exactly 173 and a third innings for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1954 until 1957. He won seven, lost five games (including one in the Grand Canyon), and saved six. But far more than most players with longer and glitzier resumes, Nellie made baseball his life by turning his colorful experiences and sweet insight into stories. And here he has done us all the great favor of writing them down. Somebody buy this man a beer!"
   
   -- Mark Bowden, Best-selling Author of Blackhawk Down