5 comments about Talking on Air: A Broadcaster's Life in Sports.

1. Mr. Coleman is considered one of the finest of baseball broadcasters, but his (and Mr. Valeni's) writing is rote - tell a lot of familiar yarns, and hope Red Sox fans will buy the book.



2. I AM FROM CLEVELAND AND I GREW UP WATCHING HIM COVER THE SPORTS ON CHANNEL 5 NEWS. HE ALSO HAD AN EXCELLENT SHOW CALLED QUARTERBACK CLUB COVERING EACH WEEKLY BROWNS GAME. HIS CAREER IS A GREAT ONE. I THINK HIS BOOK IS VERY INTERESTING, WELL TOLD, AND ENTERTAINING. HE HAS MADE MANY RELATIONSHIPS WITH A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE SPORTS WORLD. I SALUTE KEN AND HIS GREAT CAREER.
   THIS IS AN EXCELLENT TELLING OF HIS CAREER AND THE EVENTS HE HAS BEEN A PART OF. A MUST READ FOR CLEVELAND AND BOSTON FANS.



3. Ken Coleman was the announcer for the Browns and the Indians. I enjoyed reading about Jim Brown of the Browns and other football players. I remember a lot of the ball players for the Indians. They were noted for having one of the best pitching staffs in baseball in the late 1940s and 1950s. Ken was also the announcer for the Red Sox.



4. Although Ken Coleman was primarily identified with the Boston Red Sox, you don't have to be a fan of the Bosox to enjoy this book. (I'm a Tigers' fan.) Ken was blessed to be a part of the Cleveland Indians, Coach Paul Brown's Cleveland Browns during the days of the great Jim Brown, Cincinnati's Big Red Machine, and two stints with the Boston Red Sox, including the Impossible Dream year of 1967 (The Year of the Yaz.) The most interesting story that I found was Ken's telling for the first time the story of the decline of Indians' pitcher, Herb Score. People attribute Score's decline to the 1957 line drive off the bat of Yankees' infielder, Gil McDougald. However, Coleman relates that Score had his ankle injured in a spring training pickup basketball game in 1958 and tried to come back too soon before his ankle had a chance to heal and ended up with a sore arm. Ken provides us with a good summation of his career and his subsequent retirement from play-by-play work. He wanted to continue on a year-by-year basis, but an excuse was given that an announcer was wanted who would insure of being there for four full years. We are all remembered by what we give to others, and Ken Coleman gave his listeners and others he came into contact with a lot to remember. The Lord doesn't permit us to know all the good we do for others, but, in time, He will reward us. Thank you, Ken, for sharing your career with us.



5. Talking On Air: A Broadcaster's Life In Sports is the biographical story of Ken Coleman, former Boston Red Sox broadcaster who worked in Major League Baseball from 1954 to 1989, including ten years with the Cleveland Indians and four years announcing games for the Cincinnati Reds. In the twenty years he spend as the voice of the Boston Red Sox, Coleman became known to millions of New England baseball fans, making him an institution throughout the region, and eventually resulting in his election to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame. Talking On Air is a "must" for baseball enthusiasts in general, and Boston Red Sox fans in particular!

2 comments about Diamonds in the Coalfields: 21 Remarkable Baseball Players, Managers, and Umpires from Northeast Pennsylvania.

1. with a great background already towards pennsylvania history. bill kashatus brings to life a compelling tale about the area's coal history & it's fabric culturally. easy to read with lots of pictures & statistics giving great cultural & baseball information.



2. "Diamonds in the Coalfields" is a documentary of life in the 1920's, 30's, and 40's. William Kashatus has done an excellent job of organizing the history of the mining communities, from a perspective of how baseball affected everyone's lives in those happy, glorious years. You can get an estimate of his effort by looking at his detailed reference notes and bibliography at the back of the book. He has devoted a huge amount of time in research and interviews in the writing of this book.
   The accuracy of his descriptions is uncanny, for a person who did not "live it", except vicariously, through the eyes of others. My father pitched for the Glen Lyon Condors, in the 1920's. I lived through the era of Zig Najaka, Stan Pawloski, and Bob Duliba, at Newport Twp. High School. This is a personalized view of early baseball history, a meaningful picture for all baseball fans. My complments to William Kashatus for giving us such an accurate picture of those happy times in our lives. He has done a great job of documentation with an entertaining accent to this portrayal of life in the coal towns. I am purchasing additional books for my uncle, brother-in-law, and three sons, who also share an interest in the nostalgia for sports in the Wyoming Valley. (Pennsylvnia)

1 comments about Pepper Martin: A Baseball Biography.

1. This is an excellent biography of one of baseball's truly remarkable characters. Although names like Dizzy Dean, Frankie Frisch and Leo Durocher are more reknowned, Pepper Martin was the true heart and soul of the legendary "Gashouse Gang" Cardinals team of the 1930's and Barthel leaves no stone unturned in detailing the life of this unique and talented ballplayer from yesteryear. News article references chronicling his World Series exploits are included and serve as a glimpse back to a time when a signing bonus consisted of a couple of hunting dogs and a Winchester rifle.

   Also included are numerous AP and never before seen photographs and illustrations.

   Pepper Martin was truly one of a kind and this book captures the essence of his life and character.

1 comments about Joe Morgan: A Life in Baseball.

1. First, I know this book has been released some time back, This is still a good book to read. In this book, you really get an idea of Joe Morgan as a person, and how he came about the game and played it well. I also enjoy reading how that old school style of baseball in him really carry with him and how it taught him to become a better player, a vocal leader with his teammates, and have that winner attitude with him at all times. I tell you from what I read, baseball needs more Joe Morgan's.
   
   There are also great stories about The Big Red Machine in 70's. So if your a Big Red Machine fan, you are in for a treat. Joe really tells you how things got started when he join the Reds and a whole lot more.

2 comments about Baseball's Good Guys: The Real Heroes of the Game.

1. The writers do an excellent job of reminding the reader of why we like sports. In this Post-Mitchell Report Era, it's nice to see examples of heros who aren't so driven by personal glory at the expense of others. Overall, a nice read.



2. I think Jack Walsh, and Marshall Cook have captured the heart and soul of Baseball's greatest players. Baseball Good Guys is a book that will inspire the reader to learn more of the Character and Integrity of these players. The statistics are there, but their ability to overcome adversity, personal problems, prejudice and more, will inform the readers of the real skills of these players.

   Be forewarned, some of the pages come to life, in such a way that splinters (possibly from the bats) seem to leap into your eyes.

   Good book, should be a must read for school athletes and those of us who lived during some of those years.

2 comments about Junior: Griffey on Griffey.

1. Book was delivered as described. Nothing on him from the Reds since this book was written before he joined. Great pictures, however.



2. This book was a nice look at Ken Griffey Jr.'s life through photographs. The photos are awesome and the whole book was super, Indeed, one of my all time favorite books!

5 comments about Me and My Dad: A Baseball Memoir.

1. Mr. Burton Rocks, just wanted to thank you for this amazing work on Yankee baseball player Paul O'Neill. In these days of controversy on Barry Bonds and Pete Rose in baseball, it is refreshing to see sucyh a positive work on a Yankees player like Paul O'Neill. Contratulations and best of luck with your new blogging launch that's puts players like Paul O'Neill in touch with their fans at [...]



2. While I can respect the idea of this book as a tribute to his father, I can't recommend it as an entertaining read. Paul O'Neill was a decent ballplayer with the Reds who became a great ballplayer with the Yankees, but he's pretty dull no matter what uniform he wears. This was a nice idea, but check it out of the library unless you live and die Paul O'Neill.



3. I am a Cincinnati Reds fan and will always associate Paul O'Neill with the Cincinnati Reds and not the Yankees. After all, he grew up in the Columbus, OH area and identified the Reds as his favorite team since childhood. He has also chosen to settle with his family in the Cincinnati area since retiring. The book is a wonderful exploration of the father/son relationship and reveals a human side of Paul O'Neill that we didn't always get to see on the field.



4. This book is about Paul O'Neill and his relationship with his father. His relationship included the life lessons that his father taught him while they were on the diamond. Remember, it is important to have this relationship with a special family member so that you always would have somebody to talk to. I personally enjoyed this book and loved reading it. The book was kind of fuzzy throughout some parts. By this I mean, that some of the book was filled with filler. The book then went on to talk about how his father was important while he was on the road for a long time. In addition, while he was on his way to the majors. It is evident that Paul is a great author and he has great writing abilities. Finally, I would just like to say that this was an all-around great book!



5. Me and My Dad is Paul O'Neill's tribute to his late father Chuck O'Neill. The book takes you through Paul's life from playing homerun derby in his backyard as a child, to playing in the World Series as a New York Yankee. He places emphasis on his fathers influence and wisdom he shared with him through the many troubles he had in life. Throughout the book Paul tells us about his experiences and how his father could always put a positive spin on everything by relating life to baseball, or baseball to life. The book helps to give the reader a deeper and simpler look at professional athletes.
   While it is a must read for any Yankee or Paul O'Neill fan, I can not recommend it to anyone else. Even for a baseball fan like myself it has limited appeal. It is short and not very well written; some parts seem to drag on and on about nothing. Yankee fans will love it just to get a deeper understanding of one of their better players, but others will laugh at Paul's girlyness and grow to dislike him by the end. Because of these reasons, I can only recommend this book to Yankee fans, and possibly women who like to see the softer and more sensitive side of men.

3 comments about Harry Agganis, " the Golden Greek": An All-American Story.

1. The Greek-American community owe Dabilis and Tsiotis a great debt of gratitude for the service they have provided by publishing the stories of Agganis and Kyriakides.



2. Arguably New England's finest all-around athlete, Harry Agganis' life represents the ultimate greek tragedy. Blessed with unprecedented athletic talent, Agganis was struck down in the prime of his life. His love of sports was equalled only by his love of family. Nick Tsiotos and Andy Dabilis capture the true essence of Agganis. This is must read for all sports fans.



3. A great look at the life of an exceptional young man who's legacy should be passed on.

5 comments about Judge Fuchs and the Boston Braves, 1923-1935.

1. I was disappointed in this book. A lot of good information was written by Judge Fuchs. However after 1935 he was no longer the owner. This book doesn't explain why and how he lost the team. In one sentence it said he lost Babe Ruth and the Braves. How? Why? Does the author not want us to know the truth or the facts?
   Another Baseball fluff book that does not give you the hard facts. Spend your money on a better ending not this one



2. If you have a passion for baseball history, or even a passing-interest in the subject, this is a must-read book. In 1999, most baseball teams are owned by media companies, or the mega-wealthy. This book recalls a time when an individual of modest wealth could own and operate a team. More importantly, it recounts the behind-the scenes discussions that resulted in important baseball decisions. The faithful description of what actually transpired when Judge Fuchs acquired the Braves, and when the Babe made the decision to return to Boston, transports the reader back in time. Most of all, this book describes a time when owners cared more about baseball than their own amitions. Be sure to pick up this book! Herb Crehan



3. "Judge Emil Fuchs purchased the underachieving Boston Braves late in 1922, primarily to bring his ailing friend, Christy Mattewson, back into baseball as the club president. Although Fuchs was a fan at heart, he did manage the Braves for one season and gave Boston a competitive team climaxed by the Brave's dramatic pennant race with the New York Giants in 1933. The Great Depression weakened Fuchs' financial position and he was forced to sell the Braves in 1935. Fuchs' son, Robert S. Fuchs, with the aid of his father's unpublished memoirs and his own Braves scrapbooks, writes an engaging portrait of his father, and the Boston Braves. Judge Fuchs was a former semipro catcher and respected New York attorney. Although the Braves never won a pennant during his 13 years as owner, Fuchs contributed greatly to the game, bringing Sunday baseball (which caused quite a flap in Boston), Ladies Day, radio broadcasts and the "Knot Hole Game" to the Braves Field. Among his first decisions was to increase players' salaries. The team payroll increased in his first year as owner from $80,000 to $200,000. Fuchs announced, "The older players are to receive a raise of $1,000 to $2,000, the first year men from the minor leagues a boost of 25 to 50 percent." He began a profit- sharing plan in which the players shared in profits "without any responsibility in losses. Author Robert Fuchs, now an attorney, also had his "day" in baseball. When he was made the president of the Braves' farm team in Harrisburgh in 1934, after serving two years as club business manager, he was asked what changed with the new position. He replied, "I get to drive the team bus." " Judge Fuchs and the Boston Braves, 1923-1935. Robert S. Fuchs and Wayne Soini, MacFarland & Co., 1998, original trade paperback, 157 pages, black-and-white photos, appendices, index, $23.50.



4. I THOUGHT THIS BOOK WAS AWESOME !!! YOU SHOULD READ IT !!!



5. This is an excellent book. It is extremely well-written and very informative. Fascinating and enjoyable to read the contributions of Judge Fuchs to baseball and to read about the players I grew up with and loved! This book is a must read for baseball fans young and old!

5 comments about Recovering Life.

1. I was surprised this book did not mention anything about baseball playing chickens.



2. Knowing what was going on in this mans life, this book was a chance to make money and not a true reflection of what he was really doing in his life. This book and the dishonesty involved in telling this story was only the beginning of Darryl's dishonesty with his peers and the public but most of all with himself and those he was hurting. I can only hope and pray this family is finally getting honest, once and for all to save his life.



3. I AM DUMBFOUNDED AFTER READING THIS BOOK ABOUT ANOTHER VICTIM, THAT PEOPLE FEEL SORRY FOR HIM AFTER HE BROKE THE LAW MORE THAN ONCE.I AM SORRY ABOUT HIS CANCER BECAUSE NO ONE DESERVES THAT, BUT THIS MAN HAS HAD MANY CHANCES TO BE A GREAT ONE AND HE BLEW IT. FOR THAT,I AM NOT BUYING INTO THE SO-CALLED COURAGE THIS COUPLE HAS HAD TO ENDURE BECAUSE IT WAS OF HIS OWN DOING.LIKE BILL CLINTON,WE SHOULD ALL FORGIVE HIM WHILE HE GOES THROUGH HIS PROCESS.WHAT HAVE WE AS A NATION BECOME.



4. This story is in no way diminished by the relapses that Strawberry deals with in life. The title is "Recovering Life" and "recovering" is an on-going process. Read the book, join the battle, root and pray for The Straw and all the rest who battle with addictions. The game isn't over until its over,(and I don't mean baseball).



5. Darryl's and Charisse Strawberry 's book is a touching and true story of what a proffessional athlete has to deal with beyond the game. I played baseball with Straw in St. Paul when he was a Saint - trying to get back to the bigs, and I feel lucky to call him a friend.. too many people are ready to judge a man from the outside without gettting to know him on the inside.. We all deserve a 2nd chance and even a 3rd and 4th chance sometimes... Recovering Life talks about the struggles.. the defeats and the tiny victories along the way - for a husband and wife who truely shared love and conqured addiction.. disease and depression... this is a great book by a good man