1 comments about ¡ Sosa ! El héroe del jonrón.

1. Sosa's determination, hard work and gratitude make for a great journey and a great read. Buy this for any young boys especially. They'll be out practicing (whatever sport or activity they happen to do) as soon as they put the book down.

1 comments about And the Skipper Bats Cleanup: A History of the Baseball Player-Manager, with 42 Biographies of Men Who Filled the Dual Role.

1. Fred Stein has written a superb book on the player-managers, an interesting aspect of baseball when the economics of the game were different. As a younger fan watching today's busy managers, I find it fascinating to imagine what it was like when managers had to do double duty -- playing the game while running it.

5 comments about Our Tribe: A Baseball Memoir.

1. Terry Pluto has written an excellent book and as an Indians fan for 70 years I can easily relate to his personal story and to the history given of the Cleveland Indians. It is an excellent history for the most part, written as only a sports writer can, though he contradicts a couple other writers a few times. I espeically like the emphasis on the heroes of my childhood, Lou Boudreau, Bob Feller, Larry Doby and others on the famous 1948 team. I disagree with his contention that the l948 championship team was not one of the greatest championship teams ever and this is disproved in the detailed book An Epic Season by David Kaiser. Also for a really complete history of the Indians before and leading to 1948, Franklin Lewis wrote a book titled Clevland Indians published in 1949. Sadly, I don't know if that one can still be found or not, even through Amazon. It is more a history. Nonetheless, Our Tribe: A Baseball Memoir is a very good read and brings back the agony of the countless opportunities that former owners of the Indians let get by them. And the new owners may be doing that again today. :( As a personal story it is superb.



2. Absolutely wonderful weaving of an at times diffcult father-son relationship (congrats for telling it like it was!) and the history of the Cleveland Indians. Never gets bogged down in year-to-year stats and his way of comparing Shoeless Joe and Manny Ramirez's careers was brilliant. The stories about Manny are priceless.
   
   Like all his other sports books, Terry Pluto is easily the best sportswriter on the planet.



3. This is a fantastic book for any Indians fan who grew up watching games at the old Stadium. It's for all of us who grew up rooting for a sad team who had never won anything before and was never likely to do so in the future. It helps us to remember those days when the important thing wasn't how good the team was or if they had a chance at the Series, but rather spending time with our fathers watching the game. Maybe, just maybe, this book will help us to remember what is really important once again.



4. This book is as much a story about a son and his relationship with his father as it is about baseball, and tells each of those stories wonderfully. For basball fans it is an entertaining history of the Cleveland Indians and is full of colorful players, managers, and even owners. From the perspective of this one baseball team, the reader has a ring side seat on how much our country, society, and professional sports have changed and grown over the last 75 plus years. Just from the standpoint of the baseball Terry Puto is as good as Ken Burns or George Will.

   But the story within the story is really about the author and his father. That relationship is one that is full of joy and sadness, wonderful memories and yet regrets. The author comes to better understand and appreciate his father after a stroke makes it impossible to talk to his father. In a cruel irony, when the time came that the author was ready and wanted to share stories and talk to his father, he was not able to.
   All fathers and sons should read this book.

   A final comment on Terry Pluto's writing style. I have read three of Mr Pluto's books and appreciate the way he writes in a clean, no non-sense style and yet fills his books with so much detail and color.




5. This is a superb book because it goes beyond being a great sports book. Terry Pluto's weaving of his relationship with his father into his lifetime love of the Cleveland Indians makes it a book that readers will think about long after they've finished reading it. It's not necessary to be a Tribe fan to enjoy this book. I'd even go as far to say that a reader need not be a baseball fan to feel empathy and self-reflection on his or her parent-child relationship, regardless of whether the person is the parent or the child. I've also read the author's "Loose Balls", a wonderful look back at the American Basketball Association, and recommend that to those who remember the ABA (go Oakland Oaks!) and to those who weren't around to enjoy those years.

1 comments about I Played and I Won.

1. I collected a number of Worthington's baseball cards as I was growning up, so when I ran across this book on Amazon, I wanted to read it. But, the book is quite simply a testament to his being "saved" by the Lord. I do not have a problem with anyone who feels the need to write about such things, but there was no way to know this fact until one had the book in hand. If anyone is interested in learning what it was like to play with and against some of the great ballplayers of the fifties and sixties, then this is NOT the book you want to read. I don't even think it's a book you want to read if you want to read about one man's conversion to religion. It provides little insight into the real changes that came to him as a result. Here's the story in a nutshell - he was a simple kid who was a real good athlete and ended up with a college scholarship, and somehow managed to skate through three years of college without going to classes, loved to bet on the dogs, got married and had kids, found religion, stopped betting on the dogs, and played baseball. I'm sorry to say there's not a darned thing about this book that makes it noteworthy.

No comments about Yogi Berra: An American Original (Daily News Legends Series).

No comments about Oddballs.

5 comments about Godzilla Takes the Bronx: The Inside Story of Hideki Matsui.

1. I just finished reading this book and I have to say in all honesty that this is one of the most poorly researched books I've ever read in my life.
   
   Basically, this book covers everything that happened to Matsui in the 2003 season with the Yankees. There's the usual game-by-game detail and the usual quotes from the Yankees praising Matsui. The author also talked to former Yomiuri Giants stars Warren Cromartie and Darrell May so they are quoted a couple of times throughout the book.
   
   My problem with the book is that it didn't offer any new insight into Matsui. If you read the newspaper or watched the sports news at all in 2003 you basically know the whole story before you read the book.
   
   Not only that, but there were numerous errors throughout the book that showed that the author has no idea what he's talking about when it comes to Japanese baseball. For example, on pg. 2, the author claims that "Matsui used to receive standing ovations in Japan even when he struck out." Say what? When did that ever happen?!?! I watched tons of Giants games when Matsui was here and I can honestly say that I have NEVER witnessed this.
   
   On pg. 27, the author claims that in Japan, "if two teams are deadlocked after nine innings, the game was over." Say what again? Games used to end in ties after 12 innings, but now they go on longer.
   
   On pg. 40, it says that Darrell May went 10-8 for the Royals in 2002. As a Royals fan, I can say with confidence without looking it up that he didn't come close to that in 2002. He was something like 4-11 that year.
   
   Darrell May's quote about Shinjo appears on pg. 44... and the same quote appears verbatim on pg. 131. It's deja vu all over again!
   
   This is the best one: on pg. 98, it says, "Matsui and (Ichiro) Suzuki played against each other in Japan just once, during an exhibition called the Nippon Series in 1996." I guess the Nippon Series must be the equivalent of the exhibition World Series in MLB...
   
   On pg. 166, it says that Matsui batted .333 with 4 RBI in leading the Giants to a four-game sweep of the 2003 Japan Series. Hello! This book covers Matsui's 2003 MLB debut season! Could it be a typo? Apparently not. On pg. 173, the author writes the same thing! Unbelievable!
   
   On pg. 194, the author writes that Cromartie started a fight in 1987 against the "Junichi Dragons." It's the Chunichi Dragons! I was fully exasperated by this point in the book.
   
   Finally, the author make several condescending remarks regarding Matsui's interpreter, Roger Kahlon. He harps on the fact that Kahlon's translations of Matsui's comments are brief. He mentions this about 3 times throughout the book. As a friend of Kahlon's I did not appreciate this. Interpreting is not easy but the author gets off on the fact that Kahlon may have liberally interpreted some of Matsui's comments. I'd like to see the author try to interpret for someone day in and day out.
   
   This book is for kids aged 9-15. This is not a book for adults. I don't recommend this book to anyone.
   
   The author should've used a good proofreader to save himself some embarrassment...



2. I think it is natural that Godzilla get to be parson written by many books. In second year as NY Yankees, he blashed up his potensial ability:the homerun over 30, almost 3.00 average and over 100 RBI. I have tought it was natural that he extended hisself figure. Because he got many beseball title in Japan: the homerun king over 50, MVR, RBI king....
   
   But I did not think that he get to be the fourth batter of Yankees. Certainly he was the fourth batter in Yomiuri Giants Tokyo, however Japanese think that the skill gap between Japanese baseball and MLB is clear. I think so too. But in the second year, he obtained the fourth batter in Yankees, the top team over the world.
   
   U.S.A people may think why Japanese are excited to Japanese major leaguers. I think that Japan is a island country enclosed in the sea, additionaly a single race nation unlike U.S.A.
   
   But the truth Godzilla's wonderful things is not only his baseball playing ability, but also his nice character and pesonality. I hear that he is very popular with U.S.A children. I think that he is loved by children because of his truth personality. I think that the men that can see through the truth goodness is children rather than adults because they have pure mind. In fact he have done many charity activity, besides, he have done the activity personally, not public: the donation for intellectual disorder men, the donation for the victims of the Hanshin big earthquake(Hanshin Daishinsai).
   
   And he never refuse the press interview even if whether that is Japanese media or foreign media. He take the interview every day neverthless his lost game or no hit game.
   
   in old days when he was high school student, he advanced to high school baseball championship(Koukou Yakyuu). In those days, other highshool students was fear for Matsui's incredible power hitting, and his opponent team gave him the consecutive intensional five walking, it was natural that his team lost the game. The ordinaly person will be very angly. But after the game, his face was very calm and he said such[I can understand the motive of the opponent team, and If the team did not the intensional walking, I that exist now will not exist(at that time he played as Japanese professional player).
   I think that he have great personality.
   
   Thank you for reading poor writing.



3. I purchased this book, because my husband and I are both Yankee fans. and have been following the Yankees for many many years..

   This book - has all the qualities of becoming a best seller.. The writing is excellent. and the author.. Jerry Beach, captures Hideki Matsui, in ways.. that we, as Yankee fans..just want more and more info on this very valuable player.. I would hope to see a second book, on this player, as his career with the NY Yankess continues..

   I give this book(as does my husband) a 5 STAR Rating.. It's a great book.. and we have both thoroughly enojoyed it..

   Jerry Beach, is an author to follow.. because his writing style.. made this book a GREAT READ!!!!




4. This is a great book
   It should not be classified as a biography.
   You screwed me on a school report.!!!!!



5. As a loyal Yankee fan that was present for Matsui's historic performance on Opening Day 2003, the final game of the World Series, and many games in between, I highly enjoyed this book. Jerry Beach does a very good job of making the many unforgettable moments of Matsui's first year in pinstripes come to life.

   Dubbed Godzilla by his adoring fans back home, Matsui's signing with the N.Y. Yankees was international news. Beach's book takes us step-by-step through what it took to make such a deal happen, how fans and industry insiders on both continents took the news, and the subsequent season that had more ups and downs than your average roller coaster.

   Whether you're an avid Yankee fan, a fan of the Japanese phenom, or just a baseball fan that enjoys a good baseball book, this one is the one to get.

5 comments about Ty Cobb (Sport in American Life).

1. Now featuring a new afterword by author Charles C. Alexander (Professor Emeritus Of History at Ohio University), Ty Cobb is the classic biography of one of baseball's most brilliant, volatile, and intimidating presences. An inset section of black-and-white photographic plates illustrate this chronicle of not only Ty Cobb's robust life, but also the startling transformations taking place during twentieth-century baseball. A fascinating, deftly researched and highly readable "must-have" for fans of baseball legends.



2. TY COBB BY CHARLES C. ALEXANDER (1984)

   Audio book review

   Charles C. Alexander's Ty Cobb is an illuminating review of the legendary early Twentieth Century baseball superstar. This audio book, read by Walter Zimmerman, is written more like historical biography than a baseball book
   Alexander dispels many long-held Cobb myths. Cobb was mean and nasty, but not nearly the ogre of legend. In fact, Cobb was a devout Christian (Baptist), very well spoken, a man who cared about his public image, and engaged himself in many acts of on and off-field kindness. Caricatured as a savage racist by revisionist history, Cobb actually was kindly in his relations with the many black people he grew up with in Georgia, some of whom worked for his family. He had no patience for blacks he considered uppity. He was not Branch Rickey, but he was not the Grand Dragon of the K.K.K., either. Miserly? Sometimes, but without fanfare he took care of players who had hit the skids. A spikes-sharpened demon? You bet, but Ty also shook hands with his combatants after the dust settled, and performed various acts of dovish peacemaking for the benefit of hostile fans.
   Alexander is not a psychiatrist, but it is obvious that the fact that Cobb's mother killed his father in what may not have been an accident, during an incident that occurred because Mr. Cobb suspected Mrs. Cobb of having an affair, shaped Ty's combative nature. What has been lost over the years is that Cobb became friendly with Babe Ruth (common legend holding that he always hated him). Cobb was a shrewd millionaire investor who never needed to work after baseball, therefore separating himself from regular contact with people while living in huge mansions that were too big for him, after his wife left. Most telling is the relationship Cobb had with his two male children. He raised them strictly, and because of baseball travel left much of the child rearing to his wife. When he retired, they were grown up and on their own, and Cobb had genuine regrets for "missing" their childhood's. He wished he had been a doctor, so he could have been home for his kids, and when one of his sons went into medicine, Cobb lamented that if he, too, were a doctor they would have something in common. With all that baggage in tow, Cobb had to endure the premature deaths of both of the boys from untimely illnesses, living the last 20-odd bitter years of his life blaming himself.
   Cobb may have been hard to live with, but this book empathetically explains some of the demons that drove the man into becoming a brilliant stock manipulator, a taskmaster father, an unfeeling husband, a reviled teammate, a hated opponent, and in the opinion of those who saw him, perhaps the greatest baseball player who ever lived!




3. Alexander approaches baseball history as a historian; not a mere storyteller. This book reflects that approach. Alexander reports the feats and faults of Cobb, but doesn't try to pass judgement. Cobb's career speaks for itself (men are still chasing some of his records). However, in our age of political correctness Cobb's misbehavior speaks louder.

   Alexander details a complete Cobb. For all his faults Cobb was mannered and gracious in public (most of the time), a perfect host (if he liked you) and a generous philanthropist. This is the side most other Cobb bio's whitewash.

   This book proves useful as a resource about Cobb. It details the facts about his life season by season. The only way to improve the book would be to add more detail and color to some of Cobb's exploits-- but then the book would have to be about 500 pages.

   I consider this to be the primere biography of Ty Cobb. However, those looking mostly for anidotes, stories and that harsh personality brought to life might want to check out Al Stumps' "Cobb". I suggest reading both to develop the full image of the Greatest innovator baseball has ever seen.




4. Ty cobb was the most ideal hitter in baseball before "the Babe" opened its new era.

   The author described well enough for me to understand 1900-1910's players, ballparks, other circumstances around baseball.

   I sincerely recommend this book to all the baseball fans.




5. Perfect companion to Al Stump's bio of Cobb. Alexander is more factual; Stump gives the reader a more thorough understanding of Cobb and his peculiarly ferocious personality. (The Alexander and Stump biographies portray a man who is one part Bedford Forest, one part Patton, one part Perot and one part Michael Jordan). For instance, Alexander devotes little more than one paragraph to Cobb's nervous breakdown in August, 1906. On the other hand, Stump details the inhumane hazing Cobb received from his yankee teammates in 1906 due to southern upbringing which led to Cobb's breakdown and fed his massive paranoia. Stump does a much better job on detailing Cobb's rivalry with Babe Ruth. Alexander briefly mentions the rivalry; Stump details the intense hatred Cobb felt for Ruth. For example, as player-manager of the Tigers, Cobb would often scream at the thick-lipped Ruth from the dugout, "You Nigga', Nigga' etc., etc.." However, where Stump takes many of Cobb's stories and yarns at face value, Alexander sifts through the clouds and tells the reader what is definitely true and leaves out what might be lies. Ty Cobb is the most interesting baseball player of all time though not the most important (Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Roberto Clemente and, because of his role in free agency, Catfish Hunter were more important than Cobb). To get a real good feel of Ty Cobb, you need to read two books. Mr. Alexander's book is one of the two.

5 comments about Idiot: Beating "The Curse" and Enjoying the Game of Life.

1. This book is great. It is about the life of Johnny Damon and how he created a spark in the Red Sox which would lead to a World Series and an end of a historic curse. The book starts off explaining Johnny's life growing up and his experiences in high school. The book then goes into his career with Kansas City and the A's. Johnny expresses a lot in his book, from his unsuccessful first marriage to his fun partying with teammates. Later on in the Book Johnny signs with Boston and turns the team around as lead off hitter for one of the best rosters to ever play the game. The Curse of the Bambino seemed like it had once again taken down the Red Sox. However, the team is able to have what I believe is the greatest comeback ever in a series and come back from 3-0 to beat the Yankees. In the end of the book The team wins the World Series vs the Cards, finally breaking the curse.
   
   By James Privateer



2. The book I'm reviewing is Idiot by Johnny Damon. I thought this book is awesome and deserves five stars. I think it is great because it is very, very funny. Idiot is about how Johnny Damon grows up and makes it to Major League Baseball. He then signs with the Boston Red Sox and helps them win the World Series. Idiot gives you a behind the scenes look at how the Red Sox struggle through the regular season and how they pull together as a team. I would recommend this book to Red Sox fans and kids who enjoy humor. I think baseball fans all over would enjoy the book. Idiot is more for kids who are eleven and older. There are no other books by Damon because he is a professional baseball player for the New York Yankees.
   
   Reviewed by a sixth grader.



3. No great revelations here -- wasn't expecting much anyway with the always dull Peter Golenbock as ghost writer. Too bad too, Damon's story as a fascinating Thai/American elite athlete could have been penned as a compelling one. Was looking for even a minor crescendo during the improbable 2004 ALCS comeback against the Bronx Bombers but nothing really ever ultimately gelled. The book could have vastly improved from better identification of dates and times and avoidance of extensive rehashing of prior events with no added detail. Saved from one star hell by the inclusion of a pretty good photos section.
   
   As if the poor writing wasn't enough, idiot mistakes abound, from misspelling the names of numerous major leaguers (Scott Sauerbeck as Scott Sauerbach, Bucky Jacobsen as Bucky Jacobson) to basic errors in game details. You'd think Golenbock would be improving as a writer after his many collaborations with other sports figures. Damon either exerted too much editorial control, or, more likely, it's time for Golenbock to hang up his spikes...



4. This book prooves the theory that looks aren't everything. He's so hot (even now without the beard) but from reading this book, he's not that smart. So talented on the field but this book is like it's been written by a kid back in junior high - if that. He's repeated himself several times over and over and as another reviewer said, it seems as if this was written purely because of the Sox's win only. I love Johnny dearly, but stick to playing ball and away from books.



5. I am glad I read this book before I saw Johnny Damon in a Yankee uniform, because the book is boring and could have been written by a tenth grader. Damon is in love with himself, talks trash about his ex-wife and the whole book sounds like a bad tv interview. I can happily look at Johnny Damon in Yankee gear and know it's no loss to the Red Sox.

5 comments about Baseball Letters: A Fan's Correspondence With His Heroes.

1. Having my own collection of "baseball letters" similar to Swirsky's thoroughly enjoyed this book. I even envied a few of his responses that I was never able to receive and was relieve to find that I was not the only baseball fan to journey into letter writing.
   
   It is a collection of responses to letter's Swirsky sent to baseball players in a varied range of topics. Some answers are short and simple while others provide a more interserting response. Either way, if you are a baseball fans or have even written to a baseball player, past or present, you should enjoy this simple and enjoyable book.



2. This book is rich and full of exciting baseball history, as Swirsky writes to professional baseball players of all decades and teams and poses questions to them on their careers and reflections of America's Pastime. Not only is this book interesting in a historical prospective, but it's very fun to read and analzye. The work that went into this book is noticeable, and both the letter to the player and the response from the player (as well as many great pictures) make this book a timeless classic. Bravo to Seth Swirsky for such a job well-done.



3. . . . this would have to be it. I actually started getting jealous that HE was the one who wrote to all these players, and HE was the one who got letters back from them. But I got over it quickly and just shared in the joy and the fascinating discoveries. What a treasure trove, made even better by the author's showing us copies of the actual handwritten letters from the players! Also it's gutsy how he shares with us the story of how this project resulted from a period of emotional difficulty that he went through. The style is casual yet flawless -- as easy to read as anything you'll ever find.



4. I *love* this book. It's a great compilation of some of the most interesting questions one can ask his heroes. Mr. Swirsky doesn't just stick to the basics, he asks players who played in the 1930s what baseball was like in that era, he asks legends to put together their all time All-Star team, and asks players their impressions of up and coming (soon to be legendary) rookies! I was very impressed by Mr. Swirsky's knowledge of the game, and his ability to ask questions we wouldn't have thought of.

   What's also interesting is that 99% of the responses are handwritten! In this day and age of email, it makes the book more intimate and personal!

   This is a great coffee table book, too, as it's great for reading in small portions--when you want a slice of baseball history! The companion book, Every Pitcher Tells a Story, is also wonderful and features more great letters. I highly recommend!




5. I bought Mr. Swirsky's new book "Every Pitcher Tells A Story" and was so taken by its originality that I bought his first one "Baseball Letters". They are quite different and it's hard to tell which one I enjoyed more. I was glad he didn't write to the same players--every letter was a new 'experience'.Great reads.