2 comments about Joe DiMaggio: An American Icon (Daily News Legends Series).

1. This is my favorite book on the legendary Joe DiMaggio. Part of the Daily News Legends Series it is chock full of the newspaper stories that covered Joe DiMaggio's career and life on and off the field. The stories reflect not a retrospective look at DiMaggio like most books, but rather the events as they were viewed at the time, in the language of the time. A delightful read that is accompanied by a good many photos (mostly black and white) and is sure to please any baseball fan.



2. If you are a baseball fan, then this compilation as put together by the N.Y. Daily News is a must have.The depth of their files, as shown in this book, comes through to allow those fans of Joe D. to relive both the good and not so good times of a grand career. With his passing, a certain style and grace was lost to us all. This book will go a long way in helping us remember it.

5 comments about POWER AND THE DARKNESS: The Life of Josh Gibson in the Shadows of the Game.

1. Overall this book was an okay read. I would have preferred to read more about Josh Gibson and his personal/family life. This book provided more information on box scores and Negro League history than on Josh Gibson. There was information on him that I had never read about or even heard about for that matter which was Great! Not to say the information about box scores and Negro League history are not important. I think I could have gotten that information from the author's other book he wrote about the history of the Negro Leagues. I would have liked to read more about Josh Gibson personally such as what happened to his twin daughter,what happened to the other women in his life, did he have any more children or is any of his memorabilia in the hall of fame are just a few questions that I would have liked to read about.



2. Josh Gibson was known as "the black Babe Ruth." In his day, he towered over the other batting talent in the negro leagues like a colossus. Legend has it that he hit more than 800 homeruns including the longest one out of Yankee stadium ever recorded. Because of the color barrier, he never made it to "the bigs" and died just three months before Jackie Robinson broke through. Sadly, he remains a footnote in sports history known mostly to true baseball afficianados. However, thanks to this book by Mark Ribowsky, he will never be forgotten and will always be accessible to those interested enough to read it. Like the jazz musician Charlie Parker, he was a womanizing drug abuser who died in his mid-thirties. Both men died long before their immense talent ever had the chance to fade away. They also represented two of America's greatest inventions --- baseball and jazz with incredible style and poise. Interesting details here about Josh's time in the South American leagues fill in gaps in his career record. Poignant insight is also presented about the loss of his first wife which set the stage for his depression, self-abuse and eventual downfall. No less an authority than baseball's greatest hitter Ted Williams used his 1966 Baseball Hall of Fame induction speech to praise both Gibson and his pitching counterpart Satchel Paige lobbying for them to be inducted into the hall which they both eventually were. Details, annecdotes and great insights into a great player abound in this book. The writing here by Ribowsky is definitely worthy of his subject.



3. I read in anticipation to learn why a strong and powerful man such as Josh Gibson would die at the young age of 36. Yes, there were references to his drinking and drug use. There was mention about him possibly having a brain tumor. That's where the book missed the point. If it was a brain tumor, the author simply skated the issue by saying that the record keeping in the 40's left something to be desired. Certainly there were people to interview who were affiliated with the hospital where he stayed and was diagnosed. I think a stronger case for or against a brain tumor should have been made by the author instead of glossing over the matter. Way too much detail of the balls and strikes of games was given. Who cares about that stuff? I wanted to know about Josh the man and got some of that, but not nearly enough. Page after page was filled with box score details that were meaningless for the most part. If he truly had "many women", who were these people and did any other than Hattie and Grace play a major role in his life? Lots of questions and few answers from the author. Sorry!



4. It's easy to see why this writer also wrote a book about Satchel Paige. Their careers are so intertwined, he already had the research. And, in fact, you could almost call this a history of the Negro Baseball League.

   The negatives to the book are that it early reads somewhat like a rehash of newspaper articles. The author was forced into this because the two primary sources were the weekly black newspapers and "embellished" word of mouth. The set-up is a little long on the history of the two Pittsburgh teams that Josh played for but since this rivalry was so intertwined with Josh's history, it was almost necessary.

   The positives are that this is a classic "tragic hero". Humble beginnings and tragedy, develops into a tremendous player, personal flaws erode his skills, and then he has a young, controversial death. When you overlay that with the rumors and embellishment of his accomplishments, it's easy to see how the legend has grown. The author did a good job of balancing legend with documentable evidence helping the reader draw a conclusion on the stories that may be overstated exaggerations.

   This is a great story and a very good read I enjoyed. Obviously, Josh Gibson and Satch Paige paved the way for Jackie Robinson and have their place in baseball history. I STRONGLY encourage you to watch "The Soul of the Game" on HBO which takes the history of Paige, Gibson and Robinson and overlays the facts into a reconstruction. It was one of the best movies I have ever watched and never fails to draw you emotionally into the story. This book and it's careful research, allowed me to realize virtually every scene in the movie was drawn from some fact and not an overstatement.




5. Mark Ribowsky has researched his material and subject very well. A very powerful but sad message comes from this book. Josh Gibson had tremendous and unlimited power and potential. As a victim of a racist America of that time, we will never truly know just how great he could have been. A sad epitaph exists for all Negro League Stars...Statistics are terribly lacking and wrought with inconsistencies. More often than not we are left to the colorful imaginations of those that were witness to this era. No question, they were all highly talented. No question, they were robbed and we were robbed. Josh Gibson is about as poignent a subject as anyone. Such a shame! Thank you, Mark. Thank you for at least allowing us to have a glimpse at what it was like for Josh and many others of a bygone era. It was not an easy time for them. Josh was the one that was hardest hit by the climate. The truth is known, it is ugly, but it is known.

No comments about The Toe: The Lou Groza Story.

1 comments about Cecil Travis of the Washington Senators: The War-torn Career of an All-star Shortstop.

1. This book is a good read for those interested in baseball history. There are a lot of facts and figures about professional baseball in the 30's and early 40's. My interest in the book was personal. I grew up in the same town as the Travis's and knew Mr. Travis's oldest son, Tony. He and I were in the same high school graduating class (Jonesboro, Georgia, H.S., class of '61). I have been in the Travis home and found, just as the writer found, that Mr. Travis was a quiet and humble man. I did not know until later in my life the extent of his baseball career. I did find the history interesting, but I was more interested in the man rather than the baseball player. I recommend the book to baseball fans, and/or those who live or have lived in Clayton or Fayette Counties, Georgia.

No comments about Justin Morneau: All-Star Ball Star.

2 comments about Hammering Hank: How the Media Made Henry Aaron.

1. I challenge even the most dedicated fan of 1960s and 70s baseball and Hank Aaron to read this book and not come away with an entirely new appreciation for the times that Hank had to endure while he was shattering baseball's most revered record. Mssrs. Kennedy and Stewart have crafted a thoroughly researched and wonderfully written book that baseball fans, especially Hank Aaron fans, will enjoy and refer back to.
   
   A master work.



2. After reviewing the title and inside jacket, this book seemed like it would provide a critical look at an American hero and a personal favorite of mine. However, the book is a mere rehash of topics that have already been covered in other publications-- most notably, Hank Aaron's own autobiography, I Had A Hammer. This book offers no new insights into either the man or his career. Ironically, the authors state one of the reasons for doing this book is because Hank's previous books lacked sufficient insight into the man. I would stick with his 1991 autobiography and skip this. One last thing state that Hank's portrait somehow lacks substance and he is a caricature. These words are no only unfair and also I found no substantiation in the book for this conclusion. Interestingly enough, for a man supposedly lacking substance he was somehow selected as the Black Enterprise Magazine's Auto Dealer of the Year in 2004.

No comments about Babe Ruth: A Biography (Baseball's All-Time Greatest Hitters).

5 comments about Mark McGwire: Home Run Hero.

1. This was a very good book, until I got to the last few pages. There, I found out that the famous 62nd and 70th homers were NOT included or reported about. Obviously, there wasn't much research done because the whole book was full of quotes moving the story along. I'd say that no more than 1/3 of the whole book was actual writing done by Rains himself. But, this was still a fairly good book. The pictures in the centerfold could have been a little bit better and more updated as well. But, the writing is what's important, right?



2. I have never actually finished a book over 100 pages EXCEPT for this one. That has to say something. Not only that i LOVE Mark McGwire and almost everything he does but that the author, Rob Rains must know what hes talking about. It is a pretty well detailed book the chapters could be a little shorter but otherwise a very interesting book!



3. i think this was basic information and Rains touched on the same topics on more than one occasion, interesting for someone who just knows he played for the A's and is the HR king, like me, which is why i gave it 3 stars. if i was following McGwire from his rookie year, i would have hated it. so again, its basic, nothing spectacular



4. Anyone can get most of the information in this book on the internet. I found nothing new, and the style of writing was plain boring. I was hoping for more in depth research and more on Mark, the man. I was disappointed in this effort.



5. It is a great book about a great athlete

5 comments about The Goose Is Loose.

1. Goose Gossage was one of the most dominating pitchers of his era. In his autobiography he talks about how he rose from a kid who was afraid he was going to decapitate Ernie Banks to the most feared reliever in baseball. Goose touches on his most memorable moments, including his locker room brawl with Cliff Johnson and the "No beer in the clubhouse" fiasco in San Diego which involved a very public run-in with Padres owner Joan Kroc. He lovingly looks at Thurman Munson and his great appreciation for him shines through. He also reveals how Catfish Hunter picked him up after a game in Toronto after Goose had blown another early save opportunity. The only drawback of the book for me is that it seemed Goose was trying too hard to be funny. Other than that minor detail, an enjoyable read. Recommended.



2. The first thing you think back on when his name comes up is the word respect. All hitters had it. Goose Gossage was feared because you didn't crowd his home plate, then he struck you out, then he picked up the save! He was the pitcher every manager looks for. He'd brush you back, sometimes twice, just like he did with Willie Horton, if that was what it took to get respect.
   
   He recalls memories of former teammates such as altercations with Billy Martin, or the fond memories of the late Thurman Munson. He recalls the hilarious stunts of pitcher, Sparky Lyle, and equal ferocity of Al, "the mad Hungarian" Hrabosky, and how he smoked a double off the crazy Hungarian! A lot of stories about the nights in the bars, yet more and better stories of the glory of the mound. He even describes the memory of the home run he gave up to Kirk Gibson in the 1984 World Series.
   
   All in all, an entertaining read. Who knew? Very good!



3. I loved this book! I was pleasantly surprised by some of the sensitive passages of the book. If you are a big Yankee fan this book is just right for you. A good companion to the Sparky Lyle book "The Bronx Zoo" or Graig Nettles' book "Balls". Goose writes honestly and often hilariously about his baseball experiences. I was especially moved by the passage about Thurmon Munson. If you loved the 1977-1981 Yankees, this book will refresh your memory of what it was like to be a Yankee fan in that era. I definitely reccommend this book to all Yankee fans!



4. Reading Goose Gossage's autobiography brought back happy memories of my teenaged Yankee-worshipping self, who knew that when #54 stepped onto the mound, good things were about to happen. Gossage's tales about his 22 years in baseball are sometimes ribald and often laugh-out-loud funny. However, longtime Yankee fans will be heavily reminded of Gossage's predecessor Sparky Lyle's brilliant and hysterically funny autobiography "The Bronx Zoo"--the writing style is extremely similar. But what the heck--Gossage doesn't have to be John Updike. He just rears back and throws, and the result is a very pleasant read. See you in Cooperstown, Goose!



5. In his amazingly rich memoir, Gossage reveals he not only has a name every baseball fan knows, but he is also one of the best, and funniest, writers in sports.

No comments about Joe Jackson: A Biography (Baseball's All-Time Greatest Hitters).