4 comments about Bobby Allison: A Racer's Racer.

1. We got this book as a gift for our son who is really into racing like us. I thought I'd just thumb through it and ended up reading the whole thing. Then, I listened to the CD of Bobby telling some of the stories that are in the book and I went back and re-read those chapters. Needless, to say I have to get another copy for my son now because his gift is worn a little bit - oh well.

   It's nice to see a book about one of NASCAR's greatest that tells the lighter side of his career. It made me look at Bobby Allison in a whole new light and respect. If you are an old fan of NASCAR you'll love this because of the pictures alone. If you're a new fan, you need to read this so you know where the sport came from and what racing was really like.

   Just get the book and you'll see why. Bobby, thanks for sharing these with us. It makes me wish you were on the track, still, even more.




2. I just bought this book from Bobby and Tim at Atlanta Motor Speedway and just loved it. We listened to the CD on the way home as my wife read the book. Then, I read the book and listened to the CD, again.

   The stories in this book are told by Bobby Allison himself and done only the way he can tell a story. I watched him race for years and this brought back some great memories of great moments in racing.

   I'm going to get one for each of my son's for Christmas. They are always wanting to know the history of NASCAR and this will give them a lot of answers as to why guys like Bobby made NASCAR what it is today.

   Thank you Bobby and Tim for sharing these with us.




3. The book is a great read and the photos brought back a lot of memories from watching Bobby kick [...] on the NASCAR tracks. There are some great pictures of Davey and Clifford when they were younger, and of Bobby and Judy's whole family.

   I enjoyed the heck out of the CD and they way Bobby told some of those stories was just hysterical. Bobby did help make NASCAR what it is today and the book captures why and how he did it.




4. I just purchased this book and found it to be a wonderful account of some great stories that took place during this man's life. Bobby Allison gave a lot so NASCAR could be what it is today and the pictures and stories are wonderful.

   I laughed out loud so many times at the stories told in only the way Bobby can tell one. Reading it was one thing, but the CD that comes with the book is him actually telling some of the stories in the book.

   If you're a racing fan, this is a must by for you or a friend. Bobby, you done good on this book and you should be proud.

2 comments about Waterlog.

1. This book kept me company through a cold late winter and spring, easing me through green waterways and onward toward more and more pure experience. Reading it, I felt as if I were lying somewhere sylvan, watching light flicker through leaves. Deakin's prose is so infused with his appreciation of the natural world that the reader breathes it in and feels more relaxed and, well, at one with the world. His vignettes of the quirky people who practice wild swimming are great mini-essays, too, more gentle and sympathetic than, say, Bill Bryson's. I for one will miss his voice sorely.



2. Perhaps this will appeal mostly to readers with some history and experience of the UK landscape. Deakin is eccentric in his passion for swimming "wild" and takes us with him on a personal odyssey of exploring the coastal and inland swims around Britain.

   His writing very effectively describes both the athletic demands of his undertaking and things ecological and to do with the natural history of UK waters, in vibrant detail. The sceptics among us are nevertheless buoyed up by his passion for the subject.
   In addition, he has researched the local history of most of the swimming venues and is able to account some interesting tidbit with each swim. Deakin entertained me with his various references to other literary works and to more generally celebrated persons or events in the British psyche. This all combines to create a gently nostalgic account of British water-landscapes, which are in the most part lost to the majority of its inhabitants today.

   I was left knowing very little about the man, but hungry for more anecdotes of other swims. Quite charming.

1 comments about NEVER TOO LATE: THE EPIC JOURNEY OF A MAN AND A PROMISE.

1. This book is an amazing story of an unbelievable journey. What Tim has been through in his life will make most people pale in comparison and yet he still was able to find his way to success and help other people's success along the way.
   A very easy read, told well by a real person with real perspectives. I would recommend this for anyone interested in sports or human interest stories...or those just wanting to read a great story!

5 comments about Reinhold Messner, Free Spirit: A Climber's Life.

1. The achievements of Reinhold Messner are legendary. Among them, he is the first man to have ascended Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. He is also the first man to have climbed all fourteen 8000-meter peaks. Mr. Messner could rightfully be quite boastful and egotistic in his writing. Exactly the opposite is true. The book was panned by a number of reviewers for being "dry". This is precisely why I find the book so engaging and interesting. Mr. Messner narrates his achievements in a matter of fact manner leaving the reader to fill in the enormity of his spirit. Personally, I find the single-minded obsession of mountain climbers to be somewhat bizarre. Yet, I find reading about the tales of misery and death to be entertaining. I admire Mr. Messner for his unbridled enthusiam for mountain climbing and also for his restraint in narrating the tales.



2. Messner's account of the early years of a remarkable climbing career skips over each individual ascent so quickly that the reader loses interest. While his writing in itself is not unskilled, the rapid descriptions make the book read like a laundry list. Also, while his puritanical philosophy of mountaineering must have its roots in this early period, he mentions its development only in passing. Despite some gorgeous photographs, this book does not approach the best of its kind.



3. Free Spirit could have, potentially, been a incredible account of a brilliant mountaineering career. Instead, during the course of the book, one can picture Messner sitting down 20 years later in an attempt to remember exactly how he felt during his numerous expeditions and bold first ascents.

   Although the book starts out well enough with fond memories of his childhood in the Dolomites, it quickly degrades into a fact-fest of unemotional paragraphs that will disappoint. How anyone can describe their first ascent of Everest without oxygen, or the death of a brother in so few words is amazing; if not degrading.

   Your climbing collection will not miss this volume.




4. Hard to believe that one could write such a dry account of the amazing climbing life of one of the world's most ambitious climbers. Full of facts, and probably very accurate, it fails to capture much "magic".



5. Reinhold Messner may be the Michael Jordan of mountaineering, but his writing style is flat footed. In his exploits, Messner has the raw material for some of the most compelling adventure literature of all time, but instead he produces little more than dull climbing notes (although accompanied by some interesting photography). There was very little illuminating introspection (even the account of his brother's death was pedestrian). I place this at the bottom of the heap of mountaineering literature

4 comments about In the Paint: Tattoos of the NBA and the Stories Behind Them.

1. This may look odd but I was trying to post someone else's review of my book that they e-mailed to me. I mean, why would I review my own book? I didn't even read it.



2. NBA players have no respect for the art of tattooing or the history of it-- they simply get tattoos to look tough and/or get attention. This book is about as superficial as the tattoos it portrays.



3. I was'nt that impressed with this book.I thought it was going to go into alot more detail and show better array of pictures.Most of the pictures you can see on the internet already.The pictures that new were very few and far in between.It is a nice book to add to a collection,if you like tattoos or sports.Not a hreat book to learn about the players tattoos and meanings or even to see pctures of them.Some pictures shown didnt even get explained in the book.



4. This book is more than just a bunch of pictures of NBA guys with tatoos -- though it has some great pictures. It is wittily written (the jacket says the author is comedy writer) without being condescending to the athletes. It's informative and fun and thorough. The players come off as everything from funny and strange to thoughtful and deep. My only complaint is that the colors in the photography could be a little more vivid. I'd reccommend this book to any NBA, skin art, or self expression.

5 comments about Beyond the Lion's Den.

1. I'm very happy to see a fighter finally show us some mma moves.
   The contents are as follows;
   1)Striking-21 moves.
   2)Clinch work-17 moves.
   3)Leglocks and guard passes-13 moves.
   4)Top Control Submissions-27 moves.
   5)Guard Work-14 moves.
   Overall there are 100 techniques plus a biography of Shamrock's life.Sorry for not remembering exactly how the book is organized;but there is indeed 100 moves inside.
   My only two problems with this book is that;Shamrock doesn't show how to strike when down on the ground and doesn't cover escapes from the bottom of inferior positions at all.



2. The biography part is pretty interesting. He mostly talks about his pro wrestling days and after. In his first book, he focuses more on his life before pro wrestling. I liked the idea of a bio/instructional because it adds some credebility to his technique.
   
   The instructional part is good. He provides a lot of techiniques for several different situations. He goes through the techniques step by step in detail so the reader fully understands how to perform the techniques. His first book had some nutritional and exercise advice, however this book does not. Despite that, I would strongly recommend this book for Shamrock fans and people who are interested in training in MMA.



3. I have over 50 martial arts related books and this was a huge disappointment, i actually bought it and ended up returning it the following day. I liked his first book The Lion's Den, but just like Ken himself, this book hasnt evolved further.
   
   So many better MMA/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/Muay Thai books are available.
   Please dont waste your time with this one.



4. Beyond the Lion's Den is an expanded update of Lion's Den, which was published over ten years ago. It's divided into two sections covering Shamrock's life story and a second longer section which is a guide to MMA techniques.
   
   The biography part makes Shamrock sound more like a superhero than a real human being but it's well written and entertaining. On the downside the only pictures are from two of his UFC matches (against Tito Ortiz and Kimo) which is a little strange considering the length of his career and the number of images which must be available. Also the photo on the cover is from his pumped-up WWF days which is a bit misleading considering the content of the book.
   
   The second half is a lot better. The problem with a lot of wrestling (or martial arts) books is that the photos are too small or grainy to see the techniques properly. Here there are lots of large, clear photos which show how to complete the manoeuvres really well.
   
   In short this book may not be worth the cover price if you've already got the old version or are a good standard MMA fighter. It works better as an introduction to the sport and it helps too if you're a Ken Sharock fan :)



5. I am so sorry to all whom I've upset and offended with my online blogs/rantings. This is my promise to produce heretofore no more politically oriented, morally offensive pieces of diatribe that I completly let myself get carried away with. All too often I let opinions and guesswork and self-interest overcome my actually mundane, sober personality. Please forgive me. That's all I can ask.....that's all I can ask. Good day.

5 comments about Rocky Marciano: THE ROCK OF HIS TIMES (Sport and Society).

1. Every boxing fan should know about The Rock, the only undefeated heavyweight champion of the world in history. So is he really better than Louis, Ali or even big ol' earbiting Mike? No one can ever tell.
   
   What can be told is the sole story about Rocky Marciano. This book covers as much fighting, personal, social and cultural details one could ask for. After a while, some repetitive statements get boring. Sullivan also takes away some of his glamourous stats by stating in great detail how his fights were fixed with lesser opponents. I personally just think he filled the void between Louis and Ali, but nevertheless was a great champion.
   
   You want to relive the 50's and have a good time about reading one of the world's greatest boxers of all time? This is your book.



2. "Rocky Marciano The rock of His Times" by Russell Sullivan is a masterpiece of Sports Biography. Russell Sullivan "dosn't pull any punches " in this explosive story of a simple-man trying to make a "simple-living" in a very complex barbaric industry!
   
   Sullivan knows his subject from all sides of the ring... and out. Not only does he know boxing, he knows the human spirit that envelopes it. This is a real "page-turner" and there is a wallop in every chapter! From Carmine Vingo to Roland LaStanza, and on to Archie Moore, the bell just keeps on ringing!
   
   It's not just a story about boxing; it's a real tale about a contemporary "Lancelot" fighting his dragons from every direction.
   
   "Marciano came to symbolize early-1950's simplicity. He was indeed, the rock of his times." (p.305)
   
   Russell Sullivan does a superb job of bringing back those restless spirits at Madson Square Garden. "And in this corner, from Holyoke, Massachusetts:
   R O C K Y ...........M A R C I A N O...........!!!!!!"
   
   If, you haven't found a good book to read in a long time, don't "throw in the towel" just yet! Buy this book, it's a great read.



3. AS a boxing historian I have often seen Marciano placed in one of two groups, either Mt. Olympus or the 20th row ... boxing is a sport often divided by racial and ethnic lines and there is a tremendous Marciano fan base that irrationally places him in the Parthenon of fighters and use his undefeated record to justify it. No rational discussion of physical limitations or quality of opposition matter. Other's dismiss him altogether. What is so good about this book was that the author did a terrific job keeping rational level of perspective. He did not preach one way or the other, he reported as it was covered at the time so the content remains objective. As a result, we get an accurate, detailed account of a legendary champion and his times. In addition, we also enjoy shorter but interesting insights into many Marciano's opponents such as Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott and Archie Moore, legends in their own rights....
   
   It is a highly recommended read along the lines of "John L. Sullivan and his America" and "Papa Jack."



4. This was a good bio of Rocky Marciano. There really never was a more unlikely guy to become one the great heavyweight champions if you think about it. He had very little in the way of amateur fights and really didn't start boxing till he was in his mid 20's. He was very small for a heavyweight, even for that time. Marciano was the only heavyweight champion to never lose a fight and retire undefeated. He was one of a small handful of boxers that transcended the sport and became American icons that were synonymous with the times in which they were champion. Anybody that disparages his ring accomplishments either has an anti-white agenda or knows NOTHING about boxing. He had victories over fighters who are arguably the three most skilled, ringwise and crafty heavyweights to ever get in the ring, Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles (he beat Walcott and Charles twice) and Archie Moore. I do not consider Marciano to be the greatest heavyweight ever but his ring accomplishments can't be denied.
   
   But besides his big fights which were talked about in depth among other things it also goes into his life growing up in a poor Italian-American family. The very methodical process in which he was brought up through the ranks of the fight game after he turned pro. The likliehood that the main reason he retired was because he was sick of dealing with his over controlling manager. His penchant for being incredibly cheap and frugal. As well as his tragic death in an airplane crash.



5. By:Ryan Lemery
   This was a very good book. it was entertaining as well as informational. I especially liked how it talked about racism and the struggles of being a boxer in that era. I liked how Rocky was known as the Great White Hope. But there were a few things that i didn't like. Things such as how a whole chapter would be about one thing that didn't even pertain to Rocky. I also didn't like how Al Weill was taking Rocky's money and using it for his own pleasures.Thank god Rocky found out about it. That was pretty much the only sad part in the book. Besides the part where Rocky died in a plane crash. And on his Birthday! I think that I almost cried. I really liked this book and i think that many people should read it. It would be a good book for people with big dreams, and big hopes.

3 comments about I Remember Harry Caray.

1. I was surprised by many of the observations in this book, but far from sensationalistic, it is very honest in what made up Harry Carey. I appreciated the fact it was authorized, and I imagine there is more then enough information about Harry to warrent another volume. Here's hoping we get to see more of "the voice of the Cubs'!



2. HARRY CARAY WAS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BASEBALL ANNOUNCERS OF ALL TIME. I REMEMBER HIM DURING THE LATE 1960'S UNTIL HIS DEATH IN THE LATE 90'S. HE WAS SO ENTHUSIASTIC AND HIS LOVE FOR THE GAME WAS ADDICTIVE. I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK AND FOUND IT BE VERY WELL WRITTEN. I RECOMMEND IT ESPECIALLY FOR ALL CHICAGO AND ST LOUIS FANS WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE TALENT AND CHARACTER OF HARRY.



3. I Remember Harry Caray is a good book and i highly suggest buying it if you are a die hard Cubs fan like myself. This book has some very good stories in it about Harry and the Cubbies. Harry Caray is in my mind what really kept me watching the Cubs through their terrible years and this book is the perfect tribute to a wonderful man.

5 comments about Open Net.

1. I laughed. I learned. I loved Open Net.
   
   Plimpton summarizes (page 254) his experience with the Bruins to Junior Achievers in Edmonton, "I described some of my brief forays into sports as a participatory journalist, and what it was like, and how I envied the athletes their skills and the fellowship, but how I had always left their camps with a faint twinge of relief that I was returning to my own world..."
   
   Plimpton is the vanguardist for creative-nonfiction/participatory journalism, and Open Net is the standard by which other hockey books should be measured. I envy not his weak ankles, for they're as instable as his writing is strong, but rather his wit and way of balancing humor and enlightenment.
   
   I didn't grow up in New England, but I suspect those that have will still enjoy the way Plimpton brings back to life the boldness and brashness, the grit and the glory, of the Big Bad Bruins.
   
   From Plimpton's interaction with the likes of "Grapes" and "Taz" and with goalies "Seaweed," and "Cheesy" to our hero's own moment in the crease, you'll want to stand up and cheer!



2. If you enjoy Ice Hockey, especially from a historical perspective, this is the book to read. Fans of Don Cherry will love this book.



3. George Plimpton once again dons a uniform and plays a game. This time he tackles hockey while training with the Boston Bruins.
   Plimpton does a wonderful job of painting a realistic view of life as a goalie. He uses the voices of other players to help the story along, rather than as just filler from big names. He also tells his tale without a lot of false excitement. You can tell he totally loves the experience, yet at times, you can see the effort does drain him (naturally).
   His comments about and conversations with the likes of 'Seaweed' Pettie, Garry Cheevers and Don Cheery really add a lot of depth to the book. In conversations I have had with some of these men, I clearly got the point that they enjoyed this as much as Plimpton did and as much as I did as a reader.
   This is a great read for the unfulfilled athlete in all of us.



4. THIS IS ONE OF PLIMPTON'S BEST. I REALLY ENJOYED HIS STORY PLAYING GOAL FOR THE BRUINS. HIS CONVERSATIONS WITH VARIOUS PLAYERS AND COACHES ARE EXCELLENT. HIS DESCRIPTIONS OF THE EVENTS MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE RIGHT THERE ON THE ICE WITH HIM. PLIMPTON DOESN'T WASTE TOO MUCH TIME DESCRIBING HIS SURROUNDINGS LIKE HE DOES IN OTHER BOOKS. HE GOES STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. SOME HIGHLIGHTS ARE DESCRIBING HOW HE PUTS HIS UNIFORM ON IN A DETAILED ORDER, OLD STORIES ABOUT EDDIE SHORE, AND HIS ACTUAL TIME ON THE ICE PLAYING GOAL DURING A COUPLE OF EXHIBITION GAMES MAKE THIS A GREAT READ.



5. As a big hockey fan, and a goaltender, this was just required reading. Yet, it turned out to be more. This well written, quick read was a gas to enjoy and quote. I will be glad to read others by George Plimpton, and I'm already on the hunt for PAPER LION.
   I guess thats my ringing endorcement. If I'm looking to read a book on football, the author must be wonderful. Quick, funny, well written, and vastly enjoyable, you wont regret buying this book, no matter what the price.

5 comments about The Sizzler: George Sisler, Baseball's Forgotten Great.

1. George Sisler, the subject of Rick Huhn's book, "The Sizzler," is yet another of the classic ballplayers of the early 20th century, admired during his career, acknowledged for his achievements during and after his career, slowly forgotten over the years and without a biography until recently. Huhn has stepped in to correct that oversight in Sisler's case, and it is a welcome addition to the baseball greats section of the library.
   
   George Sisler, as Huhn stressed, was not a colorful player: he kept a low profile and let his playing do the talking. There were few incidents in his life where he made waves: signing a professional contract while underage, and the resulting fight for his services helping to lead to the end of the National Commission; his tenure as manager of the St. Louis Browns, his transfer to the Senators in the late 1920s; his sinus infection and the resulting difficulties with Browns management in 1923; but most importantly, his hitting and fielding with the Browns during his greatest years. His record for hits in a season was untouched for 84 years, and his two years with averages over .400 are impressive, even for the time in which he played. He finished second to Ruth in home runs one year, and his Runs Created between 1915 and 1922 surpassed Ruth by over 100. That he was not exactly the same player after sitting out 1923 is a disappointment, but he was certainly honored in his time, named by Ty Cobb in his all-time team as first baseman.
   
   Huhn has provided us with a fine biography of a deserving player, a stand-out performer in his time, and all time.
   
   One other thing: It has been noted that Bill James, author and Society of American Baseball Research member, wrote in his 2001 Historical Baseball Abstract that Sisler is "perhaps the most over-rated player in baseball history." (p. 441) Mr. James is entitled to his opinion; it's his book and he can interpret the statistics in any way he cares to. I've been a SABR member for over 25 years and am familiar with Mr. James' work, and it is quite safe to say that I do not agree with him a good half the time, this being one of those times. If you look back at his 1985 Historical Baseball Abstract, you'll find that he said "George Sisler is probably the only player other than Gehrig who can reasonably be considered the greatest first baseman ever in terms of peak value . . . Sisler was a different type of player, he didn't have the home run pop, but he hit for a higher average, was faster and a better defensive player than Gehrig, and the comparison between the two is not easy." (p. 346)
   
   So what happened? Sisler's statistics didn't change in the 16 years between books; the 1920s didn't change, either. Most of the guys who seemingly leap-frogged over him in performance were done playing before 1985. Mr. James explains on page of the 2001 book that in rereading the 1985 book there are a lot of things that he didn't like. As I said, it's his book and he writes what he wants, but that doesn't mean I'm buying what he's pushing on me. In terms of perspective of the times, Sisler was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1939, in the year of the inauguration of the Hall of Fame, as was Gehrig. A number of guys who jumped ahead of him on the list of top first basemen won't get in the Hall except with a ticket. If this makes Mr. James an over-rated writer, well, I won't say that he is or isn't. But you can make up your mind whether the old Bill James is also the new Bill James, and which one you want to believe.



2. This is a very good book about a legend of the game. It is a very good read and provides a lot of insight on how Sisler was perceived by many of his peers. My only problem with the book is the author mistakenly saying that Roberto Clemente was from the Dominican Republic. A glaring mistake like this makes me wonder what other facts might be wrong.



3. In response to "J.F. Baseball history nut, music fan", I think the point of Sisler's talent has been missed. I won't go so far as to call Mr. J.F, etc. a moron, but he has certainly missed the boat on some things.
   
   J.F, et. al. tosses around some players who were "better" than Sisler. Let's pick one and compare their stats. How about Jack Clark? True, Sisler didn't walk very much, but he also didn't strike out very much. How many times did he strike out? Try 327 times, in approximately 8200 AB. How many times did Jack Clark strike out? Try 1441 in approximately 6800 AB. ('Nuf said.) Interestingly, Clark and Sisler have an identical OBP, of .379, and Clark has a slightly higher slugging number -- about 10 points higher. Looking at those two stats, they appear somewhat equal, but look at the hit totals: Sisler, 2812; Clark 1826. You see, Sisler wasn't "taking" walks because he was too busy actually getting hits! So, Clark has a thousand fewer hits, and struck out about a thousand more times. Even taking into consideration the ~800 more walks Clark had, I would still rather have Sisler on my team.
   
   PLUS, Sisler scored about 100 more runs than Clark -- on fewer walks, home runs, and in fewer seasons played. This could be because Sisler also stole about 300 more bases than Clark did, or maybe that he hit about 100 more doubles than Clark. Or, maybe, that Clark was a big, dopey power hitter who could do little more than swat the ball a pretty fair distance when he was lucky enough to hit it at all. In essence, this means that while Clark had bigger power numbers, and leads Sisler in the sexy stats of modern baseball analysis, he really wasn't a better player. Not even close. To understand statistics you have to analyze things for yourself and deduce what they really mean -- don't rely on the percentage stats at the end of the row.
   
   This is such a silly comparison, I don't even know why I'm continuing to waste my time on it. I'm not even mentioning Sisler's fielding prowess, and all the ancedotal evidence for his greatness. (Do you think the most "overrated player ever" would have been the first firstbaseman elected to the Hall of Fame? Think about it.)
   
   I could go on, but I think I'm done.
   
   Finally, read the book. It may not be the best piece of baseball writing ever, but don't let J.F.&Company's ridiculous critique hold you back.



4. This last moron to post a review bashed Sisler saying that he is overrated, mostly noted because he hardly hit home runs. I didn't think one had to hit home runs in order to be a Hall of Famer. It's obvious he wasn't a slugger - but just look at this: Twice he was second in the AL in long balls and five times he was in the top 10; on six occasions he was in the top 5 in slugging percentage. Seven times he was top 10 in RBI, four times the steals champ. Let's throw in an MVP for good measure. The list goes on reflecting Sisler's above-average speed and outstanding hitting ability (over 200 hits in 6 different seasons, very easily could have been 8).
   
   Don't allow the lack of Sisler power numbers deter you from reading this book.



5. I hope Huhn did not spend much time on this project.
   
   George Sisler had a .340 career batting average, and that sounds impressive to the few baseball fans who still think batting average is a major statistic. But for the rest of us, Sisler is either--as the preeminent living baseball historian, Bill James, calls him--the most overrated player in baseball history, or, as I call him, the second most overrated player in baseball history, behind Roberto Clemente.
   
   The two men had the same problem. They racked up very high batting averages for their eras, and thus superficially appeared to be great hitters, but they almost never walked. Thus, their career ON-BASE PERCENTAGES, of which "batting average" is but a portion, were mediocre. And neither one of them hit home runs, though Sisler was especially egregious in this respect.
   
   He played in one of baseball's greatest launching pads ever, Sportsman's Park, where it was: 310 down the right field line, 322 to straightaway right, and 351 to deepest right center. And he played there with the super-live ball of the 1920's, before they put the screen up in that part of the park. He also got to play as a visitor in Cleveland's League Park and NY's Yankee Stadium, when they were generous to left-handed hitters, as well as nearly three full seasons as a visitor in the outrageous Baker Bowl in Philly, the century's greatest launching pad.
   
   Do you know how many HR's the guy hit in his career? Try 102.
   
   So this guy is not "baseball's forgotten great." This guy is deservedly forgotten, because sophisticated baseball fans have come to realize he wasn't great. All those years in Sportsman's Park, and he never once hit 20 HR's. All those gaudy batting averages, and his career on-base percentage was lower than those of Fred McGriff, Alvin Davis, Gene Tenace, Elmer Valo, Jack Clark and many scores of other guys who hit nowhere near .300, let alone .340.
   
   Finally, I'm aware of Sisler's mid-career injury, and the huge decline in his stats which flowed from it. He was a vastly better player before that than afterward, and without it, he may have been truly great. But so what? Anyone remember Don Mattingly? I remember thinking he was going to replace Lou Gehrig as the greatest 1B of all time. And I wasn't alone. His back injury ruined him, and if he still makes the Hall, it will be only because he was a Yankee. These things happen, and they don't make Sisler something he was not. (And Sisler was just as terrible about taking walks before the injury as after.)
   
   Next time, Mr. Huhn, write about a "forgotten great" who truly was great. This book was a waste of your time, and is a waste of any reader's time.
   
   Jim F.