5 comments about The Last Commissioner: A Baseball Valentine.

1. The anecdotes of old time baseball are worth the price off the book alone. Vincent's tales of meeting with Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio are priceless. The splitting of chapters into topics and lists were fun. Each chapter offered something new, a virtual learning experience. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to any real baseball fan. It shed a new light on his commissionership in my opinion and, in the true test of writing, actually changed my mind about Pete Rose and his inclusion into the Hall of Fame. I always thought Pete should be admitted, but after reading Vincent's words, I have changed my mind.



2. Fay Vincent calls his book his "valentine to baseball" and it's not too far off from the truth. He has divided each chapter into their own "half innings," the "top half" being about a particular topic, and the "bottom half" being various lists. In between, his stories and opinions I found to be quite entertaining and even in some cases thought-provoking. Whether it's relaying old baseball anecdotes involving Hall of Famers like Yogi Berra, Ted Williams & Joe DiMaggio, or old Negro League ballplayers he got to know during his stint as Commissioner, or stories about his friendship with both George Bush and his son (a one time Texas Rangers owner), or more serious topics like the suspension of Pete Rose, his time and friendship with Bart Giamatti (the commissioner he succeeded in office after Giamatti's death), or his experiences at the earthquake-marred 1989 World Series, the reader is certainly never bored. I especially found his story about this fascinating, as I was among the crowd at that game 3 some thirteen years ago now. I never realized how much Isaiah Nelson, a SF cop on duty at the game helped to orchestrate the orderly evacuation of the park.

   After reading his thoughts on Rose, I as well as another reviewer have come to change my mind about whether Rose should be re admitted to the game (although as of this review, pressure to reinstate Rose in some capacity seems to be growing). I also agreed with him about Steve Howe, whose continued readmittance to baseball after several drug convictions in my humble opinion marred the game. When Vincent resigned as commissioner of baseball in 1992, I felt the game has been deprived of a leader, even if I sometimes disagreed with his decisions. I wouldn't call this book a "great masterpiece," but I'm glad I ignored a couple of negative reviews I've seen of it. This book is an enjoyable read and makes me wonder how different today's game might have been if Vincent had been allowed to at least finish out his term as commissioner, much less be commissioner today.




3. I was a fan of Fay Vincent during his tenure as commissioner. I did not always agree with his decisions, but I respected him. That respect has waned some over the years, particularly in light of his invoking 'the best interests of baseball' clause which was just a euphemism for 'what I want.'
   
   Fay Vincent shone on the brightest stage for a brief period. His handling of the 1989 World Series' interruption by earthquake was a public relations ten strike as well as a needed healing element in the Bay Area. But Vincent was aloof and arrogant in interviews, and he simply did not bring the love or zest for the game that his predecessor, A. Bartlett Giammatti brought.
   
   Vincent was also clearly pushed offstage by the owners for their ill-fated 1994-95 showdown with the players. Let's face it, replacing a commissioner with a fellow owner is a conflict of interest in any scenario much less one where there are billions of dollars at stake on both sides. So he has my sympathy for that.
   
   The book shines in a couple of spots, particularly the stories of the 1989 World Series and his friendship with Giammati, who died in September 1989. It also tells - from Vincent's viewpoint anyway - the story of the man with whom Vincent's name along with Giammati's will be eternally connected, Pete Rose. Vincent seemingly plays the Emporer to Giammati's Darth Vader - and without blushing, arrogantly holds to Rose's punishment.
   
   Pete Rose bet on baseball. This fact is not in doubt. Pete Rose deserved to be punished. Banned forever? Perhaps. Denied entry into the Hall of Fame? Not a chance. Vincent's attempt to distance himself from this is disgusting. Of all those involved with the Rose investigation, Vincent and prosecutor John Dowd have retained an arrogant posture towards Rose. Their view seems to be, "He bet on baseball, he's banned for life, tough." Fair enough. Except that these two conspired to keep the names of UMPIRES who were gambling secret during the exact same time frame!!!
   
   On March 8, 2002, several news outlets reported that Vincent had 'secretly' placed umpires Rich Garcia and Frank Pulli on probation in 1989 (the same year as the Rose scandal) for gambling. Vincent's 'defense' is that 'there was no evidence the umpires bet on baseball.' That sounds good but it evades the bigger issue - gamblers and bookies. The fear is that an indebted gambler will throw a game or fix the outcome to pay off his debts. Does not a home plate umpire have a MUCH GREATER effect on the outcome of a game than a manager (none of Rose's gambling occurred when he was a player - at least from the investigation's standpoint)? Vincent's hypocrisy on this issue renders his verdict meaningless and indicates he clearly still has 'it' in for Rose.
   
   Vincent even engaged in some libelous hearsay in the book by claiming that USA Today writer Hal Bodley had told him Rose had gambled on baseball as a player back in the 70s. Hmm. Vincent, of course, didn't bother to mention that he had absolutely no evidence for that, however.
   
   I think Vincent is worried about being famous. Face it, if Rose is ever elected to the HOF, the only long-lasting claim to fame that Vincent has is gone. He'll be remembered as the guy who went overboard - even to the point of denying the guy a place on the Hall ballot - to ensure his legacy. The first time I ever heard of Fay Vincent was the night after Rose was banned when I read that morning's USA Today. Vincent wanted NO NEGOTIATION on when the lifetime ban could be overturned. Here's a man who has shown hypocrisy in his dealings between gamblers and doesn't even offer a chance at redemption (never mind his inane view that drugs are somehow different - look at the steroid scandal and get back to me).
   
   The book has its highs and its lows. I do recommend a read but check out many of Vincent's claims that do not withstand scrutiny.
   
   Fay Vincent was a good head of Paramount and Coca-Cola; he was mediocre as a commissioner.



4. Most of this book consists of Vincent relaying very short and sweet stories about small incidents and moments in time. Particularly, he pays very much attention to retired players he met and coming to terms with the differences in public personas and actual personalities.
   
   I expected a far heavier treatment given the first half of the title. However, the opinions and issues are very skant throughout the book. There moments he gives opinions are often not substantiated and the depth of material is actually suited best for younger readers.I expected the opportunity to be taken to rationalize the role of the commissioner and outline a concrete argument about Vincent's experiences and how things could improve. Instead, the minor essays give a taste of the subject that most hardcore baseball fans would already know before reading.



5. I tend to stay away from autobiographies as some could better be cross marketed as fiction.
   
   Vincent didn't care for Selig or Kuhn, as he states that Selig & Reinsdorf were the ring leaders in the 1987 collusion. He doesn't really have a whole lot to say about Uberroth, other than collusion. Selig wanted the job of commissioner all along. Okay, that was no surprise statement, as I think most astute fans surmised that during Bud's protracted interim commissioner period. George W. Bush called Fay (family friend) on at least two occasions to mention that Selig said that George could have the job if he wanted it. Fay told George that he thought that Selig really wanted the job for himself and that he should forget about becoming commissioner. Personally I think there's good chance that Bush may become commissioner come 2009.
   
   Fay doesn't come out and say say it but other than for window dressing the hiring of Bill White as NL President was a mistake. Vincent does confess that the job of league president is little more than getting along with the umpires and keeping peace within the league with little policy making or management skills particularily needed, which qualified White for the job. Fay states that White admitted that he always has had a problem with authority figures. Vincent & Giamatti tried to get White to take the lead on improving minority issues in MLB, but White said that he had no interest in that as he was tired of beating his head against the wall.
   
   I can think of worse league presidents than White (Gene Budig immediately comes to mind). Fay loved Len Coleman and thought he shouldn't have been dumped by MLB, when his position as NL president was no longer needed.
   
   Vicent does give some interesting insight as to the hard core owners were who wanted to bust the MLB union (Selig, et al), and has some very innovative ideas on how a better relationship between the owners and players could be had. Fay had some interesting comments about Joe D & Mays. I found it amazing (but maybe I shouldn't have) how the owners gave Giamatti everything he wanted in the contract to be commissioner that Vincent negotiated for his friend Bart. The problem was that MLB really had no point person to negotiate the contract in their behalf, Giamatti was really ordained as commissioner before the terms were negotiated.

2 comments about Jeter: Hero in Pinstripes.

1. For the first time since reviewing books from Sports Publishing Inc. I was disappointed with the overall writing of a book. This book is a compilation of pictures and quotes of a rising superstar in the world of Major League baseball.

   While the book is filled with dozens of photos and some of the chapters are interesting, for the most part the book lacks any real story line. The book does not talk about the career of Derek Jeter nor the authors examine Jeter in comparison with other great shortstops of the past.

   The book would make a great gift to a true New York Yankee fan but true baseball purists will find this book sorely lacking any real value. The price is $24.95 and for the money you get very little.

   Overall you could and can spend your dollars more wisely on other baseball or sports books. Sports Publishing has a great website and if you spend a few minutes there you will find a whole host of sports treasures.




2. This book is full of pictures and stories that are interesting; stories about his signing out of high school; pictures and highlights of outstanding plays in his years with the Yankees who have won three series since he arrived.

1 comments about Babe & The Kid: The Legendary Story of Babe Ruth and Johnny Sylvester.

1. I have heard this story many times in movies and books - but this is the accurate full-telling of well-researched facts. Very interesting and educational. A must for any Yankee or Ruth fan.

No comments about Spitting On Diamonds: A Spitball Pitcher's Journey To The Major Leagues, 1911-1919 (Sports and American Culture).

1 comments about Blackball, the Black Sox, and the Babe: Baseball's Crucial 1920 Season.

1. This is an excellent book covering one of the most interesting baseball periods in history. It really evokes the era, and what it was like to witness Babe Ruth's ascension. The Rube Foster story is just amazing and I can only imagine what a genius like him could accomplish today. The Black Sox sections are probably the least interesting, simply because the story has been covered so extensively in the last few years. What's here is very well done, however, and if Buck Weaver was half the person/player this book claims, he was done a bigger injustice than I thought. Definitely recommended!

5 comments about John McGraw.

1. This is the first book I have read from the many that Charles Alexander has written about turn of the century baseball players and I have to say that Mr. Alexander is a voracious researcher as he has facts and events of McGraw's life down to every little detail. For this, he is to be commended as he has certainly put to paper, atleast to this point, the definitive book on John McGraw.
   However, this is not a short or an entertaining read by any stretch of the imagination as Alexander's book is decidedly bland in its detailed accounts of seasons past. After detailing McGraw's many outbursts on and off the field, Alexander chronicles McGraw's gambling misdeeds and even possible corruption (to the degree of the 1919 Black Sox). But Alexander does not write with a lot of imagination. His work reads exactly like you might expect a chronological account might: vanilla.
   Although I enjoyed reading this book and appreciated all of the facts and research Alexander did on McGraw, I cannot say that this is one of the better baseball books I have read. Still, it remains the only book of any substance on McGraw, so if you want to learn about one of the most important men in the history of baseball, this is your book.



2. I suppose I should be grateful to Alexander for doing some original research but it's hard to get excited about a book that has no enthusiasm for it's subject and some how makes a fascinating man dull. I recommend the great Frank Graham's McGraw of the Giants. It's out of print but readily available at used book stores. Graham covered McGraw for years, knew him well and, more importantly, knew countless sports writers who covered McGraw from his days in Baltimore. Graham examines his controversial subject with a critical entusiasm that brings this great but very flawed man to life. As Graham skillfully shows, McGraw's edge was sometimes so sharp as to be repellant but he was an innovative genius at baseball marketing, administration, selecting and motivating players as well as on the field strategy. If you're a baseball fan, he's worth studying.



3. Born in 1873, John McGraw grew up brawling and playing baseball like he was brawling. And he was very good at it. As the scrappy third baseman and manager of the Baltimore Orioles in the 1890s, he gained fame and not a little fortune as an innovative, autocratic field manager whose teams clawed and fought to championship after championship. His teams represented the epitome of the "dead ball era" of baseball, where speed, defense, and aggressive play on the base paths carried the day. He is credited with inventing the "suicide squeeze" and the "Baltimore chop." He moved from Baltimore to New York in 1902 and during 31 years leading the New York Giants, he won 10 pennants and three World Series. Additionally, under his direction the Giants finished second 11 times. As a legendary manager, h entered the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937.
   
   This is the story told in this superb biography by Ohio University professor Charles C. Alexander, whose baseball biographies of Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby rank as some of the best ever in the developing field of serious baseball history. Alexander's study is in-depth, thoughtful, and engaging. It is a superb work. Enjoy.



4. If you are, like me, a serious student of baseball history who never tires of reading about the "old days", you will enjoy this book. If you are a casual baseball fan looking for light baseball reading, this is probably not the book for you.
   
   I think most of the other reviews posted here are on the mark: a lot of factual and interesting research into the life and times of the great John McGraw. People like me love this kind of stuff. But at times it can be bland, uninspired writing that would likely bore the casual baseball fan.



5. I was really excited to learn more about such an important figure in baseball history. This in an unexciting story about a man of fire. It is sad that there is not more energy from this book.

No comments about Tinker, Evers, and Chance: A Triple Biography.

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

1. 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.



2. 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.




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. 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.



5. 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.

5 comments about Perfect I'm Not: Boomer on Beer, Brawls, Backaches, and Baseball.

1. I was interested in David Wells' life. This book satisfied that. To my astonishment, it is incredibly well-written, funny and insightful. The stories and revellations are great. Best baseball player's book I've read in years. Superior on all accounts to the recent David Cone book.



2. Great baseball (auto)biography. Fun to read and not just about the game but about life around the game. There are moments when you cannot help but laugh out loud. Read this book. It explains why Boomer is Boomer.
   
   Recommend: The Last Commissioner - Fay Vincent, Catcher in the Wry - Bob Uecker, Zim - Don Zimmer, anything by Yogi, Moneyball



3. At times he comes off as a long, lost best friend and at others he is a self-inflated, self-absorbed ass. He is a colorful character providing illuminating stories from the earliest days of playing rookie ball and Venezualan winter ball with beer guzzling, tail chasing future MLB players including Pat Borders, Cecil Fielder, Rob Duecy, and Todd Stottlemyre to the later days as a member of the Yankees. Wells is a good pitcher with a booming personality who pitched for some great teams and of course will always be remembered for his May 17, 1998 perfect game. His career numbers do not support his own assessed value (4.04 ERA, 1 year with at least 20 wins) but his book will stay on the top shelf of my collection of baseball books.
   
   I found myself laughing out loud over and over again. Steroid and cortisone stories aside, Wells adds candid insight into the managerial and GM activities from every team he played for (up to the end of the 2002 season). Inside observations are made on notable managers (Cito Gaston, Sparky Ansderson, Davy Johnson, Joe Torre, and Jim Fregosi) and GMs ("stand" Pat Gillick, Gord Ash, Jim Bowden, Ken Williams, and Brian Cashman). Wells also includes colorful stories of two of the most notoriously hated and loved baseball owners of the last 50 eyars -- Marge Schott and George Steinbrenner.
   
   It was odd to read the momentum praise and glory of the '98 Yankees who won 114 games without any mention of the record-tying 116 wins by the '01 Seattle Mariners . By failing to mention this incredible milestone, he appeared to be protecting the legacy of the 114 win NY team. He should have mentioned the 116 win Seattle team and emphasized the fact that the NY team went on to finish like champions by winning the world series. Wells also slights some players by limiting praise to his favorite teamates. For example, the contribution of Alfonso Soriano and Roger Clemens in NY is clearly understated. Huge character, raging hair band air guitar junkie, and pure attitude live in the pages of this book, making it a worthy read for any baseball fan.



4. I had the pleasure of meeting David Wells at the dealership I worked. We stored his motorcycles and he always had a smile. There's a lot of things in his past that no one would expect and some that definitely surprised me.



5. This is probably one of the all time top 10 baseball Bio's in my book. David does a remarkable job of giving you a complete look into his life and incredible career. I would really like to party with this dude he seems pretty cool. He is one of the smartest ballplayers out there today.Finally someone who can appreciate the Babe without putting him down. I promise you a good time if you check this book out.

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

1. 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.



2. 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!




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. 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.



5. 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.