5 comments about Cup of Coffee: The Very Short Careers of Eighteen Major League Pitchers.

1. If you like stories about average people with big dreams, and you like baseball, this book is a perfect read. The book is written interview-style, and Rob Trucks asks the players questions that tell stories from the heart. There is a piece of inspiration in each story. I recommend this book to student athletes who are serious about their sports.



2. I enjoyed the book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to read about the "average joe baseball player". However, the tense it was written in is positively annoying and makes it hard to read some of the time. Instead of writing how real people would talk, like, "So when you were in high school, what types of pitches were you throwing?" he writes, "You're in high school. What types of pitches are you now throwing?" It's written as if you're in a hypnotherapy session and you're regressing your memories.

   Bottom line: Good book. Get a real editor.




3. 18 bittersweet tales of careers doomed by bad timing, bad luck and in some cases just plain bad play.

   A welcome reminder that even those who play at sports highest levels are, at the end of the day, just plain Joes (and Janes).

   The tales here are worthwhile and often touching (such as the pitcher who used his signing bonus to pay for running water for his family) but the author decided to serve merely as a court reporter providing near verbatim transcripts of the interviews. This makes the reader wade through unecessary pages of exhanges punctuated by "yes" and "no" answers. This slows the overall flow of the book to a snail's pace at times reducing impact and enjoyment of the book. In short, it's a subperb 200 page book that unfortunately goes on for 400+ pages.

   The author/stenographer would have been well served to read and follow the example set by Lawrence Ritter in his classic "The Glory of Their Times" -- still the Gold Standard for baseball oral histories.

   And what about the story of Larry Yount, the best "short career" story ever. Was introduced as pitcher(thereby registering officially as a player) pulled a muscle during his warm up pitches, was pulled before facing a batter and never made it back to the Bigs. Plus he was Robin Yount's brother. Now that's a story!




4. Simply, I loved this book. I would read one bio each night before bed and found it (the individual bio) to be the perfect length, basically what Poe had in mind when he said a short story should be read in one sitting. I think readers make a mistake when they try to read this in one sitting. It should be read, in my opinion, more like a collection of short stories or a book of poetry, one ballplayer at time.

   It's a lovely book, paced leisurely and calmly like the game it depicts. I mean, really, what's up with the reviewer who complains about the length. He's probably in favor of time limits on games and no extra innings too. This book, like the players and the subject it covers, should be read slowly, with the rhythms, the quiet passion and sudden moments of insight, that define America's game.

   In sum, take your time and enjoy the ride. You'll be glad you did.




5. My dad is one of the ball players featured in this book. My 3 siblings and myself always knew our dad played professional baseball back in the 60's, but we never really knew "the story". We would ask questions, but dad never really shared too much. He said it was his job. It was fun while it lasted. I really enjoyed reading the interview Rob Trucks did with my dad. I learned a lot about my own father's past and success and disappointments with baseball. I also enjoyed reading the other stories included in the book. Thank you Rob Trucks for putting my fahter's story into print!

5 comments about Birdie : Confessions of a Baseball Nomad.

1. Birdie was a great storyteller. This book was not written with Birdie's sense of humor,intelligence, or respect for the people in the baseball industry. I knew him well and do not believe that he wrote it. Unfortunately, since he died three years before he supposedly wrote this book, we can't hear his side of the story. This book is just not worth the paper it's printed on.



2. Birdie Tebbetts' career in baseball covered nearly his entire life and he expresses his opinions on a number of things, oftentimes in strong terms. A New England native Birdie says his best years in baseball were with the Boston Red Sox. After having spent a number of years in Detroit with the Tigers, Birdie says he was booed out of Detroit. Tebbetts says pitcher Hal Newhouser of the Tigers begged his way into the Hall of Fame. Newhouser, he says, had his best years when the stars were off fighting WWII. Could this be sour grapes for his not being in the Hall of Fame himself? As an executive for the Milwaukee Braves during the 1960's Birdie says it was a job he detested. Such things as deciding on a hospitalization plan for the groundscrew and who is to get the contract for paving the parking lot at County Stadium were meetings he had to sit in on. He does provide us with some interesting tidbits in regard to what scouts look for in baseball prospects. I may be wrong, but at times Birdie seems to come across as a braggert. I also didn't feel it was necessary for him to be so flippant in using God's name in vain so many times.



3. ...I knew Birdie well and know a lot of people who also knew Birdie well and none of us believe that Birdie authored this book. The man we all knew is not represented by the words on these pages. For example, Birdie wrote an article titled, "I'd Rather Catch". This was written by Birdie himself and Birdie spoke about it many times. In the article he praised Newhouser. Having known the man, I never heard him ever criticize another player. On the contrary, he was one of baseball's biggest fans. And he most certainly did not talk like the blue collar, swaggering, swearing person represented on these pages. This is a book published many years after his death. I would keep that in mind as the pages are turned.



4. Unlike a couple of other reviewers (....), I never knew Birdie, and cannot attest whether these pages seem written by the real man. What does stand out, however, is that any fan of baseball before the present - swing for the fences, no strategy needed - era will enjoy this book. James Morrison has culled many, many delicious stories from Birdie's diaries. Some stories are not brand new to baseball literature, but Birdie's viewpoint on them is worthwhile. Except for some quotes using swear words, I cannot see what Birdie's friends can object to here. The player-manager-scout's humanity and delightful humor ring out on every page. Perhaps the best chapter reviews player-umpire relations in the "old days," but the anecdotes throughout make it hard not to read out loud to others.

   My only regret is that short space was given to Birdie's managing years. I suspect he was too busy then to post lengthy diary entries. Perhaps Birdie would have edited the finished product differently, had he lived, but this book will stand out with that of his Tiger teammate, Elden Auker's, as one of the best books on baseball from the '30s through the 50s.




5. THIS IS A VERY NICE BOOK TO READ. I DIDN'T KNOW BIRDIE PERSONALLY SO I CAN'T COMMENT ON WHETHER HE WROTE THIS OR NOT. BUT I AM FROM CLEVELAND, AND REMEMBER HIM AS MANAGER DURING THE MIDDLE 1960'S. HE DID A GOOD JOB AND WAS WELL RESPECTED BY THE PLAYERS AND MEDIA. I ENJOYED THIS TALE OF HIS LIFE IN AND OUT OF BASEBALL. I AGREE WITH ANOTHER REVIEWER THAT I THINK MORE TIME WAS NEEDED ON HIS MANAGING CAREER. ALSO I WOULD HAVE RATED THIS 5 STARS IF THIS BOOK WAS LONGER. BUT VERY WELL DONE AND QUITE INTERESTING.
   VERY RECOMMENDED.

No comments about Ken Griffey, Jr (101 Little Known Fact about).

5 comments about Barry Bonds: Baseball's Superman.

1. This insightful, well-written book is a must-read for the sports fan interested in a personal, inside view of the multi-faceted personality of the immensely talented Barry Bonds.
   
   Bonds has provided few people with the access and insight he provided Steve Travers, the author. History will prove it to be the definitive work on one of baseball's greatest players.
   
   Frank McCormack



2. I have lived overseas for many years but was an avid Giants fan in the 60's & 70's. Steven Travers' book on Barry Bonds was a welcome gift. I had read various news articles about the "controversial" Bonds and feel that Travers' book puts things right. I especially enjoyed the insights into the life styles of high powered sports figures. The build-up to Bonds' record setting home run season was handled in an excellent manner. This book is a great read for any baseball fan.



3. With the multitude of books written regarding the sport of baseball, Steven Travers writes with a unique insight into not only the sport, but the day to day lives of Bonds and his peers. As a former professional baseball player, Travers touches on the subject matter with a unique insight and perspective. Additionally, Travers attended and graduated from USC during the time Bonds played at Arizona State (Pac-10). As such, Travers is not only a writer, but a fan. Travers not only documents Bond's achievement of becoming baseball's all-time single season homerun champion, but he touches on Bond's trials and tribulations with his peers and the media. Ultimately, the reader soon realizes that Travers was able to do what many has tried and failed at; that is, he was able to garner the respect and support of Bonds in the ability to tell his amazing story to the whole world. As a former Pac-10 pitcher at USC who battled Bonds on many occasions, I found Traver's insight very refreshing and commendable. I found the book a very easy read that kept me entertained throughout.
   '



4. I am one of the few Barry Bonds fans around, so when I decided to find a book on him, I was disappointed to find that there were surprisingly few. Noticing that "Barry Bonds: Baseball's Superman" was purported to be in-depth, not just another glossy biography and had good reviews on Amazon.com, I decided to make the purchase. Now, after reading it and piecing a few things together, I must say that I am thoroughly let-down. A few observations:
   
   1) The cover and title are cheesy. I know that the book's author may not have had any say in this, but using "Baseball's Superman" as a title makes it sound like a cover story for Sports Illustrated for Kids.
   
   2) The book is not written well. It is very choppy and author Steven Travers has a tendency to ramble off-topic for pages on end.
   
   3) Not that I'm some avatar of morality, but what's the deal with all the sexual references? [...]
   
   4) There are contradictions sprinkled throughout the book. For instance, on page 36, Travers quotes Bonds as saying: "My father and I were never really close when I was growing up." Then, just five pages later, he quotes Bonds as saying: "My father and I have always been very close." Sure, Bonds is the one contradicting himself, but Travers never points this out, just one example of the multiple occasions where I almost laughed out loud at the book's inconsistencies.
   
   5) How many times are we to hear that Travers played pro ball? Big deal, you struck out 15 guys in a minor league game. There are minor-leaguers who have hit 60 homers, thrown perfect games, etc. and they are nobodies. I do not mean this as a slight, just a point that we do not need to hear incessantly about things such as "Stan Javier played with me" or how you sat in Randy Johnson's recliner, or how an interview subject calls you "Trav." The book is about Barry Bonds, not Steven Travers.
   
   [...]
   
   The bottom line is that Travers squandered a golden opportunity. Rolling the dice early in 2001 that Bonds would break the home run record, getting permission to do a book, and then seeing him acutally do it is akin to hitting the lottery for a sports journalist. Unfortunately, the finished product seems hastily thrown together, poorly edited, and foolishly out-of-bounds in many areas. Too often we hear about sexual hijinks that have nothing to do with Bonds, and we also get Travers's opinions on a multitude of subjects that I don't care to know his thoughts on. The fact that I'd never even heard of this book should have been enough of a red flag, but it wasn't, and therefore I got what I deserved. This book isn't terrible, but it also is not good, and therefore I would not recommend it. Fans of Barry Bonds should just wait until a comprehensive biography comes out on him when his playing days are over.



5. This one is interesting to read now that we know more about Bonds. It holds up well and is very well written. I loved it!

No comments about What Makes an Elite Pitcher? Young, Mathewson, Johnson, Alexander, Grove, Spahn, Seaver, Clemens, and Maddux.

No comments about Cal: A Tribute to an American Hero.

2 comments about Larry Bowa: I Still Hate to Lose.

1. I am still trying to make up my mind if "Larry Bowa: `I Still Hate to Lose'" was written either a season too early or a season too late. If this book by Barry M. Bloom, the sportswriter who wrote the book with lengthy quotations from Bowa throughout the book," had come out a year earlier it would have been after Bowa had won National League Manager of the Year after guiding the Philadelphia Phillies to a respectable second place finish in the NL East. With the Atlanta Braves being so decimated by free agency that a thirteenth straight title seems an impossibility and the World Champion Florida Marlins having to lose several key players as well, the Phillies are favorite to win the title, which would mean a book like this next year could celebrate their success. However, given the team's collapse at the end of last year, it is hard not to have second thoughts about their prospects (signing Kevin Millwood for another season, picking up Eric Milton, and getting Billy Wagner to be the stopper are both good signs). Then again, the Phillies are getting off to a rough start, the Marlins are hot, and already there are calls for Bowa to get axed.

   When I picked up this book I was expecting it to be a biography of Bowa, who enjoyed a fiery reputation as a hard playing shortstop for the Phillies and Cubs in a relatively successful career. Bowa was never going to be considered for the Hall of Fame, but he was often an All-Star and in his era when you ticked off the five best shortstops on the fingers of one hand he was going to be there most of the time. Instead, "I Still Hate to Lose" is really more of an apologia. I have seen presidential candidates pick running mates with less justification that is provided in this book for Bowa being signed to manage the Phillies. The problem is that Bloom spends so much time explaining how Bowa's problems with particular players (e.g., Stanley Jefferson, Chris Brown, Scott Rolen) are not his fault, that it is hard to remember those players who speak highly of him as a manager (e.g., John Kruk). The net result is that the failures seem to outweigh the successes, which is not exactly how you want to make your case here.

   The problem is that if this book is supposed to convince me that Bowa is a first-rate major league manager it is not providing the evidence that would prove the point for me beyond the team's record. You would think there would be stories of key moves in a game, some evidence of Bowa's skill at baseball strategy, but they are not forthcoming. Instead we get stories about Bowa not throwing temper tantrums and people providing votes of confidence. The same thing applies when Bowa is described as the best third base coach in baseball; there is not one specific suggestion as to what that involves. We are constantly being told things in this book about Bowa that I would rather be shown, especially if I am to be convinced he is one of the best at his chosen vocation. I stopped counting the number of times that Bowa looked back on his past and decided he should have done things differently because I would rather have the argument made in positive terms instead of these double negatives.

   There are four quotations on the dedication page, including A. Bartlett Giamatti's famous poem "The Green Fields of the Mind" and Chico Marx's baseball bit from "Duck Soup," but the most relevant one is from Bernard Malamud's novel "The Natural": "We have two lives-the one we learn with and the life we live after that." In the context of this book the life that Bowa learned with did not end until he was hired to be the manager of the Phillies, with the learning coming as a player, as a minor league manager, as the manager of the San Diego Padres, and as a third-base coach for the Phillies, Angels and Mariners. This book would have worked a lot better if the focus was on the lessons, provided, of course, that the proof was actually forthcoming to prove each point. But I have the feeling that the only way that could happen is if the book was written first person from Bowa's perspetive, because I think if Bowa kept talking he would show why he is a good baseball manager.

   It is helpful to keep in mind that Bloom is a sportswriter, because there is definitely a sense at times throughout this book that the chapters are more like sports articles (so I was not surprised to see that Chapter 10 was based on an actual article in the "San Diego Tribune"). There are a couple of points that pop up more than once in the book. For those who pick up this book and want more of a biography about Bowa, apparently you need to go check out the book that Bloom wrote about him back in the San Diego days, "Bleep! Larry Bowa Manager." Maybe that is why the look at Bowa's early life and playing career is so uneven. Fans of Bowa as a player are going to be rather disappointed by this book, and even those who support him as Phillies manager are going to be uneasy after reading this book. I should have had a higher opinion of Bowa at the end of this book than I had before I picked it up and, to my surprise, that is not the case here.




2. I was born and raised in Philly, and make no mistake, Larry Bowa is Phillies baseball. The book focuses on his time in Philadelphia as a player and now as a manager, so it covers multiple eras. There are some great photos included too. The author, Barry Bloom, writes a really neat Preface, where he talks about about his relationship with Bowa, and how he (Bloom) was the first person to let Bowa know that he was going to be fired as Padres manager in 1988. (At the time, Bloom was writing for the San Diego Union-Tribune.) Really interesting stuff!

1 comments about I Remember Ted Williams: Anecdotes and Memories of Baseball's Splendid Splinter by the Players and People Who Knew Him (I Remember Series).

1. I got this book and TED WILLIAMS, THE PURSUIT OF PERFECTION at the same time, since they both came out after Ted's death. This book is very good, very nice stories. The other book costs twice as much but has about four times more - over 100 photos, many more stories from many more famous baseball players and a CD with 67 minutes of interviews with Ted Williams. I recommend both books.

2 comments about Great Time Coming: The Life Of Jackie Robinson From Baseball to Birmingham.

1. I'm a big Jackie Robinson fan and this book taught me things I never understood or knew! Great reading. Great insights into the life of a true pioneer! BUY IT!



2. I enjoyed this book greatly and learned a lot about this complex man.

   Growing up in Brooklyn, I heard many stories about Jackie Robinson. All of them praised his courage and admired what he went through. But nobody ever thought of him as a saint, he was a complex character with many rough edges.

   Most of what has been written about him has deified him incorrectly. The author makes it very clear early in the book that he wanted to show Robinson as "warts and all". And he succeeds, Robinson comes across as a complex human being.

   Two things to note regarding the research done on this book. The author refers often to other biographies, especially when they disagree on various points. He then gives his account of the given point, a very good procedure.

   The author also notes that he was not given any access to the "official" Jackie Robinson archives and that Jackie's widow and her minions refused to cooperate in any way shape or form with this book as well as trying to discourage others. All I can say about that is how petty those actions are.

   I especially liked the depth in which the author discussed Robinson's post-baseball life, especially in the political arena. Robinson supported several prominent Republican politicians, such as Rockefeller and Nixon and took a lot of heat for his views. The author did a wonderful job in this area.

   Great job by the author is separating man and myth.

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.