No comments about This Side of Cooperstown: An Oral History of Major League Baseball in the 1950s.

1 comments about Old Hoss: A Fictional Baseball Biography of Charles Radbourn.

1. The legend of Old Hoss Radbourn continues to grow with this book. While little is known of Old Hoss, this book brings to life what he may have been like. It's total speculation but is based upon some fact. If we all like to believe that baseball started in Cooperstown and that the Babe really called his shot, then maybe we'll like to believe that this is an accurate portrayal of Old Hoss. For anyone interested in the life and times of Charles Radbourn this is obviously a must read even though it's mainly speculation. However, this is also a fine peice of literature. It is written more in the style of a novel than of a biography and is just a fun read. Anyone who is into baseball history would surely find this an interesting read.

1 comments about Safe at Home 2: More Winning Players Talk About Baseball and Their Fatih (Safe at Home 2).

1. This book includes the stories of about twenty baseball players, their life experiences and the main focus, their Christian backgrounds. You'll find how God helped them get where they are today and how they found their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and lived for Him. For any Christian who loves baseball, this book is for you.

No comments about Ty Cobb - The Georgia Peach (Biography).

5 comments about Derek Jeter: Pride Of The Yankees.

1. I think Mr. Gills is a master craftman who deserve another chance. He has only written this one measly little book, but I believe he's got a bright future ahead. He is a bit verbose, but his description of Derek's kneecaps is priceless. I think anyone under the age of 10 will love this book.



2. The first 6 chapters are ok....but the information is very repetitive...from chpt 7 on is for hormonal little girls. The book does chronicle Derek's life but the author could not find enough material to fill the book...it repeats throught the book, a teenage girl would love this book, a person who is a baseball fan will find this painfull, a Jeter fan can get through it. Derek Jeter: A Yankee for the New Millennium is a much better book for baseball fans over the age of 17.



3. The Gyles twins are very good at writing on Derk Jetter. I look forward to their upcoming biography on Boogaloo Shrimp, the famous midget from the Harmonicats.



4. It was absolutely painful to get through this book.

   I realize it was an unauthorized biography, but I really didn't need to spend money to read interviews with Derek's 4th grade teacher, snippets of Joe Torre's memoirs, or recaps of what other writers that Derek actually spoke to had to say.

   The author seemed to know he didn't have enough material for a book so he just took up space, wasting tons of pages talking about (and repeating) utter nonsense, or things that had nothing whatsoever to do with Derek Jeter, the person.

   Though it's meant more as a motivational book for kids, I thought "The Life You Imagine" provided much more information, which actually came from Derek himself. I'd buy that one if you're interested in learning about Derek Jeter.




5. This book is great because it shows how great a player Jeter is. I am his biggest fan and I love him just a little more after reading that. He is what we call a "team player" and I really respect him. I think that he will stay a hero for ages and I hope he doesn't retire for a loooooooonnnnnnngggggg time! This book tells about all the great things he does, facts and info about him, and more! Read it if you get a chance and meet the one, the only, DEEREEEKKKK JEEEEETTTERR!

5 comments about Eddie Mathews and the National Pastime.

1. A VERY INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF A VERY UNDERRATED PLAYER IN EDDIE MATHEWS. EDDIE PLAYED IN THE SHADOW OF HANK AARON, SO HE DIDN'T GET THE TRUE CREDIT HE CERTAINLY DESERVES. HE DOES A GREAT JOB OF DESCRIBING LIFE IN THE 50'S TO THE 60'S WITH THE BRAVES. THE STORY IS SIMPLE, FACTFUL, AND HONEST. EDDIE'S CANDID APPROACH IS VERY SUCCESSFUL AND REFRESHING. HIS EXERPTS ABOUT BOB UECKER ARE HILARIOUS. HIS ADMISSION WITH ALCOHOL IS VERY OPEN BUT DISTURBING. I LOVE THIS BOOK. A MUST READ.



2. It was over 5 years ago that I met Eddie Mathews at a local restuaurant in Santa Barbara, California. I had heard so many stories about Eddie and how tough he was, but when he invited me to sit at his table and talk about the old families that he knew and I grew up with, it was a wonderful 4 hours of memories. This book tells of the Real Eddie Mathews and his love for the game of baseball and of course the Brave fans that were so supportive of the team! I enjoyed every minute reading the book and it was well followed in the sequence of his career. Eddie Mathews is what baseball is all about, a kid who wanted to win and be the best he could be in the Major leagues! I asked my cousin, Ted Williams of the Bo Sox if he knew of Eddie Mathews? Ted was very complementary about Eddie and said, " they ( Management ) knew he was going to hit 500 home runs for the Braves orgainztion and he did just that." On February 18th 2001 Eddie Mathews was laid to rest. The Baseball World Lost A True Baseball Player of the Game. Beleive me, " Only a handful like Eddie Mathews " This book is a fine tribute to the life Eddie Mathews in the National Pastime. Signed, MAHerrera



3. I'm only 44 years old, yet fondest memories when growing up on the northwest side of Milwaukee were going to Braves games at County Stadium their last two years (1964-65) prior to moving south to Atlanta. Eddie Mathews was the idol of every eight or nine-year old in Milwaukee who had any interest in the game of baseball. I knew back then he was a hit with the fans (while not necessarialy so with the press), and this book reinforced my memories. Two sports memories that flash in mind daily involve Eddie Mathews. The first involving a game I attended at County Stadium in 1965 with the score tied in the ninth inning and two runners on with two out and Mathews stepping up to the plate. There as an eight-year old, I said to myself he is going to win this with a three-run homer. One pitch later, he did just that! The other involved his last game ever when he played third base in the 4th game of the 1968 World Series and went 1 for 3 against Bob Gibson (almost 2 for 3 had he been five more feet to the left of the right field foul pole when he knocked a Gibson fast ball over the right field roof of Tiger Stadium). This book is beautiful -- an absolute must for those having vivid memories of the Milwaukee Braves as I have. Word of caution: the book is highly addictive and the reader will find it to be nearly impossible to put it down. A true sports classic written on a classy, frank, and honest human being. Eddie Mathews with his book is indeed "UNFORGETTABLE"!



4. I now have nearly 1,000 books in my baseball library, so I've read my share of ballplayer biographies and autobiographies.

   Mathews has a reputation of being somewhat hard-nosed and unlikeable, but it hardly comes across here. He's forthright and honest in telling tales of both his positive exploits and negative habits. I came away with a higher regard for Eddie, who unfortunately remains baseball's most invisible 500-homer man.

   If you grew up with baseball in the 50's-60's, you could do far, far worse than reading this one. I also recommend John Roseboro's autobiography for fans of this era.




5. I can't begin to count the number of baseball biographies I've read over the years, but I do know that this is one of the best I've ever read. Most baseball biographies are long on facts and short on feel. For example, you will get a sense of what it was like to play hard and drink even harder with Johnny Logan, Burdette, Buhl, Spahn, and all the guys that made up the Brave family. You will learn how Frank Robinson bit off more than he could chew when he slid in with spikes high, and how Mr. Tough Guy Mathews was dragged from a fight like a baby by the unusually strong Gil Hodges, and you will learn another side to Davey Johnson when he was a player. These are the kinds of stories you don't get with the usual biographies, each more nondescript and sugar coated than the next. This is not an easy book to find, but it's worth the trouble.

No comments about One-Armed Wonder: Pete Gray, Wartime Baseball, and the American Dream [Large Print].

5 comments about You're Out and You're Ugly, Too : Confessions of an Umpire with Attitude.

1. It's a light read, but Durwood is very colorful and sincere in his writing. I felt as if he was my Grandpa sitting next to me telling me these wonderfull stories. You'll enjoy it even if you're not a baseball fan.

   If you ARE a baseball fan. You'll hesitate the next time you "boo" an umpire at a game. (but only for a second or two)

   :)




2. Durwood Merrill just passed away today, after suffering a heart attack last Sunday. Godspeed, Durwood.



3. When I first bought this book, I wasn't quite sure what to think. I had heard a few negative things about it, and kind of had a prejudice against it. Boy, was that wrong! I found this to be a very funny, lighthearted read (for the most part). There's some really wonderful insights into what it takes to become a big league umpire - never quite realized all they went through in "Umpire boot camp" (my term). It's not all fun and games, there's a few stories about how an umpire friend of his was attacked and crippled on the streets of Dallas, and the latter part talks a lot about his charity works.

   A great book - funny, light, and to be honest, something that surprised me in a very good way. What was personally annoying was that after I read this (during the last month of the 99 season), I wanted to watch Durwood, and then he up and retires during the playoffs (and then died a short time later). Damn. Really wanted to see him after reading his book. Oh well. Check it out, a good light read.




4. Somebody messed up badly. Being an amateur baseball umpire I am biased towards umpires in general and those in baseball in particular but Merrill does not do himself and his profession justice. The ghostwriter, assuming there was one, must have been drunk and illiterate and the publisher too lazy, or do we call that cost conscious, to proof read the manuscript. I ended up reading a book that should not have been published and does not do justice to a man who became an umpire in a different and much tougher era. The book does not do him justice, god rest his soul. Maybe the publisher could be so kind and honor him with and revised edition.



5. I expected a little more humor from this book judging from the title.However it was still quite interesting. It was nice to read how he worked so hard for those less fortunate. Seemed like he was a guy I would have liked to have had as a friend.

No comments about 101 Reasons to Hate George Steinbrenner.

No comments about The Other Side of the Counter.