Title/Author:
“Brooks: The Biography
of Brooks Robinson” by Doug Wilson
Tags:
Baseball, history,
biography, Orioles
Publish date:
March 4, 2014
Length:
353 pages
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)
Review:
Brooks Robinson is one of
those rare celebrities who understand that while he or she didn’t ask to be a
role model, just by being a famous athlete there will be those who look up to
you. Robinson upheld that duty by
avoiding scandal or controversy and also became one of the best fielding third
basemen in the history of baseball.
Robinson’s story is documented in this terrific book by Doug Wilson.
Since there is no
controversy or hot topic in which one can immediately associate the name Brooks
Robinson, Wilson instead focuses on his baseball career and Robinson’s personal
life when appropriate to the story. When
reading biographies, I believe it is important to make stories about the subject’s
childhood and early adult life relevant to how that shaped the person when he
or she became a celebrity. That is certainly the case in this book, as every story
will help the reader understand either Robinson the baseball player or Robinson
the person.
Brooks Robinson the
player became a legend with his fielding at third base. In 1970, he was the World Series MVP as the
Orioles defeated the Cincinnati Reds. He
earned the award mostly because of his fielding, but he also contributed with
the bat. By the time the book reaches
the 1970 World Series, the reader won’t be surprised by this because Robinson
has already achieved all-star status with his play on the field.
Off the field, the book portrays a man who lives his life by treating all others with respect, avoids the baseball life of drinking and carousing and is a loyal family man, both to his parents and to his wife and children. This helped Robinson become one of the most revered sports figures in Baltimore, alongside Johnny Unitas and later Cal Ripken Jr.
The book also reflects
how Robinson lived, as it is written without much profanity or adult situations
that would not be appropriate for young readers. Reading this, it felt like I knew men like
Brooks Robinson and I would be proud of my children to wish to be like him when
they grew up. I highly recommend this
for readers who wish to read about someone who not only embraced his celebrity
but also respected everyone who did not achieve that same status.
Pace of the book:
While I was initially
reading this in small parts because of other books as well, once I settled on
reading just this book in one sitting, it was a very quick read – completed in
just a little over three hours.
Do I recommend?
Any reader who likes baseball biographies will enjoy this book. With the ease of reading, the in-depth
research and the character of Brooks Robinson, this book should appeal to a
wide range of readers.
Book Format Read:
Hardcover
Buying links:
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