Final post of 2015 - Ballparks Yesterday and Today

It's hard to believe another year is about to end. There have been many good sports books published in 2015 and it was nice to be able to enjoy several of them. This one had a second edition published in 2015 and I received it as a gift from a family member who knows how much I love baseball. It is one that I would recommend to every baseball fan. Here is my review of "Ballparks: Yesterday and Today."

Wishing all a very happy and prosperous 2016. No matter if your team wins or loses, enjoy the games during the year and keep reading about them as well. 

Title/Author:

“Ballparks: Yesterday & Today” by Phil Trexler and Marty Strasen

Tags:

Baseball, professional, stadium

Publish date:

April 1, 2015 (second edition – originally published 2011)

Length:

160 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Every baseball fan has special memories at a favorite ballpark. Whether it was enjoying a Fenway Frank with Dad at a Red Sox game, admiring the ivy that covers the outfield wall at Wrigley Field or watching a baseball disappear in the upper deck at Tiger Stadium, the stadium holds as much nostalgia as the game itself for many.

That makes this book that contains pictures and stories of over 65 ballparks very special. No matter the era or how long the stadium was used for a Major League baseball team, it is included in the collection of ballparks that this book encompasses. Each chapter covers an era of ballparks: The Early Ballparks (1870-1900), the Golden Age (1901-1932), Early Expansion (1933-1966), The Modern Age (1966-1988) and the Second Golden Age (1989-present).

Interesting facts are included in the short story of most of the parks and pictures of not only the parks themselves but also artifacts such as pennants, uniforms (both players and employees), and ticket stubs. For example, my favorite of these was one of a $1.50 grandstand seat for game 5 of the 1917 World Series between the White Sox and Giants.

There are anecdotes about the “cookie cutter” parks of the 1970’s, the new age parks that have been popular the last 25 years and the wooden parks of yesteryear.  It is a book that is to picked up and looked at time and time again instead of being read like a story. That is because there are many stories for baseball fans to enjoy about each park.

This latest edition was updated to include the two newest parks: Target Field in Minneapolis and Marlins Park in Miami. No matter the age of the stadium, any baseball fan will be able to find his or her favorite one in this book and capture the wonderful memories that one can have only at a ball game.  It is a coffee table book highly recommended for all baseball fans.

Book Format Read

Hardcover

Buying links:

https://pilbooks.com/product/ballparks-yesterday-today/  

http://www.amazon.com/Ballparks-Yesterday-Today-Phil-Trexler/dp/145081087X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1451528426&sr=1-1&keywords=ballparks+yesterday+and+today

Review of "The Tao of Hockey" - fictional hockey romance

When I want to take a breather from the serious books, I find that sports romances are perfect - helps for a little escape from reality, but with the sports theme, I still enjoy reading them.  As long as there is enough of the sport in the story, I am good with it.  This was one that the author sent to me as I have enjoyed her work before, and there is enough good hockey action as well as the training required to stay in shape that it was just the perfect holiday reading break. Speaking of the holidays, I hope it was a Merry Christmas for all who celebrated and wishing all a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Title/Author:

“The Tao of Hockey” by Melanie Ting

Tags:

Ice hockey, fictional, romance

Publish date:

December 26, 2015

Length:

222 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

Eric Fairburn has been given a second chance for a professional hockey career in North America. Five years earlier he was involved in a drunk driving accident and after playing in Switzerland as well making himself stronger physically,mentally and emotionally he is ready for his tryout with the Vancouver Vice of the American Hockey League. During this training, he meets a mysterious beautiful woman who will change him in other ways as well.

That is the premise of this excellent hockey romance by Melanie Ting. Not only does she portray Eric as a man whom everyone wants to succeed, but she also shows her knowledge of the sport of hockey and the training involved to make a team.  The scenes with Eric and his trainer Tony are great as well as the sequences during training camp.

The woman to whom Eric opens up, Josie, is a little more mysterious but also a well-developed character as well. She has had her own issues and is now a successful stuntwoman on movie sets.  Together she and Eric make an interesting pair that the reader can't help but cheer for both of them.

The story is written from Eric's point of view, something that impressed me with Ting's writing. I have felt that it is difficult to write a story from the point of view from a character the opposite gender of the author. To do so effectively the author has to have done his or her homework to know the thoughts and feelings of the other gender, something not easy to do. That, along with nearly everything else about this story, makes it a must read for those who enjoy sports romances.

I wish to thank Ms. Ting for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (EPUB)

Buying links:

http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Hockey-Vancouver-Vice-Book-ebook/dp/B018YAHBA4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1451262889&sr=1-1&keywords=the+tao+of+hockey

Review of "Doc"

One aspect of pop culture is that many like to hear about a celebrity who has had success after a fall from grace. Dwight Gooden, at least based on the content of this book, would certainly qualify as one of those who recovered, at least thus far, from his substance abuse problems.  His candid recollection of those days of drugs and alcohol and his painful road to recovery is told in this excellent memoir.  Here is my review of "Doc." 

Title/Author:

“Doc: A Memoir” by Dwight Gooden and Ellis Henican, narrated by J.D. Jackson

Tags:

Baseball, professional, autobiography, Mets, Yankees, drugs, audiobook

Publish date:

June 4, 2013

Length:

304 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

By all accounts, Dwight “Doc” Gooden should have been riding atop the world of baseball in late October 1986. He was one of the most dominant pitchers in the game and he was the ace of the pitching staff for the New York Mets, who had just won the World Series in a tense seven game series. But instead of getting ready for a parade to celebrate the championship, he was in the low-income housing area getting high on drugs.

That is the beginning of this brutally honest memoir in which Gooden opens himself up about all of his substance abuse problems and how they affected his personal and professional life. This is not a happy book to read or listen to – at times it is very painful to hear what these substances have done to the man.  The text and the narration bring this all to life for the reader or listener and it is easy to get mad at Gooden for living this type of life.

While the book concentrates more on Gooden’s battle with addiction, there is a good deal of baseball stories as well. They are not as deep or humorous as many other memoirs and biographies of baseball players. Indeed, there seems to be a condition attached to each teammate remembered. Gooden got along great with Keith Hernandez – but they would often have beers together.  Darryl Strawberry was always linked with Doc – but that friendship turned out to be anything but cordial. Those are just two of the many people who Doc believes either hurt him or he hurt with his battle against addiction.

The road to recovery for Gooden is long, takes many turns including appearing on the reality show “Celebrity Rehab” and is painful. This is reflected in both the words and the narration and that is why this particular memoir was moving.  Instead of reflecting on his baseball success and failure, Gooden realizes at this point in his life what he needs to do to not only stay clean but to be a good father for his seven children and be the man that he believes he can be. 

Mets and Yankee fans who remember Gooden’s pitching and subsequent substance abuse problems will enjoy this book to see the recovery process Gooden had succeeded with to that point when the book was written. Others who wish to read about success after substance abuse will also want to read this excellent memoir.

Book Format Read

Audiobook

Buying links:

http://www.amazon.com/Doc-Memoir-Dwight-Gooden/dp/0544027027/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450925905&sr=1-1&keywords=doc+a+memoir

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/doc-dwight-gooden/1112318721?ean=9780544027022

Review of "Slim and None"

I have to admit, I love to read anything about hockey teams that no longer exist. One of these teams is the Hartford Whalers and when I found this memoir of the original owner of the Whalers, I knew that it had to have some great stories about the team. It certainly did and told the story of a very interesting person.  Here is my review of Howard Baldwin's autobiography "Slim and None.

Title/Author:

“Slim and None: My Wild Ride from the WHA to the NHL and All the Way to Hollywood” by Howard Baldwin with Steve Milton

Tags:

Ice hockey, professional, memoir, Whalers, Penguins, Flyers, owners

Publish date:

October 7, 2014

Length:

320 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

Even though he was a good athlete through high school and college, Howard Baldwin never thought to have a sports career as a player – instead he wanted to own a team.  He achieved that dream at the young age of 28 as one of the partners of the New England Whalers of the fledgling World Hockey Association. How he got there and what he did with the team, as well as his future endeavors are captured in this wonder memoir that is entertaining, informative and full of great memories for hockey fans.

Baldwin doesn’t spend too much time talking about his childhood or his college days.  After his time in the Marines, he dives immediately into his sports career, becoming a ticket manager for the expansion Philadelphia Flyers in 1967. When Gary Davidson had an idea to create a rival hockey league in 1972, Baldwin convinced two other men to become the owners of the brand new New England Whalers franchise. The team was one of four WHA teams to join the NHL in 1979 as the Hartford Whalers – a merger (although for business reasons it was called an “expansion”) between the two leagues in which Baldwin played a key role.

How Baldwin and the Whalers got there and their years in the NHL makes for great reading. How the team and the entire WHA league was able to make deals with players, negotiate rent for arena time and yet still provide excellent hockey is covered throughout the book. It is clear that Baldwin is very passionate about the Whalers and the city of Hartford even after he sold his shares in 1989 and the subsequent move of the franchise to Raleigh in 1996.

Life after the Whalers is discussed in depth as well in the same entertaining manner – Baldwin later moved to the West Coast after marrying his second wife Karen and was instrumental in making San Jose a viable NHL market. However, that lead to a very brief tenure as an owner of the Minnesota North Stars. He went from Minnesota to Pittsburgh and was able to celebrate the Penguins’ 1992 Stanley Cup championship with them.  He also went on to become a successful movie producer with his wife, the most notable of his films being the hockey movie “Mystery, Alaska.”

Hockey fans will love the stories of the WHA and some of the wisecracks Baldwin makes. One of my favorites came during the discussion of the final season of the WHA, when it finished with six teams, only four of which would join the NHL. Baldwin stated that “the NHL had its Original Six and the WHA would have its Final Six.”  His relationships with people like Jack Kelley, whom he hired from Boston University to become the first Whalers coach and GM, are told with reverence. It is clear that he feels that he should do right to people who help him or work for him and it is really no surprise he became such a successful team owner.

This was one of the few memoirs that I read in one sitting because I was riveted to the book’s hockey stories and Baldwin’s writing that was easy to read.  It was entertaining, insightful and a book that is highly recommended for hockey fans.  People who have fond memories of the Hartford Whalers will especially love this book.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying links:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LWFF3E0?keywords=slim%20and%20none&qid=1450748612&ref_=sr_1_1&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/slim-and-none-howard-baldwin/1119185311?ean=9781770893634

Review of "1954"

Looking to find a baseball book to overcome some of the off-season blues, I found this book at my local library and was intrigued by not only the cover showing the famous World Series catch by Willie Mays, but also the full title. I then checked out the book and am glad that I did so. Here is my review of "1954."

Title/Author:

“1954: The Year Willie Mays and the First Generation of Black Superstars Changed Major League Baseball Forever” by Bill Madden

Tags:

Baseball, professional, Yankees, Giants, Dodgers, Indians, race

Publish date:

May 6 2014

Length:

320 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

As a reader who enjoys books on significant times and events in a particular sport’s history, this book had me very interested. The full title says it best about the year 1954 and the significance it had in baseball history. This book not only looks into the topic of race during this year in Major League Baseball but it also recaps the seasons of the three New York teams and the Cleveland Indians.

In that sense of these topics, author Bill Madden does a decent job of taking the reader back to that year and its importance in baseball history. One of the most important items mentioned was that it marked the first time that both World Series teams, the New York Giants and the Cleveland Indians, had black players.  Each team had four and all eight played important roles in the success of their teams. There are stories about many black players including Willie Mays, Larry Doby and Henry Aaron interspersed throughout the book. Since the integration of baseball was an important topic of the book, these types of passages were plentiful. They were well written and informative without coming across as judgmental or angry – just telling what happened.

The recap of the season was told through the four teams mentioned above, and as a result, it felt that this part was lacking in some aspects.  For example, Robin Roberts led the National League in wins that season with 23 and was an all-star but one would not know about his accomplishments except for the fact that he pitched against the Giants. Because of this fact, Roberts was finally mentioned in the book. While it makes sense to write the most about the most successful teams of the season, the lack of information about the other twelve teams in the major leagues was a letdown.  The World Series did get a chapter but aside from the famous catch made by Willie Mays that seemed anticlimactic as well. However, that is more likely due to the fact the Giants swept the Indians in four straight games more than anything the author wrote about that series.

Overall, the book is an easy read about a watershed year in major league baseball. Readers who are baseball historians will especially enjoy this book on the 1954 season and the advancements made by black players in both leagues.

Book Format Read:

Hardcover

Buying links:

http://www.amazon.com/1954-Generation-Superstars-Changed-Baseball/dp/0306823322/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1450570767&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1954-bill-madden/1117045172?ean=9780306823695

Review of "Wipe That Smile Off Sammy Sportface"

This review is one of a very different type of book than I usually present here.  It was very entertaining and because there are sports topics included, I am featuring it here.  It left me laughing many times, and few of those laughs even drew tears.  Here is my review of this very funny book.

Title/Author:

“Wipe That Smile Off Sammy Sportface” by Sammy Sportface

Tags:

Humor, sports, politics, current events

Publish date:

December 7, 2015

Length:

336 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

When I was offered a review copy of this book, I didn’t know what to expect.  Was this really a blog that has been in existence and a collection of posts from it?  Was it a completely fictional story? If it is real, where do I find it? Finally, I just decided to not worry about all of those things and just read the book.

While normally I don’t start a review like this, it is the best way to describe what I think about this book, which is advice given in the synopsis.  One line in it states “don’t overthink it.”  That is best approach to this book to appreciate the humor in each short story that is a blog post from the blogger Sammy Sportface. The author uses the same pseudonym for the cover and publicity of the book. This sets the mood of humor and lack of seriousness for the entire book.

While most of the blog posts deal with sports, some are strictly political, some cover other current events and some are just sophomoric humor, such as an entire story on throwing up after a 5k road race.  While the topics may be different, and some are funnier than others, each one is guaranteed to put a smile on a reader’s face. 

This book is recommended for readers who just want to escape reality for at least an hour or two and get a good laugh.  Whether the topic is Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner (my favorite post), American Pharoah, or Donald Trump, the reader is sure to be entertained.

I wish to thank the author for providing an advance review copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (EPUB)

Buying links:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018WO19GY/ref=x_gr_w_visstd_sin_t1_test_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_visstd_sin_t1_test_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B018WO19GY&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

Review of "Boys Among Men"

Since I have been on a basketball kick lately with both watching more basketball games and wanting to read more books on the sport, I thought I would give this book to be published in March a try when the ARC became available for review. Having read Jonathan Abrams previously and enjoying his work, I was certainly interested. This was one of the best books I have read on the game, and it covered a controversial topic with balance and much information.  Here is my review of his "Boys Among Men." 

Title/Author:

“Boys Among Men: How the Prep-to-Pro Generation Redefined the NBA and Sparked a Basketball Revolution” by Jonathan Abrams

Tags:

Basketball, professional, draft, youth

Publish date:

March 15, 2016

Length:

336 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

In 1995, the Minnesota Timberwolves shook up the culture of the NBA by selecting Kevin Garnett with the fifth pick of the draft.  The reason that this was highly unusual was that Garnett never played a second of college basketball – he was drafted straight out of high school. While Garnett was not the first player to have ever gone from high school to the pros, he was the first of a new generation of players that would make the transition. This generation of players and what it did to the game is the subject of this outstanding book by Jonathan Abrams.

Drawing from interviews from hundreds of sources, including players, coaches, executives and many other people involved in the development or lives of these teenagers, Abrams paints a balanced picture of what this trend has done to both the game and the young players who either made the transition or attempted to do so and fell short of their dreams.

When this topic is discussed on sports channels or talk shows, the two extremes are usually given as why this trend is either good or bad.  Those who claim it helps the game and provides a means for young African-American men to escape poverty point to the very successful careers of Garnett, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwight Howard.  The naysayers will state that these players are exceptions and more of them are doomed to be forgotten with no basketball career, no education and no hope like Leon Smith, Lenny Cooke, and Ndudi Ebi.

While these are the two extreme ends of the argument, there is a lot of middle ground to cover and that what sets this book apart.  It isn’t just about the superstars mentioned above who went from high school to the pros.  The book also portrays players who carved out decent professional careers even after the hype showered upon them made them seem like they fell short.  Players like Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler and Sebastian Telfair fit this category.  Abrams not only tells of their stories and struggles to adapt to the professional basketball lifestyle – he explains how their decisions and successes and failure affect many other people and the game itself.

Not only are the players’ stories told, but insight from people like former NBA commissioner David Stern, under whose watch this transformation took place, add a sense of balance and completeness to the discussion of the book’s subject. The exasperation of coaches who see that one of these young players don’t have the type of skills and ability to play in the NBA yet was illustrated time and time again. The legality of challenging this rule and the eventual development of a rule making the minimum age to enter the draft at 19 was also discussed from every possible angle. Every possible piece of information that could be used to prove or disprove that allowing high school players to play professionally is covered.

This book is highly recommended for any basketball fan, player or coach. It reads almost like a thriller with many characters involved and has twists and turns that will make the reader decide for himself or herself if this new generation and chapter in professional basketball is good for the game and players.

I wish to thank Crown Publishing for providing an advance review copy of the book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying links (for pre-order at time of review):

http://www.amazon.com/Boys-Among-Men-Prep---Pro-ebook/dp/B0104EOJ0S/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450055779&sr=1-1&keywords=boys+among+men

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/boys-among-men-jonathan-abrams/1122186922?ean=9780804139250

Review of "Personal Foul"

When I had seen that disgraced NBA referee Tim Donaghy had written a book on his time as a referee and what he did to create one of the biggest sports scandals in recent years, I was intrigued.  I never got around to picking up a copy until recently, but it was worth the wait.  Here is my review of "Personal Foul."

Title/Author:

“Personal Foul” by Tim Donaghy

Tags:

Basketball, professional, officiating, gambling, memoir 

Publish date:

June 9, 2010

Length:

270 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

It was a scandal that rocked the sports world and made tabloids write some interesting headlines.  When NBA referee Tim Donaghy was questioned by the FBI and later sent to prison for his involvement with organized crime while gambling on basketball games, it left the league scrambling to defend its reputation.  Donaghy decided to write about his actions and how it led to his downfall after a successful career as an NBA referee.  His book makes for some eye-opening reading.

What is most striking about Donaghy’s information that he passed to members of crime families is how simple it was to obtain.  Donaghy didn’t pour over advanced statistics or even analyze player matchups between the teams.  He simply looked at who were the referees working a particular game and knowing that one of these officials may have a grudge against one of the coaches or players, he knew that one team might have a significant advantage 

It was also interesting to read about one common perception coming true.  Many basketball fans, reporters, players and coaches have believed that superstar players usually receive favorable treatment and calls.  Donaghy, through his years as an NBA referee, provides insight and information that confirms this belief through his interactions with players and fellow referees. He also speaks of the league directing its officials to help ensure that a playoff series goes longer and that the larger markets advance in the playoffs. As an example of the latter item, he uses the sixth game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings in 2002 to show how the way a game is officiated can affect a lot more than just the final score.

The mood of the book is not one of anger nor pity for Donaghy’s situation. He realizes his mistakes and knows that he has to pay the price through a prison term and in personal life.  He doesn’t make excuses nor does he show much anger toward anyone else.  While he did commit crimes, I found this memoir very interesting for the inside look at the world of basketball referees and just how much influence they have on the game.  It is a book that all basketball fans will enjoy reading.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Nook)

Buying links:

http://www.amazon.com/Personal-Foul-First-Person-Account-Scandal-ebook/dp/B003ULP7U4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449782923&sr=1-1&keywords=personal+foul

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/reviews/personal-foul-tim-donaghy/1117927399?ean=9780615362632#reviews-header