Review of "Roy Sievers"

It is not uncommon for me at the end of the year to find books that were sent to me awhile ago but never were read or reviewed.  So, with apologies to the publisher hoping that they agree with me that it's better to write a late review than to not review a book at all, here is my review of "Roy Sievers"

 

Title/Author:

“Roy Sievers: ‘The Sweetest Right Handed Swing’ in 1950’s Baseball” by Paul Scimonelli

Tags:

Baseball, professional, biography, Senators, Browns,             White Sox, Phillies

Publish date:

November 30, 2017

Length:

220 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (good)

Review:

Unless a person is an avid fan of baseball in the 1950’s, chances are he or she has not heard about Roy Sievers.  He enjoyed a productive hitting career playing mostly on losing teams, most notably the St. Louis Browns and Washington Senators.  It was for the latter team where author Paul Scimonelli became a fan of Sievers and was the inspiration for this biography.

Drawing off memories, numerous interviews of former teammates and even with Sievers himself, the reader will learn much about Sievers’ career, both the highs and the lows.  While Sievers never led the American League in major offensive categories, he was often compared to some of the other stars of that era such as Mickey Mantle and Eddie Matthews.  Of course, playing for second division teams didn’t help him gain attention from most fans, but his offensive prowess was well-respected throughout the game. The interviews with other players and people involved in the game illustrated this.

It should also be noted that Sievers had injuries that threatened his career, most notably a severe shoulder injury that impaired his ability to throw from third base (his natural position) or the outfield.  By overcoming these setbacks to become one of the most respected players in the game says much about the character of Sievers as well as his ability.

The book an easy, fast paced read that at times jumps around from topic to topic but is a very good source of information for the state of the sport in the 1950’s. Aside from Sievers, no topic is explained in great detail, but does explain the point well enough that a reader who wants to learn more will have his or her interest piqued.  Recommended for fans of baseball in that decade.

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

Book Format Read:

Paperback

Buying Links:

www.mcfarlandpub.com – 800-253-2187

https://www.amazon.com/Roy-Sievers-Sweetest-Handed-Baseball/dp/1476668698/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=