Review of "Here and Gone"

This book's main topic was one in which I have always been fascinated: sports teams that folded or otherwise ceased operations.  When author John Rust sent me an email to ask if I was interested in reviewing this book, I certainly wasted no time in responding and his book was everything I could hope for, even if a couple teams that I remember seeing didn't make it into the book (thinking of the Danbury Trashers hockey team and the Minnesota Kicks soccer team), but he still did a nice job of sharing stories about failed teams and leagues.  Here is my review of "Here and Gone"

Title/Author:

“Here and Gone: Short-Lived Sports Teams and Leagues” by John Rust

Tags:

Baseball, basketball, football (American), soccer, ice hockey, history, short stories

Publish date:

September 24, 2018

Length:

171 pages

Rating: to

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Sports fans are familiar with the scenario: a brand new team or league is formed with expectations that people will come out and support a sports team in a new venue or a new team that replaces one that folded or moved away.  Then problems arise, from lack of funds to lack of fans to poor management and the team is gone, with not many people even noticing or caring.  However, author John Rust did care enough to write a book of essays about teams and leagues that did not last for long.

What is most impressive about the book is that Rust covers five different sports over a long time frame and was able to find information about some of the more obscure teams and leagues.  How many fans realize that there have been professional volleyball leagues?  Or that lacrosse has tried to start several leagues?  Well, Rust talks about these sports and some of the least known teams in those short start-ups. These are mixed in with writings about teams in some of the more well-known leagues that had short lives.  Leagues in this category include the World Football League, the United States Football League, the World Hockey Association and the American Basketball Association.  The latter name was used multiple times for basketball leagues and Rust covers all of them.

The teams also cover a wide range of geography and unusual names, such as the Minnesota Fighting Pike,  This team’s name, even though it lasted only one season in 1996, is still considered to one of the top ten names in the history of Arena Football. Interesting trivia like this make the book entertaining – at least more so on top of the stories of why the various teams failed.  As mentioned, it usually was due to poor management, a lack of fans or a lack of money.  That isn’t always the case as Rust also includes some incidents of criminal behavior and the sad story of a college basketball team that was popular on campus and played very well but was not well-received by the town because of the presence of black players so they ceased operations after only two years. 

Because this is a collection of stories about these teams, the book can be read in as short or long a session as a reader wished.  The usual characteristic of a book structured like this also is true – namely, that not every story will be a terrific one for every reader.  Also, as Rust notes in the epilogue, he doesn’t write about all the failed teams and leagues because there are just so many.  So he had to use his judgement while doing his research on which ones to include. Overall, this is a very good book for readers who, like me, are fascinated with stories about teams that had a very short life in the world of professional sports.

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

Book Format Read:

Paperback                                                                                                                                        

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Here-Gone-Short-Lived-Sports-Leagues/dp/1723761753/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "Babe Ruth: A Superstar's Legacy"

No matter how much I like a book, it is very rare that I finish one in one sitting.  But that was the case with this book that talks about a different aspect of Babe Ruth, one about his legacy and what it means to people and business.  It was a fascinating account of how the man continues to inspire many today, 70 years after his passing.  Here is my review of "Babe Ruth: A Superstar's Legacy."

Title/Author:

“Babe Ruth: A Superstar’s Legacy” by Jerry Amernic

Tags:

Baseball, Professional, business

Publish date:

March 9, 2018

Length:

296 pages

Rating: to

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

With so many books written about one of the most influential athletes in American sports history, it is hard to find new material about Babe Ruth.  However, this book by Jerry Amernic which covers the legacy and marketing of Babe Ruth, which is still going strong more than 70 years after his death, is one for reader who are craving new information on the Bambino.

This book certainly cannot be considered a biography as there is very little coverage of Ruth’s entire life.  Of course, that information needs to be at least mentioned at times to convey the message that Amernic is telling throughout the book, but Ruth’s personal life and his baseball career take a back seat to the fascinating world of how his legend grew and stays strong today. How strong? The students in a current college course all know who Babe Ruth is and what he accomplished save for one student – and he is an exchange student from Nigeria. This story is used to illustrate just how large the man’s legacy still is today.

That legacy grew because of two aspects of Ruth’s personality that are discussed several times in the book by so many people who knew him. They are his genuine compassion for others and his special fondness for children. Stories are shared by so many, from former teammates and business associates to his daughter Julia Ruth Stevens.  Even though Julia was technically Babe’s stepdaughter, as she was the daughter of wife Claire from a previous marriage, she held Babe close to her heart and still does at 98.  She plays a prominent role in this book, popping up several times to make appearances at special events such as awarding the Babe Ruth Home Run award at Yankee Stadium in 2008. 

One other aspect of Ruth’s trait noted in the book that should be mentioned is his progressive views on racial integration in baseball. While it is known he did barnstorming tours with black players and one in Japan, what is interesting to learn here is a baseball historian’s perspective is that Ruth never got to be a manager in the major leagues because of this position. With the color barrier still in force when he retired as a player in 1935, it was well-known that he wanted to manage a team, but was never given the chance. The supporting documentation for this historian’s belief was very interesting reading. 

Even with all of this positive information on Ruth, what really makes this book stand out is the sheer amount of money and reverence his name brings whenever it is mentioned in the marketing world, especially sports memorabilia.  A very interesting fact from the book a reader will learn is that of the 15 most expensive sports memorabilia items ever sold, seven of them are related to Ruth. That includes a Yankees jersey worn by Ruth in 1920 that sold for $4.4 million in 2012. Charlie Sheen is mentioned as he made a nice profit selling Ruth items. It is noted that his signature is one of the most sought after not only in terms of dollars, but also because it is very recognizable and legible.  Also noteworthy is the questionable reason that the Curtiss Candy Company denied that Ruth was the genesis of it’s naming of the Baby Ruth candy bar as Amernic puts doubt in the claim that the name came from President Grover Cleveland’s daughter.

Publishing a book on Babe Ruth that contains a lot of original material that hasn’t already been published in other books on him takes a lot of work, research and some excellent writing and Amernic pulls it off with this one.  It is a fascinating look at the legend and business of Babe Ruth and anyone with any interest in him, whether a baseball fan or not, should read this book.

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

Book Format Read:

Paperback                                                                                                                                        

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/BABE-RUTH-Superstars-Jerry-Amernic-ebook/dp/B07BCJXRSJ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Babe+Ruth+superstar%27s+legacy&qid=1564263184&s=gateway&sr=8-1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/babe-ruth-a-superstars-legacy-mr-jerry-amernic/1128419363?ean=9781775239901

Review of "John Cangelosi"

Memoirs are written by people of all levels of fame, and this one was written by a baseball player who had a great start to his baseball career, but in the end wound up becoming a valuable utility player instead of a star. That didn't discourage him from writing his memoir.  Here is my review of "John Cangelosi"

Title/Author:

“John Cangelosi: The Improbably Journey of the Undersized Kid from Nowhere to World Series Champion” by John Cangelosi with K.P. Wee

Tags:

Baseball, memoir, professional, White Sox, Marlins, Astros, Pirates

Publish date:

July 9, 2019

Length:

296 pages

Rating: to

3 of 5 stars (okay)

Review:

John Cangelosi had an up and down baseball career. After being bypassed by many teams and scouts because of his diminutive size, he was able to sign a contract with the Chicago White Sox.  After appearing in a few games for the White Sox late in the 1985 season, he made the team in 1986 and started his career by threatening to break several records. How his career and life faired from there is captured in this memoir written with K.P. Wee.

The best way to describe reading this book is that it was much like Cangelosi’s major league career.  Both started out like gangbusters – for baseball, Cangelosi’s start to the 1986 season was filled with promise as he was stealing bases at a good clip and was threatening to break the American League record for bases stolen by a rookie, which was 49 at that time.  The book started the same way, as it was fun to read about his early life and how he overcame the stigma that baseball scouts usually have for shorter players (he was “generously” listed as 5’ 8” in official records) and showed enough talent and heart that minor league coaches, John Boles in particular, often campaigned for Cangelosi to have a spot waiting for him on the major league roster.

Then, just when Cangelosi’s rookie season was about to fully bloom, the White Sox suddenly decided to go in a different direction with their outfielders and Cangelosi was relegated to duties such as pinch hitting, pinch running and entering the game as a defensive replacement.  That made his quest to break the AL rookie record for stolen bases tough, but he was able to accomplish that late in the 1986 season.  That year also marked the only time he was a starting outfielder, as he was in 1987 not only relegated back to a utility role, he spent time in the minor leagues as well. That became his career pattern as he spent time with the Pirates, Mets, Astros and Marlins organizations.  Each time Cangelosi credited a manager for giving him a chance with those organizations – Jim Leyland in Pittsburgh and Florida, Bobby Valentine with the Mets, and Terry Collins in Houston. While he was a member of the 1997 Marlins team that won the World Series, he played sparingly in the Fall Classic, with most of the text in the book about that series being about his strikeout in game 7.

If that sounds like his baseball career had a lot of ups and downs after his rookie year, then that is the best way to describe reading this book felt as well.  When reading about his baseball career up to the point where the White Sox decided to reduce his role, it felt exciting, like the reader is going to go on a wonderful adventure with Cangelosi. After that, however, reading the passages range from entertaining to being a chore.  The latter mainly comes about because of two characteristics. 

One, there is a lot of skipping around or missing chunks of information.  The best example of that is something already mentioned – when Cangelosi reminisces about the 1997 World Series. While the reader will get a feeling about how he and the team felt hosting the first World Series games held in the Sunshine State (and how the media wasn’t too kind about the lack of a “fall” feel) there is barely anything mentioned about the three games in Cleveland and even little about the last two games in Miami, save for his at bat. 

Two, there is a lot of repetition in the book about various topics, most notably about thankful he was to coaches and managers who gave him a chance in the minor or major leagues.  While that was certainly a nice gesture to thank these men, it seemed like nearly every chapter the reader would be reminded how much Boles, Leyland and others meant to Cangelosi.  I was actually talking to the book near the end, saying “Okay, I get it – those guys were very supportive.” 

As for the better aspects of the last 2/3 of the book, I found some of the passages quite humorous and one that even shows a side of umpire Angel Hernandez that current baseball fans would be surprised to learn.  Cangelosi has been friends with Hernandez for a long time as Hernandez’s father started the league where he played organized baseball as a youngster.  Later, when Cangelosi started his baseball school in Florida, Hernandez always comes to support the school and they socialize together.  As for the humor – whether it comes from Cangelosi himself or he got it from another source, it is sprinkled liberally throughout the book.  I will quote my favorite line, which came from Michael Farber in Sports Illustrated.  When the Marlins signed Cangelosi as one of the many free agents they acquired for a championship run, Farber noted that “they paid $4.07 million for two outfielders, Jim Eisenreich and John Cangelosi, who make a lovely pair of bench ornaments.”

While this book wasn’t quite what I expected, it was a good illustration of the ups and downs of Cangelosi’s career in his own words.  Readers who remember him, especially that rookie season in Chicago, would like this reflection on his baseball career.

I wish to thank Riverdale Avenue Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)                                                                                                                                

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/John-Cangelosi-Improbable-Baseball-Undersized-ebook/dp/B07V5FRPR5/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/john-cangelosi-john-cangelosi/1132430689?ean=2940163178308

Review of "Pastime Lost"

While much of the baseball world's attention was focused yesterday on Cooperstown, the mythical place of the birth of baseball, I was reading about the game on the other side of the Atlantic and the origins of another similar game, English baseball.  This author spent several years researching that game, and his results are discussed in this book that turned out to be a much better book than I anticipated.  Here is my review of "Pastime Lost"

Title/Author:

“Pastime Lost: The Humble, Original and Now Completely Forgotten Game of English Baseball” by David Block

Tags:

Baseball, history, scholar

Publish date:

April 1, 2019

Length:

328 pages

Rating: to

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

While there has been much research and writing dedicated to the origins of American baseball and disproof of the myths surrounding that origin, there has been little written about the game of English baseball, which as the author makes known throughout the book is NOT the same as the game of rounders. David Block has written a very interesting book on the game, combing through various publications and archives to research his material and come to some conclusions about the game.

What is most noteworthy about the book is that the majority of it discusses the literary and journalistic sources that mention the game of English baseball.  The first reference that Block notes is from John Newbury’s children’s book A Pretty Little Pocketbook. Published in 1744, there is a passage that reads “The Ball once struck off,/Away flies the Boy/To the next Destin’d Post/And then Home with Joy.” A drawing that illustrates this accompanies the prose, illustrating a boy with a ball in his hand ready to toss it.  Many researchers believe this is the first reference to baseball in any form, including those who research the origins of the American game.

From there, the reader will be taken along Block’s journey through the archives of many English sources as he scoured them for more references to the game. Many people know of the famous passage in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abby.  This is just one of the numerous passages that Block mentions and/or quotes on his journey. Block covers the entire period that the game has references and was played, which was from the 18^th century to the early 20^th century.  He also includes a chapter in which he explains the game as much as possible from the information he has gleaned from these sources. 

Even though this is excellent information for readers who are interested in baseball or literary history, what makes this book an enjoyable read is the writing style of Block. He takes the reader on his journey to find out about English baseball with some self-deprecating humor and other wit along the way. This makes for an excellent combination of information and entertainment that is sure to please any reader interested in the aforementioned topics.

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

Book Format Read:

Hardcover                                                                                                                                         

Buying Links:

https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/university-of-nebraska-press/9781496208514/

https://www.amazon.com/Pastime-Lost-Original-Completely-Forgotten/dp/149620851X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1563804929&sr=8-1

Review of "They Called Me God"

This isn't a new book, nor was it one that I was requested to review, nor was it one I was dying to read.  However I did want to finally read a book on baseball umpires. Since this was selected as a book of the month in a baseball book group to which I belong, why not?  Here is my review of "They Called Me God"

Title/Author:

“They Called Me God: The Best Baseball Umpire Who Ever Lived” by Doug Harvey with Peter Golenbock

Tags:

Baseball, memoir, umpire

Publish date:

March 25, 2014

Length:

288 pages

Rating: 

3 ½ of 5 stars (good)

Review:

Doug Harvey was considered to be one of the best umpires in the game in a 30-year major league career that spanned from 1962 to 1992. It is even more impressive when one considers that Harvey did not attend umpiring school as most other umpires do who make it to the major leagues.  Stories from his career, from high school games to the World Series, are told in this memoir co-written with Peter Golenbock.

The title of the book will tell the reader what the tone of the stories will be like – they are all about himself and many of them will tell the reader that he believes he was one of the best umpires because he believed in listening and fairness. Not many will truly argue these points, but he does frequently remind readers of these points.  At times, that repetition took away from the theme of the stories he was trying to tell.

These are all short stories, rarely taking up more than two or three pages in the hardcover edition.  With a long career, one can imagine that he shared stored about many of the players and managers that he had to eject from games.  While not every story results in a player or manger being tossed from the game, most of them do involve that in some manner.  It is only appropriate that one of the better stories about these ejections involved his ejection of Walter Alston, the legendary manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, in a late season game. Harvey realized that he had not ejected a single person from a game that season, so in order to prove to the league offices that he hasn’t softened, he ejected Alston on a seemingly minor offense.  Alston, after hearing Harvey’s reason for the ouster, played along and took it gracefully.

Another aspect of Harvey’s life that he talks about frequently is his drinking.  He notes that often after games, there wasn’t much to do so he and his fellow umpires would usually enjoy a few at the hotel bar. This was especially true when he was a rookie and he would join his crew chief there instead of leaving him alone with his drinks. I bring this up because that is how the book reads – like the reader is sitting at the hotel bar with Harvey after a game holding a drink and listening to Harvey tell all of these stories of ejecting players and managers.

While the book was entertaining enough and I liked most of the stories, the repetition of how good an umpire he was did start to wear a little thin by the end of the book.  He is one of only a few umpires that have been enshrined in the baseball Hall of Fame – that alone says he is one of the best and there was no need to repeat this.  Otherwise, if a reader likes to read about an umpire’s power over a game, then this book comes recommended. 

Book Format Read:

Hardcover                                                                                                                                         

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/They-Called-Me-God-Umpire-ebook/dp/B00DPM7T1I/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=they+called+me+god&qid=1563565682&s=gateway&sr=8-1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/they-called-me-god-doug-harvey/1115884703?ean=9781476748818&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20Inc

Review of "Race to Justice"

While this book could be considered more of a true crime book instead of sports, it does involved the murder of a very popular member of the Penske Racing Team's hospitality crew and it shook up the racing world.  This is a good book on the subsequent investigation and trial for that case.  Here is my review of "Race to Justice"

Title/Author:

“Race to Justice” by Larry Sells and Margie Porter

Tags:

Auto Racing, crime, legal

Publish date:

May 21, 2019

Length:

337 pages

Rating: 

4 ½  of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

On October 25,1992, Cindy Albrecht went missing. She was a popular member of the hospitality crew for the Penske Racing team, serving as the executive chef. Two of her friends on the hospitality crew were concerned and called the authorities.  Weeks later, Albrecht’s body was found in a remote area with her head removed. The date of her disappearance was the date her divorce from her husband Michael was finalized and she had started dating a new boyfriend. Michael had just been fired from his job as a mechanic for the Dick Simon racing team and was not handling the divorce well.  His arrest for the murder of his wife and subsequent trial is the story behind this true crime book written by the prosecutor of the case, Larry Sells and journalist Maggie Porter.

Before the book focuses on the criminal investigation and trial, the description of Cindy’s life of working with the Penske team is described well. The reader will lean not only about the inner workings behind that food that is served in the tents to race team members, visitors and other VIP’s, but also about the races, mechanical teams and drivers. There are photos of drivers and some excerpts from exciting races, such as the close finish to the 1992 Indianapolis 500.

While auto racing is an important part of the book since it was the industry in which the Albrechts and others worked, the book is mostly about the investigation into the death of Cindy Albrecht, the subsequent arrest of her husband and his trial for murder.  With one of the authors being the lead prosecutor during the trial, it would be expected that there would be much focus on the courtroom proceedings. That was the case and it was done so in very specific detail, down to the description of each of the witnesses.  As one who enjoys reading about court trials, I found this part of the book riveting and could not put it down.

If a reader enjoys legal or true crime stories, then this book is highly recommended and is one to pick up.  If the reader would prefer to not read such details but learn more about the people, then the beginning of the book will satisfy that person. 

I wish to thank Wild Blue Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book(Kindle)                                                                                                                                

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/RACE-JUSTICE-Larry-Sells/dp/194823923X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/race-to-justice-larry-sells/1131670499?ean=9781948239233

Review of "Bases to Bleachers"

When a social media friend who is a big a baseball fan as I am asked me to take a look at his book, I was happy to do so.  What I discovered was an excellent collection of baseball stories from ordinary people, aka fans, that are great to read.  Here is my review of that book, "Bases to Bleachers"

Title/Author:

“Bases to Bleachers” A Collection of Personal Baseball Stories from the Stands and Beyond” by Eric C. Gray

Tags:

Baseball, collection, short stories, fans

Publish date:

March 1, 2019

Length:

337 pages

Rating: 

4 ½  of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

Anyone who has even a passing interest in baseball will have a story or two or ten to tell about the game.  From a simple question to his family, Eric C. Gray has taken that question and developed it into a wonderful collection of baseball stories gathered from people across the world in this book. 

A vast majority of the stories are a joy to read. Not all, but most – as is the case for any type of collection like this, there will be some stories that readers may not enjoy and that was the case for me.  As for the good-to-excellent pieces, some are funny, some are tear-jerkers, some are proud moments of accomplishment, and some involve love at the ballpark.  Not only are the stories varied in their themes and interests, so are the contributors as Gray received stories from all over the globe for inclusion in the book. 

Written by fans for fans, this excellent collection of baseball stories is sure to have something for everyone.  Because it is a collection, the book can be digested in whatever manner a reader wishes.  It can be read for a short time, picked up later and continued or a reader can read through the stories in one sitting. No matter how someone reads it, “Bases to Bleachers” is sure to be a hit with any baseball fan.

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

Book Format Read:

Paperback                                                                                                                                        

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1641111798/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1641111798&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bases-to-bleachers-eric-c-gray/1132412242?ean=9781641114523

Review of "The Last Innocents"

While I have never been a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, I enjoy reading books about them since their move from Brooklyn.  This book about their teams in the 1960's is one of the best books I have read on the team as it almost reads like a novel.  Here is my review of "The Lost Innocents"

Title/Author:

“The Last Innocents: The Collision of the Turbulent Sixties and the Los Angeles Dodgers” by Michael Leahy

Tags:

Baseball, professional, championship, Dodgers

Publish date:

May 10, 2016

Length:

501 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

The Los Angeles Dodgers were a very successful franchise in the early and mid 1960’s, winning two World Series and three National League pennants during that time frame and drew millions of fans to the new Dodger Stadium, christened in 1962.  How that team not only became so good on the field but also became a symbol of the city during that decade is captured in this excellent book by Michael Leahy. 

The book centers around a few key players for those Dodger teams – Maury Wills, Sandy Koufax, Wes Parker, Jeff Torborg, Dick Tracewski and Tommy Davis. The stories of these men – white and black, Jewish and Christian, upper class and middle class – are intertwined both as teammates on a very successful baseball team but also as young men going through the changes taking place in the city and in the nation. 

The stories for these men are not just about their baseball skills but also their personal struggles as well. The anguish of Wes Parker’s lack of self-confidence despite his family wealth was one of the best personal stories and it was never far from his mind, even when after begging to be allowed to sign with the team, he became one of the best defensive first basement in the game at that time.  

There are also riveting passages about how Wills, Davis and other black players on the team such as Lou Johnson (who would picture the ball pitched at him as a white person when he would hit it – a great statement in the context of the book) was dealing with prejudice in not only Los Angeles, but in Vero Beach, Florida.; the town where the team held spring training. Of course, their stories also include the Watts riots and how they were affected. The meshing of the societal and political changes with the lives of these men shows the superb writing in this book.

The baseball passages reflect the same outstanding quality, especially in the coverage of three important games that Sandy Koufax pitched – his victory over the Yankees in the 1963 World Series (many baseball historians believe that game was the beginning of the end of the Yankee dynasty of the early 1960’s), his perfect game in 1965 against the Cubs, and his game 7 victory in the 1965 World Series over the Minnesota Twins. As an aside, the tale of when Koufax first mentioned to anyone that he was going to retire after the 1966 World Series (Dodgers were swept by the Baltimore Orioles) was another excellent passage that in just a few words, the reader will get an excellent look into the psyche of the man. That was the case for all of the players portrayed, not just Koufax.

Lastly, if there is a villain in this baseball book that almost reads like a novel, it would be the combination of owner Walter O’Malley and general manager Buzzie Bavasi.  Readers will learn the harsh contract negotiations each player encountered with Bavasi every off-season. This was during the time of the reserve clause when players were bound to a team unless they were traded or released, so the owners had all the leverage. The stories of these sessions in which Wills was trying to become one of the better paid players on the team are especially interesting, as is the well-known story of Koufax and Don Drysdale holding out together before the 1966 season in order to obtain better contracts.

O’Malley comes across as a iron-clad ruler with very few exceptions that are not consistent.  How he treated Parker and Wills when neither wanted to play in a goodwill tour of Japan after the 1966 season is a case in point. Parker asked to be left behind before the tour started and was granted that status, but Wills’ similar request was not, even though he was nursing a sore knee. When Wills injured that knee in Japan and left for treatment, O’Malley was so upset at this case of insubordination that he traded Wills to the Pittsburgh Pirates.  This made for another section of excellent, entertaining reading.

Any fan of baseball during that time frame, whether a Dodgers fan or not, is advised to pick up this book and enjoy it immensely. 

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)                                                                                                                                

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Last-Innocents-Collision-Turbulent-Sixties/dp/0062360574/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-last-innocents-michael-leahy/1122955547?ean=9780062360571