Review of "The Heyday of Willie, Duke and Mickey"

The return of baseball season means I'll be attending games.  My preferred method of transportation for these trips is either a train or a bus, meaning more reading time. Here is my review of this book I read on a recent trip to Yankee Stadium. 

Title/Author:

“The Heyday of Willie, Duke and Mickey: New York City Baseball’s Golden Age Amid Integration” by Robert C. Cottrell

Rating: 

3 of 5 stars (good)

Review:

After World War II ended, major league baseball went through a period of great change as it integrated Black players into the game.  It also went through a period of dominance by New York teams as at least one of the three New York City teams – New York Yankees, New York Giants or Brooklyn Dodgers – appeared in the World Series in 9 of the 11 years between 1947 and 1957.  This period of baseball history is chronicled in this book by Robert C. Cottrell.

Cottrell covers this from two views – one from on the field with good recaps of the seasons for each of the three New York teams.  He also provides readers with the progress of integration of the major leagues. Of course, he starts with Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers, but he does an admirable job of informing the reader of the progress made by other clubs as well. This also includes the lack of progress of integration on some clubs, most notably the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.

One thing to note is that if a reader has read other books on either topic, there probably won’t be much new material that they have not already read.  This book gives a good overview of these items.  The sections with the most detail are those that talk about the pennant races and World Series matchups involving one of the three teams.

Something that did catch me by surprise was the title did not seem to really be the right one for the book.  While each of those three Hall of Fame center fielders did get a good amount of text, it felt like the subtitle would have made the better title.  For the record and for those who were not familiar with the names, they were Willie Mays of the Giants, Duke Snider of the Dodgers and Mickey Mantle for the Yankees.

Overall, this was a decent book and one that was fine for passing the time on a train ride to Yankee Stadium for a ball game.  It is best suited for those readers who were not already familiar with this golden age of New York City baseball.

I wish to thank Bloomsbury Academic for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: Amazon.com: Heyday of Willie, Duke, and Mickey, The: New York City Baseball's Golden Age amid Integration: 9798881842574: Cottrell, Robert C.: Books

Review of "Tao of the Backup Catcher"

Needing to find a good audio book on a recent drive to the Baseball Hall of Fame, I found this one buried in my Audible library.  Downloaded it and enjoyed it immensely.  Here is my review of "The Tao of the Backup Catcher." 

Title/Author:

“The Tao of the Backup Catcher: Playing Baseball for the Love of the Game” by Tim Brown, narrated by Tim Brown and Justin Price

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: This is a question for baseball fans, no matter what their level of interest.  Can you name the backup catcher for your favorite team?  If you can’t, then have no fear, this book by Tim Brown on one of the more unknown yet fascinating positions on a baseball team is part biography, part philosophical waxing and all a fun read.

The biography part is on a career backup catcher who had many stops in both minor league towns and in MLB cities, Erik Kratz.  Brown chronicles Kratz’s many stops along his way to appearing in 332 major league games over 11 seasons.  Just his list of MLB teams is extensive – nine different teams. Starting with the Pirates (when he was 30 after spending eight years in minor league baseball), Phillies, Blue Jays, Royals, Phillies a second time, Astros, Pirates a second time, Yankees, Brewers, Giants, Rays and Yankees a second time when he decided to retire for good at age 40. And this doesn’t cover all the moves to different minor league towns. Through it all, there are plenty of interesting stories about him and his wife.

However, the best stories are not really about Kratz personally or the other backup catchers whose names are mentioned throughout the book.  What is the best aspect of the book is how this job, while well paying, is one that is full of many different tasks.  Everything from warming up pitchers in the bullpen to how it is difficult for the backup catcher to get enough batting practice is covered.  Not everything in the book is related to what happens in the ballpark.  With so many moves, there is plenty of material on the many tasks Mrs. Kratz did to move the family.  Another great (and funny) anecdote is about Erik’s shower shows – there is enough about them that they get their own chapter.

This is just a small sample of the very interesting and fun material to digest in this book.  Like many who hold the position, this book may not make best seller lists, but it is one that baseball fans will want to have in their library and have ready when they need a lighter read – their backup catcher of baseball books.

Link: Amazon.com: The Tao of the Backup Catcher: Playing Baseball for the Love of the Game: 9781538726556: Brown, Tim, Kratz, Erik: Books

Review of "A Giant among Giants"

As we near the end of January, it's time to start thinking about baseball - soon we will hear the four magical words every fan loves to hear during a cold and snowy winter - "pitchers and catchers report."   So, as I anticipate the start of another baseball year, time to catch up on some baseball reading.  Here is my review of a book on the Hall of Fame first baseman for the San Francisco Giants, Willie McCovey. 

Title/Author:

“A Giant among Giants: The Baseball Life of Willie McCovey” by Chris Haft

Rating: 

3 ½ of 5 stars (good)

Review:

Through the 1960’s, the San Francisco Giants had two of the most feared sluggers in the National League – Willie Mays and Willie McCovey.  While Mays was considered to be the better all-around player, McCovey certainly had a special place in the hearts of Giants fans.  His baseball story is captured in this book by Chris Haft.

The vast majority of pages are about McCovey’s time on the diamond, whether it was at Candlestick Park with the Giants or other teams either in the minor leagues or his three seasons with the San Diego Padres.  Very little time is spent discussion his personal life and at times, this would be good information to go alone with the baseball or his life after retirement – whether that involved baseball or not.  One example of where this might come into play is the very little amount of text about McCovey’s first marriage and daughter during his playing days.  When he was struggling, did that affect his life at home – or maybe it was the other way around and if there were troubles at home, was that affecting his performance?  Most other sport biographies include this type of personal information, and it was surprising to see so little of it in this book.

The baseball text, however, is good and a reader will likely learn something new about McCovey – even if that person felt they already knew a lot about him. One example would be one that I didn’t expect to read – that McCovey was more popular among Giants fans than Mays.  Considering that many non-baseball fans have heard of Willie Mays, but probably don’t know about McCovey, I found that surprising.  Haft does a good job of explaining how this came about.  Other interesting tidbits about McCovey revealed in the book is how McCovey got the nickname “Stretch” (his stretch at first base when taking throws from infielders) and the great reception he received from fans when he returned to the Giants after a three-year stint in San Diego.  Also, a reader will certainly learn even more about the most famous at-bat in McCovey’s career, which was an out.  There is an entire chapter dedicated to his famous line out to Yankee second baseman Bobby Richardson to end the 1962 World Series.

Overall, this book was decent for describing the baseball career of the first ballot Hall of Famer. One might stop short of calling it a “biography” due to the lack of much information outside of the diamond but for baseball fans, it will certainly help shake off the winter blues while awaiting the start of spring training.

I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book.  The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: A Giant among Giants: The Baseball Life of Willie McCovey: Haft, Chris: 9781496236241: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "Mike Donlin"

As we wrap up 2024, there were a couple more books I wanted to get to before starting a new TBR list for 2025 and this one was on that list.  It is a Casey Award finalist (trying to read all of them as well) and it would be worthy of the award should it be selected as the winner.  Here is my review of "Mike Donlin."

Title/Author:

“Mike Donlin: A Rough and Rowdy Life From New York Baseball Idol to Stage and Screen” by Steve Steinberg and Lyle Spatz

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

Very few people can claim that they left a job or profession in which they excelled for a person they love, then have a new career along with that love that will be just as good and even more profitable.  In the early 20^th century, Mike Donlin had this opportunity and he made good on both careers – baseball and acting.  His story is told in this excellent book by Steve Steinberg and Lyle Spatz.

After briefly describing Donlin’s early life, the authors get into his baseball career early in the book.  Donlin’s first professional games were in the California League in 1897, which soon led him to the major leagues. He started in the majors with the St. Louis Statistics in 1897, but he really blossomed as a player when he joined the Baltimore Orioles in the newly formed American League in 1901 under manager John McGraw.  The professional relationship between Donlin and McGraw lasted a long time, including when McGraw went to the New York Giants and Donlin joined him after a two and a half year stint with the Cincinnati Reds. While he was productive with the Reds, he was a better ball player with the Giants and the authors do a wonderful job of illustrating how much McGraw’s influence had on Donlin on the field.

Off the field, however, Donlin had many issues with drinking and carousing.  This also affected his temper on the field, as he was often ejected for arguing with officials.  However, this all changed once he met Mabel Hite, a vaudeville performer.  Not only did Donlin court and marry Mabel, but he also decided to try his hand in vaudeville with her.  His fame as a baseball player helped attract people to the shows and one could say he got the “acting bug” as he would often use his work on stage as a negotiating ploy to obtain a higher baseball salary.

One tidbit that should be noted is that the authors make an interesting comparison to the life of a baseball player to that of a vaudeville performer. Both occupations required the perfomers to often travel – baseball players for road games, vaudeville performers to various venues.  At that time, unlike today, baseball players did not stay in fancy hotels or eat the best meals, and vaudeville performers had a similar lifestyle.

Nonetheless, Donlin continued to perform in both areas until his beloved Mabel died in 1912 from a long-term illness.  Losing his love at such a young age crushed his spirit, but he eventually was able to return to the baseball field for a couple years although his performance was slipping mainly due to old age.  He eventually remarried and enjoyed a good career in acting, both on stage and eventually in motion pictures as well. 

 Every aspect of Donlin’s life – the baseball, the stage performances, his appearance in motion pictures, his love for Mabel and his marriage to his second wife Rita – they are all well written, well researched and enjoyable to read.  The book is lengthy and there are many details in all of these areas that require the reader to read carefully and not skim in order to understand the full life of Mike Donlin. This book was well worth the time and effort as one will learn much about both baseball and stage performing in the early 20^th century.

 Link: Amazon.com: Mike Donlin: A Rough and Rowdy Life from New York Baseball Idol to Stage and Screen: 9781496238962: Steinberg, Steve, Spatz, Lyle: Books

 

Review of "The New York Game"

Baseball and New York City have been connected in many ways throughout the sport's history. This book is the best illustration of that connection and should be on the shelves of any fan of the game or of the city.  

Title/Author:

“The New York Game: Baseball and the Rise of a New City” by Kevin Baker

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: The old cliché of how art can imitate real life can be applied here in this book of the history of New York baseball and the rise of the city by Kevin Baker.  Of course, one would have to consider baseball to be a form of “art”, but even so, this is a great illustration of the rise of baseball from a game scattered across the five boroughs of the city and how it compares to the rise of New York City as a major world metropolis.

The book starts off with an emphasis that is one did not already know this (most do), baseball was not invented by Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, New York.  Instead, the earliest origins can be traced to various fields and street of the city in the mid 19^th century.  From there, the book tells the story of baseball in the city up to World War II with great detail and with emphasis on the three teams in New York during this portion of the 20^th century – the Yankees, Dodgers and Giants.  Each team has excellent very good, detailed descriptions of their star players (most notably Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig for the Yankees, as one might expect) and of the managers.  For the latter, this is especially true for Giants manager John McGraw.

Intertwined with the history of the ballclubs is the history of the city and how it rose in stature to what it was at the time of the end of the book.  Just like the excellent description of 19^th century baseball of which many do not know about the New York experience such as the New York Knickerbockers – no, not to be confused with the basketball team. What is also very interesting about including the history of city politics is how they were tied in with the baseball teams.  The best writing about this connection is Baker’s telling of how Tammany Hall politics were involved in the founding of the Yankees.  The story of how they were also squeezed out of the Polo Grounds and ended up building a nice little park called Yankee Stadium also made for good reading.

If there is a problem with any part of the book, it comes near the end, where the stories about the teams, players, and city in the 1940’s doesn’t seem to cover all aspects as well as the rest of the book as well as an ending that seemed abrupt.  But by then, I was so enamored with the rest of the book that it didn’t matter – this was an excellent, albeit lengthy, read on baseball and New York City.

I wish to thank the publisher for providing a review copy of the book. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Link: Amazon.com: The New York Game: Baseball and the Rise of a New City eBook : Baker, Kevin: Kindle Store

Review of “Once a Giant”

 While this book could be categorized as one of those “Where are they now” types of books, it really is much more than that - it’s a great look at some of the key people of the 1986 New York Giants, a team that still brings smiles to fans’ faces many years later.  Here is my review of “Once a Giant.”

Title/Author:

“Once a Giant” by Gary Myers

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: 

Every sports fan will have one special player or team that they will cherish for the rest of their lives. For fans of the New York Giants, most will say that the 1986 team that won the first Super Bowl in the history of the franchise is that team. Veteran football writer Gary Myers writes about that team with little journalistic neutrality and shares some great stories about that team in this book.

Any book about this team needs to start with the person who had the biggest personality on the team, head coach Bill Parcells. What was the most striking aspect about Parcells in this book and how much he cares about this particular team is the generosity of both his time and his money that he shares with these Giants. That is still the case today, more than 35 years after they won that championship. If any of them needs some help, they call the man who worked them very hard when they played football for him. The other coach featured in Myers’ writing, Bill Belichek, is not only quite different personality-wise but the relationship he had with Parcells was a soap opera in its own right and that is described in good detail here.

As for the players, just like with the coaches, their stories have to start with one particular individual- Lawrence Taylor. If he’s not the greatest defensive player to ever put on the pads, he’s certainly in the conversation. His off-field problems are well known but what was amazing to read about in the book was how he could be out all night on Saturday and yet still be the terrific player he was on Sundays.

Speaking of partying, that wasn’t limited to Taylor. Myers shares a story of how several of the Giants players would spend Friday night at the clubs, on dates or at bars and then drive to the parking lot of Giants Stadium so they didn’t miss the mandatory Saturday morning meeting. Of course, not every player did this and the stories are not all about this type of lifestyle. Some are heart-tugging (Mark Bavaria’s health issues, Bobby Johnson losing his Super Bowl ring to a pawn shop, then getting it back), some make the reader chuckle (Sean Landetta’s success with women was actual funny) and are just about living a good life and watching over everyone - that was the case for Harry Carson.

The book does jump around from topic to topic - sometimes football, sometimes medical issues, sometimes relationships - and that does make it a bit harder to follow. But for football fans of a certain age, especially Giants fans, this is a book that will bring back all the memories of that special championship season.

I wish to thank Public Affairs for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Once-Giant-Victory-Tragedy-Football/dp/B0BWKC18S8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1G4JOUSXNZBCK&keywords=once+a+giant+by+gary+myers&qid=1691368260&sprefix=Once+a+giant%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-1 

Review of "The Blood and Guts"

I started this book on the Thanksgiving holiday, when football is on the mind of most sports fans who celebrate the holiday, and while it took a little time to complete, this was probably one of the more interesting and fun books I have read on the sport.  Here is my review of a book on tight ends, "The Blood and Guts"

Title/Author:

“The Blood and Guts: How Tight Ends Save Football” by Tyler Dunn

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

The position of tight end in football is one of the most challenging positions. For a player to excel in this position, he must have the strength to block defensive linemen who may weigh over 300 pounds, be smart enough to read pass coverage by linebackers and safeties, and also be quick enough to outrun 180-pound cornerbacks. But as any football fan knows, there are many who have not only played this position but have done so at a very high level.  Some of these exceptional tight ends are profiled in this entertaining book by Tyler Dunn.

It should be noted that this is not a ranking of the best players to play the position and it is not meant to be taken that just because a player is not profiled that he would not be considered one of the best to have suited up at tight end.  It starts with Mike Ditka, who began the change of strategy in the use of tight ends to be effective pass receivers as well as blockers.  Dunn interviews and shares the stories of 15 tight ends from Ditka to George Kittle and in between, there are so many interesting stories, on-field recaps and very personal memories.

Of the memories and stories, I felt the most emotional ones were for Dallas Clark (who lost his mother to a heart attack) and for Jimmy Graham, who was literally dropped off by his mother at a group home with his clothes in a garbage bag.  Those two stories both resulted in producing great tight ends who would stop at nothing to succeed.  The circumstances are very different and their paths were certainly not identical, but they both made for compelling reading.

That isn’t to say that every player profiled in this book had tragic or hard stories. Some were out of fear (hard to believe Tony Gonzalez didn’t want to play football because he was afraid of the hard contact), some were just from the “boys being boys” category (Jeremy Shockey’s battles with his siblings) and some were just fun (Rob Gronkowski is probably the most notable party animal). But they, along with all the other tight ends profiled, had in common an unquenchable appetite for success and an incredible work ethic to make sure he did his best to achieve that success.

It should also be noted that while the actual game text is not plentiful in this book, the plays and games that are covered are recapped in an excellent manner.  The most compelling of these is one of the most incredible individual performances in NFL history – Kellen Winslow’s performance in the 1982 playoffs for the San Diego Charges in their memorable win over the Miami Dolphins.  That is just one example of the in-game coverage that is very good when it is presented in the context of that player’s story.

Football fans who remember many of the great tight ends since the era of Ditka and John Mackey will love reading about these players, their stories and their performances.  For me, this book was much like Gronkowski’s early NFL career – just a lot of fun to read.

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

 

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Guts-Tight-Ends-Football/dp/1538723743/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "A Giant Win"

Nearly 15 years later, Super Bowl XLII is still talked about as one of the best football games played and one of the biggest upsets in football history.  One illustration of this is a publication of a new book on that game by the coach of the winning team.  Here is my review of "A Giant Win."

Title/Author:

“A Giant Win: Inside the New York Giants’ Historic Upset Over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII” by Tom Coughlin with Greg Hanlon

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Super Bowl XLII has been considered by many to be not only the best Super Bowl in the history of the game but also one of the biggest upsets in professional football.  The New England Patriots had won their previous 18 games that season and looked to become the first NFL team to win 19 games in a perfect season.  However, the New York Giants, a team that New England defeated during the regular season, ended those dreams with a stunning 17-14 victory.  The coach of that team, Tom Coughlin, writes about that game and the many players who contributed to the victory in this book.

If a recap of the game is what a reader wants, they will certainly get that.  Nearly every play is covered by Coughlin, and especially each series and how it was important to determining the outcome is discussed.  Of course, there are extra pages devoted to some of the more famous plays such as the “helmet catch” by David Tyree and the winning touchdown pass from Eli Manning to Plaxico Burris.

Speaking of Manning, he writes the forward for the book. His football career and a little of his life is covered by Coughlin in the early portion of the book.  Coughlin does this throughout the book for nearly every player on that Giants team.  After discussing a few plays in which certain players made key blocks, gains or tackles, Coughlin will talk about that player and how he contributed to the Giants’ success – not only in that game but for the season or their time with the team.

Coughlin also discusses his own career from bouncing around various assistant coaching jobs to becoming the head coach at Boston College as well as his time as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Giants.  He also includes pages about his family (which included a Giants offensive lineman, Chris Snee, who is his son-in-law) which gives a little bit of a memoir feel, but this book is certainly not one of those.  It instead is a very good look at the coaches, players and events of one of the most memorable games played in NFL history.  

I wish to thank Grand Central Publishing for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Link: Amazon.com: A Giant Win: Inside the New York Giants' Historic Upset over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII eBook : Coughlin, Tom, Manning, Eli: Books

 

 

Review of "The Case for Barry Bonds"

 Realizing that just the title may evoke strong reactions for this review, I will start with this disclaimer: I am in the camp that believes Barry Bonds should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame and like the book and this review states, the book did not change my mind nor is that an objective of the book.  I do believe this is worth reading whether or not one agrees with this author.  Here is my review of "The Case for Barry Bonds."  

Title/Author: "The Case for Barry Bonds in the Hall of Fame: The Untold and Forgotten Stories of Baseball's Home Run King" by K. P. Wee

Rating: 4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: Barry Bonds is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of Major League Baseball for many reasons.  Of course, the main reason is the allegations of his use of performance enhancing drugs while setting the all time record for home runs – one of the most hallowed records in all of sports.  Add in his personality and his frequent disdain of the press and you have a few of the main reasons given why as of this review, he has yet to be elected by baseball writers to the Hall of Fame. This book by K. P. Wee tells many reasons why he should be enshrined.

To Wee's credit, he realizes that many people are already set in their minds about Bonds and his worthiness to be enshrined or to hold the records that he does. He also acknowledges at the beginning of the book that he very likely will not change the minds of those who have such strong beliefs about Bonds, either way.  Instead, he states that the book is written to tell about relationships with former teammates, stories and statistics that have not been widely reported.

To that extent, the book does do what it sets out to do, although there are several stories that are repeated many times during the book.  One example of this is that despite the coverage of the argument between Bonds and his manager with the Pittsburgh Pirates at the time (1991), Jim Leyland, the two men have a strong friendship that endures to this day and the argument was something that was blown out of proportion.  This is one of many repetitive points, some of which come about because some of the players interviewed are quoted multiple times in different chapters.

Speaking of the chapters, each one is about either a reason that voters may cite in order to not vote for Bonds or reasons that the author believes are used in order to withhold a vote for Bonds.  Wee will either point to double standards with these reasons (why is so-and-so given a pass while Bonds is criticized for it?) or will provide evidence that disputes the claim.  This makes up the bulk of the book and even though Wee may have stated that he was simply trying to set the record straight, it comes across as either excuses to those against Bonds being inducted or items that Bonds supporters will gleefully use without careful thought.

In the end, it was a book that I thought tried to carry out its mission and was substantial but missed its mark on trying to be objective.  Not that there is anything wrong with that and even if more people disagree with Wee than agree, he at least accomplishes one goal of presenting a case for Bonds to be included in the Hall of Fame.

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

Links: Amazon.com: The Case for Barry Bonds in the Hall of Fame: The Untold and Forgotten Stories of Baseball’s Home Run King: 9781626015821: Wee, K.P.: Books

Review of "Forty Years a Giant"

As one of the last teams that was owned by a family in which the team was the primary source of income instead of a side venture, the New York and then San Francisco Giants were owned by the Stoneham family.  This book chronicles the time that Horace Stoneham ran the team.  Here is my review of "Forty Years a Giant."

RATING: 4 of 5 stars (very good)

REVIEW: At 32, Horace Stoneham became the youngest owner in Major League Baseball when he assumed control of the New York Giants after the passing of his father Charles.  For the next forty years, Horace would see the Giants through not only the ups and downs that most teams experience on the field, but also through two seismic shifts in the baseball industry - integration and the movement of Major League Baseball to the West Coast.  Horace was directly part of the latter and his role in that, as well as everything else related to the Giants, is told in this very good book by Steven Treder.

This is not a true biography, as there is not much written about Horace Stoneham's personal life outside of the Giants. In fact, there really is more about his father Charles' life outside of baseball in the first three chapters, leading up to when Horace takes over the club after his father's passing, than there is in the rest of the book about Horace.  This isn't to say that there isn't plenty of material about Horace in which the reader can get a good glimpse into what kind of person Horace Stoneham was - it's just that this perception will be made based on how he handled the Giants.

If one said Horace's life revolved around his baseball team, that would be accurate and hence why it is fair to have this book based mainly around Horace's interactions with the team. The reading about the Giants, both in New York and in San Francisco, is rich in detail and whenever a major decision is made affecting the team, Treder will include Horace Stoneham's involvement in that decision.  The best parts of the book in which this is done is when Horace made the decision to move the team west to San Francisco, when he made the decision to trade legendary center fielder Willie Mays to the New York Mets and when he was forced into selling the team because the team was close to bankruptcy - and this was just before free agency would drive up the salaries of players.  For each of these topics, Treder not only provides good information - at least as good as can be derived without being able to speak directly with sources - but also dispels some of the stories that have grown over the years.  

Most notable of these is that the story of Horace simply riding the coattails of Walter O'Malley in the move to the West Coast because O'Malley asked Stoneham to join the Dodgers in California is simply not true.  Long before O'Malley met with Horace, Stoneham had already looked into leaving New York as attendance was plummeting for the Giants at the Polo Grounds. He not only considered San Francisco, but also the Twin Cities in Minnesota before that meeting and simply said okay.  This was one of many passages about the Giants that made for very good reading.  

The team's success or lack thereof on the field for every year of play under Stoneham's ownership is covered as well.  Stoneham ran the team with treating those who remained loyal to the team with generosity, almost to a fault.  This is illustrated in the writing about his reverence to figures like Mel Ott and Willie Mays.  There were many questionable transactions made by Stoneham as well and the reasons that would seem to explain them (again, since everything obtained in this book is secondhand, there is no way to verify) are given in the text. A reader may not always agree with the conclusion or speculation provided by the author, but it doesn't diminish the work done to make this book an enjoyable read.  Fans of the Giants will especially be interested in this historical book on the team as well as those who enjoy reading baseball history books. 

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

LINKS:  https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/9781496224194/

https://www.amazon.com/Forty-Years-Giant-Horace-Stoneham/dp/1496224191/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1622394662&sr=8-1 

Review of "1962"

It isn't often I will write a review on a book that I didn't like, but this is an exception - and it wasn't the whole book that I didn't like, just wish that it had more baseball.  The other topics made up for that disappointment.  Here is my review of "1962." 

 Title/Author:

"1962: Baseball and America in the Time of JFK" by David Krell

Tags:

Baseball, history, politics, Colt 45s, Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Giants

Publish date:

May 1, 2021

Length:

384 pages

Rating:

3 of 5 stars (okay)

Review:

For both baseball and America, 1962 was an exciting year.  In baseball, the National League pennant came down to a best of three playoff between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. The league expanded to 10 teams, adding the Houston Colt .45s and the New York Mets.  While the New York Yankees won in the American League yet again, two surprising teams there included the Minnesota Twins and California Angels.  Both of those teams not only surpassed expectations but also had a pitcher throw a no hitter.

As for America, between the changes in entertainment such as television shows and movies, the excitement generated by the young and attractive President and First Lady and the pride the entire country had with the space program, that was producing an optimistic feeling around the nation.  Both of these subjects are blended together in this book by David Krell.

The book would be described better by switching around the words "baseball" and "America" in the title as there is much more information on American events in television, movies, politics, society and space than there is about baseball.  In the introduction, Krell states that he will only write about five teams – the two new National League franchises plus the Dodgers, Giants and Yankees.  The other two mentioned in this review, the Angels and Twins, only had brief mentions because of the no hitters and also because Angels pitcher Bo Belinsky made more headlines on the society pages than on the sports pages because of his marriage to Mamie Van Doren.

Then, when one reads about those five teams, this is mostly a short description of the teams on the field.  Instead, the dialogue is most short biographies about the more important players on those teams. These are all brief, whether the player was a star at the time or a bench jockey – if there was something interesting to share, Krell did so.  A reader looking for writing about the actual play on the field will find the most about that in the chapter on the World Series, and even then there are some games that are covered thoroughly and some get just scant text. 

However, if the reader is looking for material on the other topics, then this book is a treasure trove of information.  I found the most interesting parts on these topics were anything on the space program and the writing on the Belinsky-Van Doren marriage. These and other topics, especially those about President Kennedy or the First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and her televised "tour" of the White House were the better parts of the book.  Because these were very good, I did decide to finish the book even though I was hoping to read more about baseball.  With a two star rating for the baseball writing and the four star rating for the writing on other topics, I give this one an overall rating of three stars and while I would not recommend it for baseball readers, I do believe that readers interested in other topics that were newsworthy in 1962 would find this book enjoyable.

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

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/9780803290877/

https://www.amazon.com/1962-Baseball-America-Time-JFK/dp/080329087X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1618854288&sr=1-1

 

Review of "24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid"

The old saying that patience is a virtue does pay off at times.  This was a book that I was not able to obtain as an advance copy and I had to wait for several months for a library version to become available - but it was worth the wait.  Here is my review of this excellent book on the "Say Hey Kid", Willie Mays. 

Title/Author:

“24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid" by Willie Mays and John Shea

Tags:

Baseball, history, Giants, Mets, Negro Leagues, professional

Publish date:

March 5, 2020

Length:

352 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

No matter how one looks at his career – traditional statistics, analytics and advanced statistics or for those who saw him, the eye test – Willie Mays is certainly one of the greatest baseball players of all time.  In this book co-authored with John Shea, Mays shares thoughts on a wide range of baseball topics with personal passages mingled in with Shea's writing during each chapter.

It's no coincidence that the book has 24 chapters to match the uniform number he wore for his two major league teams, the New York/San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets. The title may lead a reader to believe that there isn't much baseball in the book and instead is advice and lessons – that is not the case at all.  Mays uses his baseball experiences to provide the lessons that he espouses at the end of each chapter.  It isn't just about his exploits on the field as many of the stories are told after his playing days ended and some of the better chapters are during this section of the book, such as how happy he was when the Giants won three World Series championships in five years during the 2010's.

One chapter that stood out for me in the latter parts of the book was the chapter they wrote about Barry Bonds.  Of course, being that Mays is the godfather of Barry and was very friendly with his father Bobby, one might expect this chapter to be less critical than many other writings have been of the polarizing Barry Bonds.  What I found particularly interesting is how he has done what he could for Barry out of respect for his friend.  When Bobby was near death, that was his request to Mays – to take care of Barry and Mays has kept that promise.

Since Mays played in the Negro Leagues before joining the Giants organization, there is a section on his time there and like many other writings about that league, it is filled with interesting stories and at the same time paints a disturbing picture of the racism faced by these players.  That continues into his time in the major leagues, but in typical Willie Mays fashion, he exudes class and grace when talking about this time.

The same can be said for any other time one might believe that Mays might be upset.  This would include the loss to the Yankees in the 1962 World Series and the suspension from baseball he and Mickey Mantle were given by Bowie Kuhn when the two of them were working for Bally's in Atlantic City.  Also, speaking of Mantle, he is included in another chapter that alone makes the book a must-read: the debate that took New York City by storm in the 1950's – who was the better center fielder, Willie, Mickey or the Duke (Snider).

Any reader, no matter their level of interest in baseball, who knows about Willie Mays, should pick up this book as it is wonderful collection of stories written in an unconventional style about a one-of-a-kind baseball legend.

Book Format Read:

E-Book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/24-Life-Stories-Lessons-Say-ebook/dp/B07PDJF3XH/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=