Review of "The Night the Referee Hit Back"

As one who loves to read books on boxing but really isn't enthusiastic about the product the sport puts out today, this book was right up my alley.  Not only does award winning author Mike Silver share some great stories from the sport's glory days, but he also includes a sharply worded critical piece on the state of the sport today.  Here is my review of his book "The Night the Referee Hit Back."  

Title/Author:

“The Night the Referee Hit Back: Memorable Moments from the World of Boxing” by Mike Silver

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

As also noted in this book, the sport of boxing has declined in both popularity and quality for the last two decades or so.  Between an alphabet-soup variety of sanctioning bodies and many different weight classes, there are far too many “champions” for even hardy fans to follow, yet alone the casual fan.  However, it hasn’t always been this way.  As one can tell from the title, respected boxing author Mike Silver has also compiled some excellent stories from the sport’s glory years.

Silver has won awards, and this book covers approximately 40 years of stories, analysis and criticisms of various boxers and trends in the sport.  The list of names covered in the book could be mistaken for a partial list of all-time greats.  This would include boxers from many different weight classes (at least from the traditional eight categories, not the wide variety in today’s version of the sport).  Muhammad Ali, Emilie Griffin, Joe Gans, and so many others are highlighted in the collection – it shows the versatility and the knowledge of boxing history possessed by Silver.

Usually, collections of past writings or stories will contain at least one or two items that don’t match up to the quality of the other selections.  That is not the case in this book as every story, article, critique and interview (there are 5 interviews included) are all excellent and well worth the time to read.  Any boxing fan, no matter the era in which they became a fan or which weight class they follow, will find something they will enjoy in this book.

Link: The Night the Referee Hit Back: Memorable Moments from the World of Boxing: Silver, Mike: 9781538136904: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "Once More Around the Park"

One of my favorite authors of all time is Roger Angell.  No matter what he wrote about baseball, it was always a treat to read it - and re-read it.  That was the case for me with several of these essays in this book but that's okay - I never tire of reading any collection of his baseball writings. 

Title/Author:

“Once More Around the Park” by Roger Angell

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

Avid readers of baseball books are familiar with Roger Angell’s work.  His prose on the game has entertained and informed thousands of readers through the years and while he may no longer be with us, his work is still a treat to read – even if it has been previously read.  This book, a collection of his work in other publications or books that covers approximately 40 years of the sport, is a treat to any baseball fan or reader.

Just like his other books like “Late Innings” or “Five Seasons: A Baseball Companion”, this collection covers a wide variety of topics about baseball and the stories range from humorous to “just the facts” to touching.  If I had to select just a couple of the chapters that I would pick out as the best, one would have to include “In the Country” where Angell took a letter he received from a wife of a pitcher trying to make it in the low minors into a touching love story – not just of the game but also of the couple.  Then the next chapter, “In the Fire”, brings the reader into the world of the catcher with insight into that unique position. There are so many more aspects that a catcher has to consider than what is usually available to the fans in stands or watching on TV.  Such as where to position themselves for a pitch, how to maneuver to make that throw to second base or communicating to fielders on where to position themselves, this chapter is written so well and has contributions from many star catchers from the late 1970s and early 1980s such as Carlton Fisk, Ted Simmons and Bob Boone.

I’ll use the catcher chapter to illustrate one more aspect of the book I really liked and that is while the material is about players and events from several decades ago, there are so many of Angell’s observations that could be applicable today.  The example I’ll use is for catchers who have been named the Most Valuable Player in their league.  He makes the point that only those catchers who have “startling offensive figures” win this award and he gives examples like Johnny Bench, Gabby Harnett and Ernie Lombardi. I noted that this is still true today, with the most recent MVP catcher, Joe Mauer, also putting up incredible hitting statistics in his MVP year but no mention of defense or any other aspect of his game.  I wrote the note in the book and I did that over 40 times for other items.  To me, that shows that even though the game may have changed a lot since Angell wrote his words, they are still applicable, true and wonderful to read even today.   

Link: Once More Around the Park: Angell, Roger: 9780345367372: Amazon.com: Books

Two for the 4th, part 2 - Review of "The Only Way is the Steady Way"

Part two of the July 4 doubleheader for this blog is a review of a book of baseball essays I read on a train ride to...a baseball game.  Going to see a baseball game, America's Pastime, during the weekend of July 4 and reading a baseball book just seemed to be the right thing to do.  Here is my review of "The Only Way is the Steady Way"

Title/Author: "The Only Way is the Steady Way" by Andrew Forbes

Rating: 5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: Usually when I read a book of essays or short stories, the final result ends up being a mixed bag – some good, some not so good and some in between those two areas.  This one doesn't fall into that category as I was enjoying every single word of this collection of mostly baseball essays by Andrew Forbes.

I say "mostly" because not every part of every essay is about baseball.  There are some very personal and moving sections about Forbes' family life, a little social commentary and other personal observations.  They are all related to baseball by the end of the essay, but they do give a snapshot into not only Forbes' personal life but also how much the game of baseball plays into his life.

Residing in Ontario, Forbes is a Toronto Blue Jays fan and some of the writing deals with them – the Jose Bautista bat flip in the 2015 postseason is one of the better topics when he writes about his team.  But he saves his best work for his writing about Ichiro Suzuki and how his success in Major League baseball after an excellent career in the Japanese leagues shows how much that one player affected him.

This is not to say Forbes writes only about Ichiro in glowing terms, although he mostly does so.  This is also not to say that this book is ONLY about Ichiro, although he is the subject of many of the essays.  Instead, the book is best viewed as a tribute to baseball and a reminder of how important it is in the lives of those who play the game, watch the game or otherwise enjoy the game.  Ichiro is the main illustrator of how this is done, and Forbes does a great job of conveying that message in short sections that will be enjoyed by anyone who fits the above categories. 

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

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Only-Way-Steady-Essays-Baseball/dp/1988784662/

Review of "42 Today"

Jackie Robinson is one of the very few sports figures about whom much has been written.  This latest book on his legacy mostly outside of baseball is the latest book on him and is another excellent account of what he means to not only the game, but to the civil rights movement.  Here is my review of "42 Today."

Title/Author:

“42 Today: Jackie Robinson and His Legacy” edited by Michael G. Long

Tags:

Baseball, professional, race, Dodgers, essays, politics

Publish date:

February 9, 2021

Length:

256 pages

Rating:

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

While much has been written and discussed about Jackie Robinson the baseball player and the historical importance of his breaking of the color barrier in Major League baseball, there isn’t as much written about his political activity and other important actions that he did in the civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s.  This book, a collection of long essays edited by Michael G. Long, goes a long way in bringing those activities by Robinson into the public’s eye as well as his baseball.

That isn’t to say this book ignores his contribution to baseball or his baseball career.  There is plenty of material in the book, with information and quotes from notable Robinson biography writers such as Arnold Rampersand and Jonathan Eig, that highlight Robinson’s contribution to baseball’s integration and also will tell the truth about some of the baseball myths about Robinson, such as befriending Dixie Walker and Pee Wee Reese putting his arm around Robinson.  The latter was strongly refuted by Robinson’s widow Rachel in the book.  The baseball actions also illustrate that he played the game as an angry man, even when he “played by (Branch) Rickey’s rules and kept himself under control.”

Speaking of Rachel, she has always claimed that “Jack” wasn’t an angry man and the book states in the prologue that it will challenge that notion. On that, it certainly hit the mark as Robinson’s political and baseball life. He was a staunch Republican supporter in the 1960 election with his support of Richard Nixon, mainly because Nixon’s concept of creating a government agency with the specific goal of supporting Black-owned businesses was put into action by the party. That is just one of the many political writings and issues addressed in the book.  What is very striking about some of these are that some could very well have been stated in today’s political and social climate.

While the information is very good and even outside of topics one would associate with Robinson – his connection to other Black trailblazing athletes such as Wilma Rudolph and Althea Gibson is one example – there is significant material that if one has previously read about Robinson, chances are the information won’t be new to the reader as was the case for me.  This doesn’t diminish the powerful message behind the book and the connection to today’s world cannot be ignored.  Readers don’t have to be baseball fans or know much about Robinson to be moved by his actions.

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

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)                                                                                                                             

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1479805629/ref=x_gr_w_bb_sin?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_sin-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1479805629&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

Review of "Losers"

C'mon, admit it...wouldn't you be intrigued by a book titled "Losers"?  We always get to read about the winners, but this book gives some glory to those on the other side of the ledger.  It is a very good collection of stories on those who didn't quite get to the winning side. 

Title/Author:

“Losers: Dispatches from the Other Side of the Scoreboard" edited by Mary Pilon and Louisa Thomas

Tags:

Various sports, professional, Olympics, essays

Publish date:

August 18, 2020

Length:

304 pages

Rating: to

4 ½ of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

The title of this book – "Losers" – makes it sound like this will be a very depressing, somber type of book.  However, the excellent collection of stories gathered and edited by Mary Pilon and Louisa Thomas (who also contributed one of the stories) doesn't have that sense of dread. There are also contributions by two very famous authors, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Gay Talese.  The latter's story is his well known writing about boxer Floyd Patterson after his losses to Sonny Liston.

Yes, this is a collection of stories about athletes or fans whose teams or accomplishments didn't land them in the winner's circle and yes, some of them can be quite sad. Thomas' story about her grandmother who suffered through abuse by her husband, but she also had a mostly successful business raising championship horses, is probably the most depressing piece in the book. There are other tales of woe of varying degrees, but not all of them are of this nature.  Another one that comes to mind is the story of a cage fighter who never won a fight (before the days of MMA/UFC) who faked his own death to avoid paying debts but eventually was caught. This one was written by Pilon.

Indeed, some can be uplifting and cheerful in their tone, despite the fact that the subject of the story did not end up as the winner.  The best example of this type of story is on marathon runner Dick Beardsley, who is one of the most famous second place finishers when he was runner-up to Alberto Salazar in the Boston Marathon.

One aspect of the book that is especially pleasing is that a wide variety of sports and playing levels are featured in the book. One of the more unusual stories is one about a matador who was nearing the end of his bullfighting career.  There are stories about famous losses, such as a Boston fan's recollection of Bill Buckner's famous error in game six of the 1986 World Series.  That particular story is interesting in that the author sounds like they are longing for the bad old days when Boston teams were mediocre instead of the champions they now are.  Of course, a book on losers wouldn't be complete without a story on the most famous losers, the Washington Generals.  For those who are not familiar with them, they are the team that faces the Harlem Globetrotters in their shows.  Despite what one may believe, the story illustrates the Generals as good basketball players and talks about a game in which the Generals actually walked off the court victorious.

As is the case with any collection of essays or stories, not every one of them will appeal to every reader.  That was the case with this reviewer for a few of the selections.  But there were far many enjoyable ones than duds and they were fun to read.  One doesn't have to be a big sports fan to enjoy this collection as many of the stories touch at the heart and soul of the "losers" in various sports.

I wish to thank Penguin 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/Losers-Dispatches-Other-Side-Scoreboard/dp/0143133837/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "Sporting Blood"

On a day when I post two reviews (something I very rarely do) it is only fitting that the two books reviewed are about my two favorite sports to read about, baseball and boxing.  This collection of tales of several boxers covering many eras and weight classes is an excellent book and one that is very hard to put down - I covered it in less than a day.  Here is my review of "Sporting Blood"

Title/Author:

“Sporting Blood: Tales from the Dark Side of Boxing” by Carlos Acevedo

Tags:

Boxing, professional, history, essays

Publish date:

March 31, 2020

Length:

256 pages

Rating:

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

Anyone who follows the sport of boxing knows that for every success story, there are many others that have a darker side.  Even for those fighters that have enjoyed tremendous success during their careers, many of them had other tales of woe.  These can range from financial problems, drug abuse, crime, even an untimely death.  This book by boxing writer Carlos Acevedo tells some of these stories on many different boxers from different weight classes and eras.

The variety of the stories and the boxers portrayed is the biggest strength of this book. Not only are legendary fighters portrayed such as Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, but there are some very interesting tales about other fighters who may not be as familiar to readers such as Ad Wolgast, Carmelo Negron and Eddie Machen. There are several sad stories on fighters whose career either ended too soon after a defeat (Davey Moore), fighters who seemed to always be on a path to destroying themselves (Tyson, Aaron Pryor, Tony Ayala Jr.) and even one who became known to even non-boxing fans, Jake LaMotta.  While his story of sinking to very low depths and rising about them is familiar to movie goers who saw “Raging Bull”, Acevedo’s account of LaMotta does much more justice than the movie does in only a few pages.

That is pretty much the theme across the entire book as Acevedo writes essays about these pugilists that are complex yet very easy to read and comprehend.  Some of his prose is pure bliss to read.  Here are just a sample of some excellent quotes from the book:

-       -      When talking about the legendary third fight between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, the brutality of that match led Acevedo to state that “The ‘Thrilla in Manilla’ was a CliffNotes for sadism.”

-      -       He states that boxing “lends itself far too often to an intellectual clam chowder (common ingredients: social Darwinism, atavism, gladiatorial analogies, talk of warriors and so on)”

-       -      Describing promoter Don King when he dropped Davey Moore from his band of boxers: “Even Don King, a man who would rush into a burning oil tanker to rescue a crumpled dollar bill, cut him loose”

This is just a small sample of the excellent writing and research that was put into this great collection of stories on a wide selection of boxers. Any reader who has any interest in the “sweet science” will want to pick up this book – but be warned, once one starts, this is very hard to put down.

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

                                                                        

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)                                                                                                                               

Buying Links:

https://hamilcarpubs.com/books/sporting-blood-tales-from-the-dark-side-of-boxing/

https://www.amazon.com/Sporting-Blood-Tales-Dark-Boxing-ebook/dp/B085FQKSDP/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1585513673&sr=8-1

Review of "They Played the Game"

To start this post, I want to give a shout out to one of the publishers who have graciously supplied me with books to review and I have been successful with getting a review out on every one of them - sometimes later than anticipated but nonetheless I read them.  That publisher is University of Nebraska Press and their great marketing team of Anna and Rosemary.  This review is of one of their books, "They Played the Game"

Title/Author:

“They Played the Game: Memories from 47 Major Leaguers” by Norman L. Macht

Tags:

Baseball, professional, essays

Publish date:

April 1, 2019

Length:

320 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars very (good)

Review:

Some of the best storytellers are former major league baseball players. No matter how long his career lasted or how he compiled his statistics, a baseball player is always eager to share his experiences.  Author Norman Macht has collected anecdotes from 47 former players who played from the Deadball Era of the early 20^th century up to the 1970’s in this fast-paced book.

As is the case for any collection of stories, essays, or other writing, this is a mixed bag.  Some of the stories were very entertaining, some were hilarious and some of them might leave a reader scratching his or her head, trying to figure out just what the man was talking about.  Personally, while I enjoyed reading all of them, I didn’t find any one particular anecdote that would stand out above the rest. 

The best aspect to reading this book is that the reader will be taken back to certain events in a way that a neutral author could not capture. Reading about a moment in which the player was there to experience helps the reader picture the scene even better.  This is true even of events that have been written about many times.  Two very good examples of this involved stores I enjoyed about Babe Ruth. One came from former Yankee Mark Koenig, who described the Babe’s legendary nightlife, and the other was from Carmen Hill, who was thrilled more than fifty years later about the fact he pitched to Ruth in the 1927 World Series.

If those two names don’t sound familiar, then that is the norm for this book – there are many more stories from players who did not become household names or superstars.  Instead, these could be considered as simply stories about the work life of a baseball player much like stories shared in the office at the water cooler, albeit these are about a worklife that many people dream about having when they are kids. 

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/9781496205506/

https://www.amazon.com/They-Played-Game-Memories-Leaguers/dp/1496205502/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1559913868&sr=8-2

Review of "Five Seasons"

Baseball book readers need no reminder or yet another review to tell them how good a baseball author Roger Angell is.  I just completed another of his books and while there have been scores of reviews written about this collection of essays since its first publication in 1977, I would be remiss not to contribute my thoughts as well.  Here is my review of "Five Seasons." 

Title/Author:

“Five Seasons: A Baseball Companion” by Roger Angell

Tags:

Baseball, professional, essays, classic

Publish date:

May 15, 1977

Length:

413 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (Outstanding)

Review:

Frankly, another review of a book in which the topic is baseball and the author is Roger Angell cannot either a) do justice to the book or b) say anything that hasn’t already been said.  This collection of baseball essays from his days of writing for the New Yorker covers the time period of the 1972 -1976 seasons.

During this time frame, anything a reader can think of is covered.  Scouting?  Yes, a wonderful conversation with a long-time scout for the then-California Angels is retold. Business? Between the strike over player pension funds in 1972 (the first strike by the fairly new Major League Baseball Players Union) and the lockout during spring training in 1976, that’s covered.  Fans?  One wonderful chapter on three lifelong Detroit Tigers fans will have the reader both laughing and crying. 

Of course, there’s plenty about the game on the field as well.  Readers who were fans of the game at that time will enjoy reading about all of the star players.  Everyone from Hank Aaron to Joe Morgan is mentioned as well as the best teams of that era – the Oakland A’s who won the World Series three consecutive seasons, the Big Red Machine otherwise known as the Cincinnati Red and the resurgence of the New York Yankees.  Being a New Yorker, Angell also writes passionately about the New York Mets, which makes for some of the best reading in the book.

This review just scratches the surface of describing how much a baseball fan will enjoy this book, whether or not he or she was a fan of this period of baseball. Angell is an author whose books simply must be read by all baseball fans, no matter their age or team loyalties. Those who have read anything by him know what I mean – those that haven’t, this is one to pick up to get a glimpse into the immense talent he has for writing about the American Pastime.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/5-Seasons-Roger-angell/dp/0671227432/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1532876031&sr=1-1

Review of "Everything I Know I Learned from Baseball"

This was a different collection of essays - ones that not only told about baseball, but also had some helpful advice for various situations one will face in life.  Nice to know that such a great sport can be useful too!  Here is my review of "Everything I Know I Learned from Baseball."

Title/Author:

“Everything I Know I Learned From Baseball” by Phillip Theibert

Tags:

Baseball, life, essays

Publish date:

December 15, 2017

Length:

160 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Some people say that baseball reflects life or similar phrases in order to convey the message that many of baseball’s nuances are also found in “real life.”  This is clearly evident with the messages passed to the readers of this book by Phillip Theibert.

The basic premise of the book is that the solutions to solve many situations a baseball player or coach will face apply to issues in real life as well.  Whether one is trying to improve his or her work performance, relationships, optimism or just improve this book will help the reader see how baseball can be used to do so.

To demonstrate this, I will use one of the many ways the author ties baseball and a real life situation. During a game and especially during a plate appearance, a batter will try to figure out the spin of a pitcher’s curveball and how it differs from the fastball. He has to concentrate on the very minute details in order to gain the edge over the pitcher.  Theibert encourages the reader to do the same when people challenge him or her with new ideas or suggestions.  Pick up on clues they give, watch the “spin” they put on words and assess their words to determine the best course of action.

This short book is full of interesting comparisons like this in order to make readers see how their love of baseball can help improve their lives.  It is not only a quick read cover to cover, but one that is handy to keep for a quick reference when facing a challenge and one is not sure what the best course of action should be.  This doesn’t mean it is the answer to every situation one may face, but remembering how a baseball player or coach will handle a similar game situation just may be useful.

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

Book Format Read:

E-book (EPUB)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Learned-Baseball-Philip-Theibert/dp/1938545664/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

http://www.summergamebooks.com/titles/essays/everything-i-know-i-learned-from-baseball-detail

Review of "Diamonds from the Dugout"

When I received this request for a review from the author, I was a bit surprised.  I knew about Mark Newman's work for MLB.com but I didn't know that he had written a book about stories told by players about memorable hits.  After reading this, I would say that not only were the hits memorable but so is this book.  Here is my review of "Diamonds from the Dugout."

Title/Author:

“Diamonds from the Dugout: 115 Baseball Legends Remember Their Greatest Hits” by Mark Newman

Tags:

Baseball, professional, essays

Publish date:

November 1, 2017

Length:

256 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review: 

The premise of this book comes from a simple question asked by the author to major league players – What hit meant the most to you and why?  This question was first asked by Mark Newman to Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson and from there, the author was taken on a long and interesting journey of stories that are wonderfully written and fun to read.

Some of the answers are predictable and many are surprising.  A few players said their most memorable hits were ones that either came in a crucial moment such as a postseason game - Mark Texiera and Robin Yount are two such players.  Others, such as Wade Boggs, chose a milestone hit.  Several others said it was their first hit in major leagues as it proved that they belong there, not in the minors.  Finally there were surprise answers as well.  This will be the closest to a spoiler for this book – an example of a surprise answer was Mike Piazza’s as it was not the home run in New York’s first game after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. 

There are a few other stories sprinkled in that are not about MLB players, such as the one about the most memorable hit for the author’s son, a story by former commissioner Bud Selig and one by comedian Arsenio Hall about the first time he was able to take his son to a World Series game.  All of them are entertaining and will make a reader either recall some of these moments fondly or will find out more about these players.

While most of the stories are fairly short – about one to two pages – there is a chapter completely devoted to Pete Rose.  The author states that he believes the all-time hits leader deserves his own chapter with this explanation: “It Pete Rose wants to talk about hitting, then you just start typing as fast as you can and let him keep talking in a stream of consciousness, and you give him a chapter all to himself.” 

Writing like this is why this book should be on the bookshelf of every baseball fan, no matter the age, favorite player or team or what era of the game the reader follows.  They are all covered in the book and these stories are wonderful recollections of special moments for these players. 

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

Book Format Read:

Hardcover

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Diamonds-Dugout-Baseball-Remember-Greatest/dp/168157067X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/diamonds-from-the-dugout-mark-newman/1127118680?ean=9781681570679#/