* Time for Times

A couple of book-related items in today’s New Yotk Times sports section:

• In the print edition, Tim Wendel wrote  “They Could Throw That Speedball,” as part of the “Spotlight” column, about the difficulties in coming up with the definitive answer to the question, “who was the fastest pitcher in history?” With all due respect to both the author and the paper, the presentation seems inappropriate for this specific venue, since it serves almost as an advertisement for his book, High Heat, which he mentions by title (“There is no definitive answer, but I think I came up with a pretty good one. It’s right here in my book “High Heat.”). If it had been a letter to the editor or part of the weekly “Box Seats” section (or a paid advert), it might have been a different story. perhaps I’m over analyzing. (The Cox newspaper syndicate ran this review of Wendel’s book.)
• Harvey Araton wrote this piece about Susan Walker, daughter of the late Dixie, who co-wrote Dixie Walker of the Dodgers with veteran sportswriter Maury Allen. The Southern-born walker was (in)famous for declaring that he did not want to be on the same team as Jackie Robinson, when the Major League’s first African-American made his debut in 1947. Walker and Allen, who adored the ballplayer know as “The People’s Cherce,” as a kid growing up in Brooklyn, wanted to set the record straight about the specific reasons (basically economic, as Walker had a business concern in Birmingham, Alabama) for his decision. Araton adds to the as he asks, “Does Dixie Walker deserve scorn or sympathy?”on the Times’ “At Bats” blog. By the way Susan walker and Muary Allen were supposed to appear at the Yogi Berra Museum in May, but the event has been pushed back until June.

Tagged as: Dixie Walker, Maury Allen, New York Times, Susan Walker, Tim Wendel