Authors appearance: Berkow and Positano at Bergino Baseball Clubhouse

One of my favorite places on the planet hosts two more author events in the upcoming weeks.

First up at the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse, tomorrow (May 10) at 7 p.m., Dr. Rock Positano will discuss his new release, Dinner with DiMaggio: Memories of an American Hero. From the book’s Amazon page:

The real Joe DiMaggio, remembered by one of the few who really knew the man behind the legend—candid and little-known stories about baseball icons from Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig, and his Yankees teammates on the field to Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and others off the field. As told by Dr. Rock Positano, DiMaggio’s closest confidante in New York during the final years of his life, Dinner with DiMaggio is an intimate portrait of one of America’s most enduring heroes.

Next Wednesday, May 17, same time, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Ira Berkow chats about It Happens Every Spring: DiMaggio, Mays, the Splendid Splinter, and a Lifetime at the Ballpark. Again from Amazon:

Culled from 50 years’ worth of columns from one of the country’s most popular sportswriters, It Happens Every Spring stands as a remarkable and evocative anthology that is guaranteed to delight baseball fans of all ages. Former New York Times columnist Ira Berkow captures the spirit of America’s pasttime in this collection of opinions, stories, and observations from his long and distinguished career. From memories of Ted Williams and Satchel Paige to reflections on Jackie Robinson, Barry Bonds, and the soul of the beloved game, this work combines Berkow’s eye for detail with the comedy and drama revealed by the subjects themselves, bringing to life some of the most famous baseball personalities from the last half century.

Berkow was the driving force behind Hank Greenberg: The Story of My Life as well as the documentary Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story. He was also kind enough to do the foreword for my book on the Maccabiah Games.

Bonus points for you if you knew that It Happens Every Spring was also the name of a 1949 baseball feature starring Ray Milland. I don’t think it gets enough credit but I found it to be a charming little flick. See for yourself: you can watch the whole thing for free here, courtesy archive.org.