Seems that for the time being, thee quick updates will do until the new releases come out. Still planning on getting back to the Bookshelf Conversations as soon as possible. The first two will feature Rich Cohen, author of The Chicago Cubs: Story of a Curse, and Sridhar Pappu, author of The Year of the Pitcher: Bob Gibson, Denny McLain, and the End of Baseball’s Golden Age.
Onward…
Speaking of Rich Cohen, here’s a review from the Lincoln Journal Star about his book.Upshot: “Any individual with a remote interest in the Cubs or with a love for the game of baseball will be fortunate to find this book beneath the Christmas tree.” (See below re: my feelings about Christmas-related baseball articles.)
I have a soft spot for books that focus on what I would describe as “home-town heroes,” those that feature players who had a special place in the hearts of fans for a particular team or locale, although they may not have had the superstar impact for a larger audience. One such title is Danny and Mickey, Ordinary Heroes, by Bob McLaughlin, which looks at Danny Murtaugh and Mickey Vernon, natives of Delco, Delaware. Here’s the story from the Delco Times.
Two baseball titles are included in this piece in the Portland Tribune on “Sports Books for Winter Reading”: Ballplayer, by Chipper Jones, and My Oh My — the Dave Niehaus Story, by Billy Mac.
Because inquiring minds want to know: “DC Reveals If Batman Can Hit A Baseball Pitch From Superman.” No spoilers from me.
Yeah, I know. I should have had some entries leading up to the holiday featuring articles that suggested books for gift-giving. So sue me. It’s like making resolutions for the New Year.You don’t need to wait for January 1st to start making improvements. Likewise you can read these books at any time. In this case, the writer is talking primarily about The New Dickson Baseball Dictionary, “a delightfully entertaining compendium of the rich history and culture of our national game.”
Former pitcher Mark Littell is about to release his third book. Who knew? This piece comes from the Delta Dunklin Democrat in Kennet, MO, and features the unforgettable line: “Littell has wrote two books….”
Here’s another review by Bill Jordan on the Baseball Reflections site, this one on I Don’t Care if We Never Get Back: 30 Games in 30 Days on the Best Worst Baseball Road Trip Ever, by Ben Blatt and Eric Brewster. Upshot: “This book is highly recommended as a quick and comical reading for anyone who enjoys baseball and particularly anyone who has ever planned on visiting all of the baseball stadiums.” And one more on Dealing: The Cleveland Indians’ New Ballgame (Inside the Front Office and the Process of Rebuilding a Contender), by Terry Pluto. Upshot: “This book is recommended for all baseball fans, not just those of the Tribe, as it is an interesting look at the process of building a team, regardless of fan affiliation.”
Herewith an excerpt on Bless You, Boys, a Detroit Tigers-centric site from Jim Turvey’s Starting IX: A Franchise-by-Franchise Breakdown of Baseball’s Best Players which looks at the best players at each position for every team in baseball. Frankly, the IX threw me off a bit. When I see that, I immediately think of Title IX, the program tat bars discrimination especially for girls in school sports.
is available on Amazon.com,
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