Ron Kaplan's Baseball Bookshelf
If it fits on a bookshelf, it fits here.
From the category archives:
In his new autobiography, Call Me Ted, Ted Turner includes one chapter devoted to his ownership of the Atlanta Braves. Using the lessons learned through the Rob Neyer School of Detection, it seems that Turner has some lapses of memory, at best, or is fabricating, at worst. He writes about taking over the team in […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
I have not read Joe Torre’s new book, written with SI’s Tom Verducci and published by , but judging by the buzz from several sources, it’s a tell-all in which he “blasts” Alex Rodriguez, Brian Cashman and George Steinbrenner, among others. The New York Post, in its typical tabloid headline-screaming fashion, yells “Joe Blows: Rips, […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Random House is scheduled to release The Yankee Years, Joe Torre’s autobiography (written with SI‘s Tom Verducci), in early February, 2009.
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The Hall of Fame veterans Committee will announce any decision on Monday, Dec. 8. Players who are under consideration include: SINCE 1943 • Dick Allen • Gil Hodges • Jim Kaat • Tony Oliva • Al Oliver • Vada Pinson • Ron Santo • Luis Tiant • Joe Torre • Maury Wills PRE-1943 • Bill […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
according to Michael Weinreb on ESPN.com’s Page 2 is Veeck: As In Wreck, the autobio of the game’s most maverick front office man (What, you thought the McCain/Palin campaign invented the word?) If there was ever a guy who didn’t take life too seriously, it was Bill Veeck, who made even the St. Louis Browns […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Cubs’ skipper Lou Pienlla and Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon were named managers of the year for 2008. Pinella published Sweet Lou, written with Maury Allen in 1986. He’s got a new one coming out next year from St. Martin’s/Thomas Dunne. So can it be long before Maddon has one, too? Managers whose teams […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
According to a report in today’s Publishers Weekly e-mail: Mike Piazza, a 12-time All Star for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets, has signed a deal to write his autobiography for Simon & Schuster. V-p and senior editor Bob Bender acquired world rights from David Black, CEO of Black Inc., and Dan […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Rapid Robert turned 90 on Nov. 3. Feller was one of those players from “the greatest generation” — including Ted Williams, Warren Spahn, Bob Buhl, Hank Greenberg, Joe DiMaggio and many others — who lost precious years to the service of their country. Yes, some, like Feller and Williams, were on the front lines while […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The Ft. Worth Star-Telegram ran this piece on Josh Hamilton’s new book, which is receiving great praise, especially locally. Hamilton, by the way, Hamilton won a Players Choice Award on Tuesday as the American League’s Most Outstanding Player. He batted .304 with 32 homers and an AL-best 130 RBIs. I’m almost glad his book came […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The Dodger Hall of Famer died this date in 1993. His autobiography was also turned into a made-for TV movie, starring Paul Warfield as the catcher and Louis Gossett Jr. as his physical therapist. The Amazon Report on Roy Campanella: It’s Good to Be Alive
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The Hall of Fame outfielder for the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics, turns 75 today. Williams was part of the famous Cubs team — Santo, Banks, Hundley, Jenkins, Holztman, Hands, Kessinger, Beckert, etc. — that couldn’t stop the Mets juggernaut in 1969. he recently released his autobiography. The Amazon Report on Billy Williams: Billy Williams: […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The Hall of Fame catcher turns 54 today. Carter was a “like him, hate him” kind of guy. There are those who said he was too eager to smile for the camera. For me, as a fan of the Mets, he was a savior, one of the tools helping propel them to some quality years […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The North County Times of California published this review/profile on the new autobiography of Jerry Coleman. Ted Williams got the major press for serving in both WWII and the Korean War, but Coleman, the second baseman for the New York Yankees during their post-war juggernaut run, was right there, too. After his playing career, he […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
“Knucksie” turns 69 today. The Hall of Famer defied time by pitching until he was 48, amassing a record of 311-274 while playing for some pretty bad teams. One stat I found particularly “enjoyable”: In 1979 Niekro won 21, lost 21, started 44 games, completed 23 (more than entire leagues these days), threw 311 innings, […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The submariner journeyman pitcher turns 58 today. Leach was another of those players who came to the Majors relatively late (27). He had one great year, going 11-1 for the Mets in 1987, including a 10-innning, 1-0 shutout, but received relatively littl fanfare. Leach wrote about his experiences, including his sense of betrayal by “the […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
One of the true gentlemen of the game turns 89 today. When it comes to recognition, Irvin always seemed to play second second fiddle behind Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby, and Willie Mays, among others. He played only eight season, arriving with the New York Giants in 1949 at the age of 30. But he never […]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
is available on Amazon.com,
In a former life, I was the sports and features editor for a weekly New Jersey newspaper, where I hosted an award-winning bog about Jews and Sports.
I did a profile piece on the legendary cartoonist Arnold Roth and he was very generous in immortalizing me in this caricature.
My article on Sandy Koufax in the 1965 World Series appears in
My article on the later biographies of Babe Ruth appears in
My article on the Mets’ 1969 postseason appears in
Profiles of several Jewish baseball figures appear in
* More on the Torre storee
January 26, 2009
(Man, I wish I had a named that rhymed cooly with something.) Can’t believe WINS radio led off some of its segments with the “controversy” of the new book. One person interviewed sagely opined that the whole media blitz was just a way to sell more copies, to which the reporter added something along the […]
Tagged as: Joe Torre, Sports Illustrated, The Yankee Years
{ Comments on this entry are closed }