* Gray Lady Down

"Ripped from today's headlines..."

(to borrow a film title). We all know the difficulties the newspaper industry are going through. I look at the sports section for the Star-Ledger and find stories take from the NY Daily News. Reporters and columnists are being bought out. So I guess it should come as no surprise to learn that the “Sport […]

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* Bits and Pieces

"Ripped from today's headlines..."

Trying to catch up, once again: * A review of Satchel and an interview with author Larry Tye, from BeyondtheBoxScore.com. And an excerpt from Sportfeelgoodstories.com. * From his mouth to God’s ears (as my people say). From Foxbusiness.com, word that — according to the author of a book on Bernie Madoff: “Fred Wilpon, the owner […]

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* Author profile: Jean Rhodes

2009 title

Hail, alma mater. The University of Vermont published this brief profile of its alumna, co-author of Becoming Manny, a bio of the enigmatic Ramirez.

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* Another "best book" list

Author Profile / interview

Larry Stone offers his list … and then some… of his favorite baseball bookss in his Seattle Times column, Hot Stone League (cute). No. 1 is Bouton’s Ball Four. but is No. 1  (addendum) is Koufax: A Lefty’s Legacy, by Jane Leavy. No. 2 on the addenda is a book I don’t think gets nearly […]

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* Last week (Aug. 24) in Sports Illustrated

Baseball Cards

Hey, I missed one. So sue me. Just wanted to highlight this article by Luke winn about “The Last Iconic Baseball Card.” Care to guess who it is before you read the piece? A Hint: it cae out 20 years ago. In a similarly belated development, MLB picked Topps as its “official” card of choice. […]

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* This week (Sept. 7) in ESPN the Magazine

Industry/Literary Analysis

Only one feature in the issue (NFL Preview) and it concentrates on the Texas Rangers’ pitching staff. Hearing some disturbing things lately about this publication. From Thewrap.com: The numbers are hard to fathom. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, a staggering 75 percent of consumer magazines saw their single-copy sales decline between June and […]

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* This week (Aug. 31) in Sports Illustrated

2009 title

The cover story is Insane Bolt and his record-breaking performances. As far as baseball goes: MLB Poll: Who’s the biggest Chatty Kathy on the field? With the final month of the season about to begin, Tom Verducci looks at those players that might make the difference between the post-season and the off-season for some teams, […]

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* Because you can put a list on your bookshelf

"Ripped from today's headlines..."

New York Times story: “Court Rules U.S. Seized 2003 Tests Improperly” A fat lot of good it does those players who were outed. Not that they deserve too much sympathy for abusing the public trust, but even so.

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* Because you can put a baseball cap on your bookshelf

"Ripped from today's headlines..."

One of my hobbies is collecting baseball caps. But the caveat is that I have to either get them as a gift (hint, hint) or be in the town in which that team plays, I can’t just buy a Wasington Nationals cap in a Lids at the mall. It’s especially fun to get a minor […]

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* RK Review: Double Play

Fiction

by Robert B. Parker. Putnam, 2004. Robert B. Parker’s heroes epitomize the strong silent types. Like the cowboys of old, they are taciturn, unfailingly loyal and determined to pursue the causes of right in the face of superior numbers or disadvantageous circumstances. Joseph Burke is the latest in this mold. Parker, known primarily for his […]

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* "What Ball Four means to me."

Classic title

Well not me, specifically, but to this guy, Seth Magalaner, the “sports literature examiner” at examiner.com, one of the hyper-local websites. Magalaner has also written on some other baseball books, including Jeff Pearlman’s The Rocket that Fell to Earth and Allan Barra’s Berra bio (say that five times fast).

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* RK interview: Thomas Oliphant

Author profile/interview by Ron Kaplan

I conducted this interview with the author of Praying for Gil Hodges for Bookreporter.com in 2005. * * * Bookreporter.com baseball specialist Ron Kaplan interviewed Pulitzer Prize winner Thomas Oliphant about PRAYING FOR GIL HODGES, his bittersweet memoir about growing up as a fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the joy of celebrating their only […]

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* Ask the "experts"

"Ripped from today's headlines..."

Headline from The Star-Ledger (Newark), Tuesday, Aug. 25 (from the New York Daily News syndicate): “Wagner unlikely to go to Red Sox” Headline from The Star-Ledger (Newark), Wednesday, Aug. 26 (from the New York Daily News syndicate): “Wagner relents, okays deadline deal to Boston”

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* Happy Birthday, Cal Ripken Jr.

Biography

The Iron Horse for a new generation turns 49 today.

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* Sugarball available for home theaters

2009 title

Sugarball is coming to the small screen. DVD and Blue-Ray versions will be available on Sept. 1. The critically-acclaimed feature film takes a realistic look at the peaks and valleys of a young Dominican pitching phenom as he leaves his home to embark on a dream life. The adjustments, triumphs, and setbacks make for compelling […]

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* New York, New York (Yankees)

"Ripped from today's headlines..."

The weekly pub previews why the Bombers should succeed in the post-season in its Aug. 31 issue.

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* The Amazin' Mets Plus 40

2009 title

Weather permitting, the Mets will honor their 1969 World Championship team. George Vescey wrote an excellent column in yesterday’s New York Times. Which sent me to my library to see what I’ve got specifically on that momentous event. Mant books about the team include a look back at that first championship, but the following titles […]

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* TWIBB — Aug. 21

2008 title

This week in baseball books, featuring the best-sellers according to Amazon.com on Friday, August 21. Title Rank General Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, Lewis 1 Munson: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain, Appel 2 The Yankee Years, Torre and Verducci 3 Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend, […]

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* Jim Bouton: Still crazy after all these years?

Annoucements

Some 40 years ago, Jim Bouton published what many consider to be the most important baseball book of all time. This Sunday, the MLB Network’s Studio 42 will host a conversation with Bouton  at 8 p.m. Bob Costas will be doing the honors as Bouton discusses his MLB career as well as his relationship with […]

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* Review/Profile: Lou Brissie

2008 title

The Athens (GA) Banner Gazette published this piece on Brissie, the subject of Ira Berkow’s The Corporal Was a Pitcher. The former major leaguer will be at the Borders on Alps Rod in Athens on Aug. 22 at 1 p.m. For information, call 706-583-8647.

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