Category: Books

Book Review: Mets By The Numbers: A Complete Team History of the Amazin’ Mets by the Uniform Number

172 I just finished the book Mets By The Numbers: A Complete Team History of the Amazin’ Mets by the Uniform Number by Jon Springer and Matthew Springer.  The book’s title is pretty self-descriptive.  I don’t think it leaves out a single player that ever played for the NL New York team.  Creatively titled chapters start from Uniform #1 and the New York Mets that had that number and go from there.

There’s a bit of a bio or trivia that goes with each player (at least the ones that any major playing time).  Plus at the end of each chapter, a complete rundown on the uniform number; how many Mets had the number, the best season by a Met with that number etc.

From Mookie Wilson (#1) to Turk Wendell (#99) not to mention Rey Ordonez who debuted with a #0, this book delivers as promises.  It goes without saying that this book would definitely interest a New York Met fan more than anyone.  It’s possible that a baseball history buff might enjoy this as well for all the trivia as well. 

 

Mets By The Numbers: A Complete Team History of the Amazin’ Mets by the Uniform Number

Author: Jon Springer and Matthew Silverman

Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing

  

Book Review: Working at the Ballpark

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I met TBZ at a fantasy baseball auction draft recently. He handed me a book he received from a publisher and asked if I was interested in reading it and posting a review. I love to read, and I’m always in the middle of at least one or two books. But it would be an understatement to say that I am not the fastest reader in the world. I’ve never been able to “plow” through a book, probably because I don’t give myself any deadlines. Thanks to TBZ I finished Working at the Ballpark: The Fascinating Lives of Baseball People from Peanut Vendors and Broadcasters to Players and Managers by Tom Jones in a personal record time.

The book is comprised of fifty interviews of people who are involved in major league baseball in some fashion. Each interview is its own chapter making it very easy to read a few minutes at a time.

Jones presents each interview in the voice of the interviewee. He recorded each of his interviews and did a wonderful job preserving the speaking styles and tone of each person. They come across more like a conversation than an interview. He does not print the questions he asks so you don’t “hear” the author at all. In the style of a film documentary, you only see and hear the subject. This made for very enjoyable reading.

He talked with some of the more obvious subjects: players, coaches, managers, broadcasters, general managers, and front office executives. These people are constantly badgered by the press so you sense in their interviews that their answers are more groomed, polished, and somewhat restrained. But Jones also talks to the kinds of people who are not commonly sought after: clubhouse managers, groundskeepers, video coordinators, scorekeepers, and scouts. These are some of the more revealing interviews.

No one is left out, not even the food vendors or the ticket hustlers. Jones gets them all to talk. My favorite is the one of major league umpire Fieldin Culbreth. His insights on the pressures of being a major league umpire and how he deals with them are fascinating.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in reading about today’s game of baseball from uniquely different perspectives.

Working at the Ballpark

Author: Tom Jones

Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing

Book Review: Hammerin’ Hank, George Almighty & the Say Hey Kid

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“Mr Aaron, for every one of those bad letters you receive, there are thousands pulling for you. Good luck in your quest… after you leave the Astrodome.”

Greeting on the Astrodome scoreboard welcoming Hank Aaron during his quest to break Babe Ruth’s homerun record in 1973

–

It was a nice gesture to be sure but it underscored the pressure Hank Aaron must have been going through the year he attempted to break Babe Ruth’s record.

That drama that unfolded that year is one of several that is detailed in the book Hammerin’ Hank, George Almighty & the Say Hey Kid. The book essentially focuses on baseball during the year of 1973.

Now, when it comes to baseball history I love the 1970’s. I liked the style of play with its balance of speed, power and pitching. There were interesting players and other people of importance in the game. Before the era of “spin”, it didn’t take a scandal for a player to be “colorful”.

Author John Rosengren does a fine job picking his stories to tell. You’re not going to find a game-by-game account of the 1973 season. Rather he finds the important tales that remain relevant or at least interesting to today’s audience.

Speaking of relevance, Aaron’s story is told. Anyone who has not heard any version of it must read that chapter. There’s also Willie Mays’ last stand with the Mets. The rise of George Steinbrenner. And Orlando Cepeda making the most of the new Designated Hitter rule in Boston before his knees blow out.

Of course, Rosengen spends a lot of print on the World Champion Oakland A’s. We read much about the team interaction, with each other and with Dick Williams and Charlie O. Rosengren gives a pretty good insight into the workings of Reggie Jackson.

I’ve been asked to review books fairly often and I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed all them to some degree. But Hammerin’ Hank, George Almighty & the Say Hey Kid has got to be one of my favorite. That’s partially because I like baseball history books and because of the time period written about. But John Rosengren did his research (the book is well documented) and wrote a book that didn’t put me to sleep. THAT makes it a keeper.

Hammerin’ Hank, George Almighty & the Say Hey Kid

Author: John Rosengren

Publisher: Sourcebooks. Inc

Baseball Zealot Radio interviews Haunted Baseball author Dan Gordon

It’s spooky enough that a Red Sox fan and a Yankee fan can get together and accomplish anything but the book Haunted Baseball (which has its own brand of spookiness) is proof enough that it can happen.

Dan Gordon (the Red Sox fan) is my guest this week on Baseball Zealot Radio and he’s talking up the book. Here are the show notes:

Show Notes for Episode 37:

Hosts: Tom:

Summary: In this week’s show, I interview author Dan Gordon who has just come out with his book, Haunted Baseball: Ghosts, Curses, Legends and Eerie Events with co-author Mickey Bradley. Dan talks about the impetus to write his book and relates some of the stories he heard when he and Mickey interviewed hundreds of baseball players in researching the book.

Links:

Haunted Baseball book web site

Haunted Baseball review on The Baseball Zealot

Time: 22:28

Date Recorded: 2/5/08

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Book Review: Haunted Baseball

haubas I’m just about finishing a book called Haunted Baseball: Ghosts, Curses, Legends and Eerie Events by Mickey Bradley and Dan Gordon. 

I’m not much of a believer in the paranormal but I still found the book pretty interesting.  Don’t get scared by the title (no pun intended).  While there are plenty of stories of sightings of apparitions at ballparks and such, Haunted Baseball also details some other interesting anecdotes. 

My favorite was the section on Curses.  In today’s growing cynical society the idea of curses seems antiquated.  But I think they have a place in baseball tradition.  Of course, my Cubbies feature prominently in THAT section.  There is a whole chapter on the Curse of the Billy Goat.

Haunted Baseball details unexplained oddities, rare coincidences, and how the memories of those who have passed on (spirits, if you will) have manifested themselves in the thoughts of the living. 

There is also a very thoughtful chapter on how the events of September 11, 2001 had affected the game of baseball.  That chapter is a definite read. 

The most humorous part for me was reading about Ellis Burks’ pranks he would play on the rookies.  I won’t give away too much other than say that it involves a “haunted” elevator. 

I encourage any baseball fan, especially one who enjoys the history of baseball, to give this a read.  The anecdotes in this book run the gamut from early 20th century to modern day baseball.  I ran the premise of this book by my friend Brando and he says it’s the kind of book that’s right up his alley. 

If you want to find out more about this book, I’ll be interviewing one of the authors, Dan Gordon, on our podcast, Baseball Zealot Radio this week.  I’ll post a link once it is up. 

Here are the details:

Haunted Baseball:  Ghosts, Curses, Legends, and Eerie Events

Authors:  Mickey Bradley and Dan Gordon

Publisher:  The Lyons Press  (an Imprint of The Globe Pequot Press)

Haunted Baseball Web link

Amazon Link

Update:  You can find my interview of Dan Gordon here.

Book Review: Harvard Boys

Harvard Boys

I’m in the middle of reading Harvard Boys: A Father and Son’s Adventures Playing Minor League Baseball, right now.  I think it might appeal to some TBZ readers.  It is co-authored by a father-son duo, Rick and John Wolff. 

Harvard Boys is mostly the story of John and what happens as he chooses to play baseball after graduating from Harvard.  John (who played in the New York Mets organization) writes about living the sometimes not-so-glorious life of a minor leaguer.  He gives us a detailed look of both his on-the-field endeavors but also life outside the ballpark. 

What sets this book apart is the commentary from his father.  After designated breaks in the chapters, his father Rick, also a Harvard alum who had gone on to play pro baseball for the Tigers in the mid-70’s, responds to what John has written.  His comments speak with experience as someone who has gone through all of the same trials and tribulations that John is going through right now.  Rick doesn’t hesitate to point out the generational differences, too.  Personally, I enjoyed some of the historical anecdotes by Rick. 

John Wolff isn’t a superstar and probably will never will be.  To me, it makes this book that much more appealing. 

If you’re interested in Harvard Boys, you can get it through the publisher, SkyHorse Publishing or through Amazon.com. 

Followup:  I just found out that co-author Rick Wolff hosts a radio show Sundays at 8-9am on WFAN 66AM out of New York.  Fortunately, WFAN streams its broadcast if you’re interested in listening to Rick’s show.  Here is the show description from WFAN’s web page: 

The Sports Edge:

This lively show focuses on contemporary issues that confront the parents of athletes of all ages, from kids who are just starting out in sports, to experienced athletes on the high school varsity and beyond. Wolff’s forum usually includes a guest who is an expert in a particular area of sports parenting, and listeners are encouraged to call in with their opinions and questions on specific topics.

Recent shows have focused on high school hazing; the enforcement of “Athletic Codes of Conduct;” mandatory sportsmanship training for parents; holding athletes accountable for their deliberately violent acts during a game; and whether Creatine is healthy or hazardous for youngsters.

You can find out more from WFAN’s web site where you can also find the streaming link. 

(thanks to Joe for the heads up!)

Dr Adrian Burgos talk

I’m catching up a little here.  Here are some photos from a talk that Dr Adrian Burgos did on campus last week.  Dr Burgos is the author of Playing America’s Game: Baseball, Latinos and the Color Line.

Dr Burgos took the time to talk to a journalism student before the talk.

Dr Burgos addressing the crowd.

Dr Burgos gets around.  He made a trip to the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City where he presented his book.  After his talk at the U of I, Dr Burgos told me he was headed to Washington DC to speak at the National Archives.

If you missed the interview that we did with Dr Burgos on Baseball Zealot Radio, take a listen.  It’s definitely worth it especially for baseball history buffs.

Baseball Historian Adrian Burgos to speak at Illini Union Bookstore

I’d like to encourage any baseball fan in the C-U area to attend this event.  University of Illinois professor and baseball historian Adrian Burgos will be speaking at the Illini Union Bookstore on Wednesday at 4:30.  He’ll be plugging his latest book, Playing America’s Game:  Baseball, Latinos and the Color Line.  We interviewed Dr Burgos on Baseball … Continue reading “Baseball Historian Adrian Burgos to speak at Illini Union Bookstore”

Playing America's Game

I’d like to encourage any baseball fan in the C-U area to attend this event.  University of Illinois professor and baseball historian Adrian Burgos will be speaking at the Illini Union Bookstore on Wednesday at 4:30.  He’ll be plugging his latest book, Playing America’s Game:  Baseball, Latinos and the Color Line. 

We interviewed Dr Burgos on Baseball Zealot Radio a few shows back.  He’s a font of baseball historical knowledge (especially regarding the Negro Leagues and the role of Latinos in baseball). 

If you can’t make it to the event, you can order his book from the University of California Press. 

Hope to see you there!

 

Baseball Zealot Radio interviews Dr Adrian Burgos, author of Playing America’s Game: Baseball, Latinos and the Color Line

Show Notes for Episode 27:

Hosts: Tom

Summary: University of Illinois Professor of History Adrian Burgos has just come out with his book, Playing America’s Game: Baseball, Latinos and the Color Line, and I thought I’d have him come on and talk about it.  Dr Burgos has done extensive research on Latinos in baseball especially in relation to the Negro Leagues.  More info from the University of Illinois website…

Also, Dr Burgos played an instrumental part in the induction of the class of 2006 Negro League ballplayers.  Again more info…

For those in the Champaign-Urbana area, he will be doing a book signing at the Illini Union Bookstore on September 19 at 4:30pm (note the corrected time).

Thanks for listening!!

Time: 40:41

Date Recorded: 8/11/07

Direct Link to Episode 27

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