Baseball Books

This is the first book I've read about Mickey Mantle and its a very good read. There are some very moving stories about the twilight years of Mickey's career and the respect and reverence felt for him by opposing teams. One act of respect - no bunting on Mickey because of his bad knees. And one opposing team pitcher deliberately threw Mickey a home run pitch just to see him hit it out of the park.

This book goes back to Mickey's childhood, and how his father would come home after working all day in the mines, go out back with Mickey and neighborhood friends and play baseball until dark. Mickey was right-handed, but his father would make him hit left-handed to teach him how to be a switch hitter (which Mickey hated having to do at the time).

This book is full of interesting stories and antedotes about Mickey's life. One thing this book did not answer for me that I have questions about: Mickey lived with another woman the last 10 years of his life, but never divorced Merlyn, his first and only wife. Why did he never divorce and remarry this woman? Why did he stay married to Merlyn? What were the reasons that Merlyn never left, or Mickey didn't?

All in all, a great book if you are wanting to learn more about Mickey Mantle.

In this book you see all the struggles this young star goes through at an early age and all through his career. You get a look at what he was dealing with everyday as an american sports hero. This book makes Mantle appear as if he starts out as an average sports star all over the limelight. But shows more of what a monster he became as his career and life progressed. Mantle was truly a national hero and this novel spotlights the qualities Mickey possesed to fully fit the part the people saw him playing. From his small life as a young boy to the big life in New York, playing for the Yankees. This book is one of the quality works of Author David Falkner. As a sports fan and an athlete i admired the life of Mickey Mantle because of the way he presented himself during all events. He was humble and seemed as if he would not harm even a pestering fly. It is my believe that to truly appreciate this book, you must first realize the grasp sports had on our culture and what athletes face while in the spotlight, after seeing that you must read this book as if you had never read a biography on a person living a perfect live, because Mantle was unable to do this. At that point you will be able to read this book and totally understand what the author and Mickey wanted to relay through writing it. In conclusion this book is one of the best books i have ever read and a must for all sports fans and followers.

The Last Hero the book about Mickey Mantle was on of the better books that I have read about Mickey. I like the way it talks about childhood days, and how he progressed through his years of baseball. Actually I thought the book was a little touching, it touched my heart. I just wish Mick would have taken better care of himself or he just might be alive today. Now I'am only 18yrs old so I never did get to see Mickey Mantle play baseball, but I have read many of the books about him, and just from reading different books on him I have realized that he was a true baseball player. Since the first time I heard about Mickey he has been my hero and will always be my hero no matter what any one says about him. To me Mickey is the best ballplayer ever the play the simple of baseball.

The book is chock full of original research on Mickey's childhood. You understand his immortal line, "If I knew I would have lived this long, I would have taken better care of myself." Falkner, rather than rehash old stories, talks with Mickey's teammates and unearths new gems. It is shame the world has lost this giant.

We bought this book as a gift for an ardent Atlanta (nee Boston, nee Milwaukee!) Braves fan. We had looked for some time to find an appropriate book, and this was a winner! Mazzone has been linked with Bobby Cox, the Braves manager, for several years and their results together have been recordbreaking. So much of the success of the Braves has had to do with the consistently high level of perfromance of their pitching staff, and Leo Mazzone has been the constant during all that time, despite turnover of the pitchers themselves. It was interesting to hear from the man himself, and the book makes excellent reading for a real baseball fan. It will be interesting to see how long the Braves maintain their pitching excellence, now that Leo Mazzone will be wearing a Baltimore uniform!

While I enjoyed the behind the scenes experience and Leo's candid discussion concerning his past and present pitchers, the book needed more beef. Too good a subject to pass an opportunity to be more in depth. Other than that, very enjoyable book!

Of the many factors influencing the Braves' stupendous run of 13 straight Division Championships, none of it is more prominent than its emphasis on pitching anchored by Leo Mazzone.

"Tales from the Braves Mound" contains anecdotes in Mazzone's career from his pitching days to his forays in the minor leagues and finally to his elevation to pitching coach with Bobby Cox as the manager of the Atlanta Braves.

The anecdotes provide some interesting tidbits such as Maddux's request to give him a mound visit because "it's lonely out there" and even Glavine's reluctance to hit a batter after his teammate was beaned by the opposing pitcher. Also, Mazzone defends his coaching philosophies which include the practice of throwing in between starts, getting the pitcher's input on how long he stays in the game, his aversion to the "wild card" format and emphasis on pitch location rather than raw power. Of course, the good coach in him refuses to dwell on the Braves' postseason failures but instead celebrates the team's successes.

Having said that, I would have liked him to make the book just a little bit longer by rating the current aces (Randy Johnson, Bartolo Colon) and sluggers (Barry Bonds, David Ortiz) and of course another chapter on the post-Maddux, Glavine era would have made the book perfect.

Even if pundits scoff at his team's postseason failures, I do believe real baseball enthusiasts including opposing players and coaches have a healthy respect for his and Cox's ability to mold a staff and in effect a team.

I have been a Brave's fan since the late eighties watching the young guns loose close games by one or two runs, especially in 89 and 90. Scott and Leo team up to give us a highly entertaining behind the scenes look of a decade and more of one of the best pitching staff's in the history of baseball. This book is well written and is a must for any true baseball fan, particularly Brave's fans. Great book Scott and Leo!

It is a book about a hero that evrybody thought was perfect. In this book you get to see the life behind the face. There are so many legend and this book so the truth and tells you the miths.

every sentence filled with facts. research done is tremendous. best sports book i ever read.

This biography, although scholarly, is entertaining throughout and easily read. Smelser was a life long baseball fan and his love of the game animates every page. As an undergraduate at Notre Dame, I studied under the author. Now deceased, he was a professor of history. Smelser demanded from his students the thorough research he displays in this book. But he was also a wonderful storyteller. Both qualities are apparent in this work. Like the best biographers, the author has only mild affection for his subject. The Babe's qualities and failings get equal attention. But today, when the word "superstar" is wildly overrused, you see the extraordinary level of fame this man achieved. If you really want to understand the Babe's life, read this book.

Some legends are larger than life. Some legends are made up. Then there's Babe Ruth, than man by which all other baseball players are measured, even today. George Herman Ruth comes to life in this riveting, yet easy to read biography by Marshall Smelser.

You follow the bambino from his early days at St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys to his early days with the Boston Red Sox. You read about his turmoil with the fans, his trade to the New York Yankees, that later became the curse of the Bambino.

Smelser's accounts of Ruth's life from his first wife to the run ins with Yankees manager Miller Huggins to the called shot in the 1934 World Series and so many others, will have laughing on minute and on the brink of tears the very next.

I have always been a great Babe Ruth fan; so reviewing this book was a no brainer. Smelser writing style made it easy for me to read along and finally get a true picture of the man so many either loved or hated. I would highly recommend this book to any serious baseball fan!

This book is perfect for the little ones into baseball!! My sons both wanted to keep reading chapter after chapter! It is such a warm, loving story with great values!

I bought this for my seven year old grandson. His parents read it to him over a few nights. He truly got into the story and the suspense and the feelings of the characters. My daughter-in-law said she wished modern books were so engaging for children. No wonder it is still selling.

Good book to use as first chapter book with boys reading (instructionally) at early third grade level. The names are kind of outdated, but it's hard to find a real book at lower reading levels. This one fills the bill.

After reading the first couple of chapters of THE LUCKY BASEBALL BAT, I had to go back to the copyright page to see just when this book was written. After all, the hero of the story, a young boy named Martin and his younger sister Jeannie are invited into the house of Barry Welton, a teenager they had just met after Martin had an unfortunate incident on the ball field that left him sad and disillusioned.

Can you imagine something like this being written in 2004, without sinister consequences? But a brief look indicated that this engaging story was written in 1954; it has been re-released by Little, Brown to celebrate the Golden Anniversary of the first offering of the prolific children's author Matt Christopher.

Indeed, reading THE LUCKY BASEBALL BAT is like stepping into a time warp, similar to viewing an episode of "Leave it to Beaver" or "Father Knows Best." If only we could enjoy those simpler days again, when parents didn't have to worry (as much) about the intentions of strangers; when kids were grateful for small pleasures, such as succeeding in sports, without the distractions of television, computers, or other impediments to childhood. Martin's depiction, as well as the exposition of his family's relationship, is so foreign to modern sensibilities (unfortunately so) that Christopher could well have written his debut book in 1854.

Even the simple illustrations by Robert Henneberger denote an era long gone, before manga became the dominant expression artwork directed at young people.

Martin is the new kid in town, anxious to prove himself on the diamond. First impressions get him off to a poor start until Barry, a star athlete, gives him one of his old bats, which transforms the youngster into a hitting machine and helps change the minds of his formerly ambivalent teammates.

When the bat is broken during a game, Martin, with the help of some other newfound friends, learns that the power lies within him, not in a piece of wood. The lesson seems obvious in today's know-it-all world, but it still has a certain charm, at least to people of a certain age. Indeed, parents (and grandparents) might find this tale more enjoyable than their offspring.

Progress has offered kids and their families vast opportunities. Still, there's something to be said for the simple pleasures of a less hectic period.

--- Reviewed by Ron Kaplan (ronk23@aol.com)

This book is great! Not only does it provide a wealth of information about the 2001 games, but captures the passion of the season. I watched so many of the games on TV myself that I wanted something to help me remember what a fun time the Seattle Mariners gave us. This book - Mariners Magical Season - is it. KUDOS! KUDOS! KUDOS! and thanks for writing this book!

I had the good fortune to be able to read a fair amount of this book in the final galley proof just prior to it's going to the printer. Even for a casual baseball fan, this is a page turner. Yes, it has plenty of stats for the most diehard of fans, but it is a beautifully textured and "human" read. It puts the reader on the sidelines, in the dugout, behind homeplate, at all the bases, in the outfield, in the locker-room, in the stands, and inside the mind of a remarkable team. It also weaves in the tragedy of Sept 11, 2001, and the effects on spectator sports, the players, and the special inspiration that baseball provided our country, and perhaps, all the world, at a dark time. This book is about triumph in the finest sense.

I picked this book up as a luke warm Mariners fan and couldn't put it down! The player bios and day to day chronicling of each day of the team's season are a valuable addition to the library of any baseball fan.

I'll keep this short and to the point . . . If you are a Mariners fan, or just have a love for the game of baseball, it is necessary for you to check out "Mariners Magical Season" by Stan Emert and Mike Siegel. This book takes you on the ride with the Mariners as they enjoy their incredible run. It is insightful, an enjoyable read, and makes you eagerly anticipate the M's upcoming season. Reading this book will give you the feeling of sitting at Safeco field and experiencing the SoDo Mojo yourself! Check it out!

Big Mac truly saved Baseball along with Sammy Sosa back in the summer of 1998. He was a Great Hitter all through His career&He deserves his place in cooperstown. this Book is a solid Read.MCgwire was always bad from his Days in Oakland through the End in St Louis. Big Mac is the truth&he should be a Hall of Famer easily.

Mark McGwire, the only person to hit 70 homeruns in a single season. He did this in his last season of profesional base ball in 1998 on the St. Louis Cardinals. He was on the Oakland A's for 12 years and was on the St. Louis Cardinals for 4 years. He played first base. He bats right and throws roght also. he is 6'4", just like my dad. Mark weighs about 250 pounds. Born October 1, 1963 in California. McGwire went to the University on Southern California. He was Oaklands first draft pick.(tenth over all). Throughtout the 1998 season the nation watched Mcgwire to see if he would break the 62 home runs in a season. Indead he did and everybody congradulated him. But best of all. His best friend and fan, Sammy Sosa. Many people said he took steroroids, but i do not belive that and neither does this author.

Mark started off as a rookie in 1986. He was drafted to the Oakland A's. When Mark was a kid he actually hated baseball and loved golf, but his parent's told him they really wanted him to play baseball so Mark finally agreed and at his first at bat he hit a home run. When Mark was in his teenage years he was asked to join the California All-star team and he hit a ball into Mexico. It just happened to be that they were playing on the border of California and Mexico. In high school he had to quit the team he was playing on because of a knee injury but Mark was so good in baseball he was awarded a scholarship. In Mark's professional years he is probably going to be most famous for hitting 62, home runs but when he started he was horrible .Mark said it was a slump but the media thought different but after he starting hitting well, he was right. It was a slump. I really enjoyed reading the book Mark McGwire because it was very interesting and exciting I would recommend this book to anyone.

This book is a an excellent re-cap of Mark McGwire's career and a thorough look at his head to head competition with Sammy Sosa. The writer does a very good job of portraying McGwire as hero to both parents and children. A perfect book for anyone interested in this fine baseball player.

The book begins with the excitement following the
opening debut of Mickey Mantle. The team line-ups
are set forth, as well as the Yankee 5-0 victory.

The author has a memorable chapter on Mantle's
formative years which traversed the Great Depression.
His father, Mutt Mantle, knew that a return to heavy
labor in the mines was inevitable for supporting the
family.

The volume contains a series of memorable black/white
pictures. i.e.
o Mickey with twin brothers Ray, Roy and sister Barbara
o the ballplayer with his Uncle Luther Richardson
o Mickey #14 basketball player in high school
o the ballplayer with the Whiz Kids of Baxter Springs,KS
o Mickey with the Joplin Miners
o Mickey with his mother
o the ballplayer at spring training in Phoenix, AZ
o Spring training, Mickey and the coach, Mickey reading
o Mickey and the World Series

There is a very extensive bibliography,end note section
and index. The book would be a splendid acquisition for
the sports enthusiast in your house.

One day in the 1970's, the conversation between and a coworker and I drifted to great baseball players. He told me that when he was a child, he would have sold his soul for a Mickey Mantle baseball card. That sums up the feelings many of us had for Mickey Mantle. He was an astonishing player, had he not been injured and forced to play with pain all those years, it is likely that he would have set records that even the steroid powered modern players could not have touched.
This book is an account of Mickey's play in 1951, his rookie year with the Yankees. While the emphasis is on Mickey and his play that season, there is enough background so that you can understand the relationship that he had with his father Elvin (Mutt) Mantle. It was a close one, yet Mutt was always tough with Mickey, reminding him how hard life is. That firmness was necessary when Mickey was contemplating dropping baseball and returning to Oklahoma. This would have meant a return to the zinc mines and quite likely an early death.
Glueckstein writes with a masked deep feeling, he maintains objectivity, yet you can see the passion he has for the subject. I started the book late in the evening and finished it early the following morning, stopping only for the necessary nature breaks. This is a book that all fans of the great Mickey and baseball will enjoy.

Though I'm a diehard Red Sox fan, I'm a baseball fan first. So when Mickey Mantle: Rookie In Pinstripes came my way it was a must-read, and what a fascinating book it is. Picture it -- a nineteen-year-old kid from Oklahoma signing a contract with the legendary New York Yankees, shaking the alkaline dust of the zinc mines off his cleats to live every boy's dream. What a uniquely American adventure!

Mickey's father, Elvin Mantle, worked tirelessly on his oldest son's baseball training, insisting that he bat from both sides of the plate. Everybody loves a switch-hitter, and if that boy runs like the wind, so much the better. Mickey's natural sports ability went beyond baseball: he was a talented football player in high school, though his career in that sport was marred by severe osteomyelitis after he was kicked in the shin. The osteomyelitis kept him out of the draft; his local draft board called him up three times for an exam, on each occasion finding him 4-F / physically unfit to serve.

The 1951 Yankees were a roster of baseball royalty, among them Joe DiMaggio in his last season; Yogi Berra; and Phil Rizzuto. They were managed by the incomparable Casey Stengel. Mickey was thrown into the deep end of this pool -- and into the outfield though he had always been an infielder. A batting slump earned him a mid-season stint in the minors but he was back with the Yankees to help clinch the American League pennant and score his first World Series hit against the National League's New York Giants -- yes, it was a "subway series" in 1951.

Besides the fascinating intimate details of the great Mickey Mantle, this little book simply crackles with ballpark atmosphere. Author Fred Glueckstein enlightens us on living and travel arrangements, the financial realities, and Mickey's letters to the girl back home. The play-by-plays bring the games to life. Perfectly pitched at its young adult audience, Mickey Mantle: Rookie In Pinstripes offers readers and fans of all ages the chance to spend an amazing summer with one of our greatest American sports legends. I recommend it highly.

Linda Bulger, 2008

One of the most famous and beloved baseball legends of all times is Mickey Mantle. Many books and articles have been written about the sports hero. In his book, Mickey Mantle, Rookie in Pinstripes, author Fred Glueckstein, delivers an in-depth account of Mickey Mantle's life covering his early life to his 1951 rookie year.

Glueckstein presents a comprehensive story of how events in Mickey's young life, particularly his relationship with his father, early teammates and coaches, as well as significant incidents that influenced and shaped him to become a baseball legend. Glueckstein chronicles his childhood as a "shy youngster with blond hair and freckles from rural Oklahoma." Raised in a family with a strong work ethic, readers will gain insight into the deep connection Mickey had with his father and the trials and tribulations he faced and conquered. Not only do we gain insight into his personal struggles, Glueckstein also shares the influences of such baseball greats as Yogi Berra, Hank Bauer and Phil Rizzuto. Memorable events such as meeting Joe DiMaggio were both emotional and inspiring: "With Joe DiMaggio, I couldn't even mumble hello. It was as if you needed an appointment just to approach him." As well, readers will discover how other baseball legends felt about Mickey.

Along with a very detailed account of Mickey's childhood and rookie year, Glueckstein is able to capture the excitement of the era making one feel as though they are reliving legendary moments in baseball history. What makes the story such a fascinating and compelling read, is how much research went into writing the book which includes documented conversations, letters, pictures of Mickey during childhood, and baseball stats. The book is skillfully crafted to allow readers to see a personal side of Mickey that was burdened with such struggles as personal loss, overcoming weaknesses in terms of playing performance, and the pain endured from physical injuries. Readers will gain a candid look into how the baseball legend was made with the strong influence of his father shaping his determination, resolve, dedication, and the love of the game. It is an inspiring story of never giving up on a dream.

Mickey Mantle is highly recommended not only to baseball fans, but to readers who enjoy stories about sports legends that understood that the driving force for success wasn't fame or fortune, but the true love of the game.

Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services

My nephew called me to tell me how much he enjoyed the book after his mother read it to him.

Yet...he lives to tell about it. This is Mr. Bounce. He is no Mr. Tickle. He does not CRAVE social interaction. He does not demand that the small world of the Mr. Men bow down to his whims. NO, Mr. Bounce is more ... manly than that.

The vigor of his physical nature is matched by his personal resilience, he is always willing to carry on, even though he must bounce unexpectedly.

"Unexpectedly, you say? How can that be unexpected? His name is Mr. Bounce!"

I'll tell you how it is UNEXPECTED! Mr. Bounce can bounce off ANYTHING! Even unbouncable products. Nothing can contain him, yet something does! His own sense of propriety, perhaps? His own limitations that being able to break the laws of physics does not allow one to break social laws?

Mr. Bounce is the Jane Austen character we have been dreaming of for children ages 4-8.

Another Mr. Men book I own that I would say is one of the top 5 in the twenty or so we've bought for our son. Poor Mr. Bounce goes to town to see Dr. Makeyouwell so he would stop bouncing about quite so much. But along the way to town he becomes part of a tennis game (ow, ouch, oooowwww) and bounces off the bus, through the window, and straight into a hot cup of Dr. Makeyouwell's coffee!! Mr. Bounce is then outfitted with a pair of heavy boots but.....Mr. Bounce should have bought a better house! (Crash)
A must have for your little one's Mr. Men collection.

This is a really cute and funny book (as all of Roger Hargreave's Mr Menand Little Miss books).
Mr Bounce's problem is not being able to do anything without bouncing. Buy the book and see how he got help! Also I enjoy reading this.

This is a fascinating book because it combines the drama of a murder mystery, sabotage, and baseball against a backdrop of American fear of German culture during World War I. I found the social commentary fascinating, and wondered about the accuracy of the times. Our hero (Mickey Rawlings) is trying to solve the murder of a teammate with the misfortune of having a German name. He gets involved in a anti-German society that sounds like the Ku Klux Klan, rubbing elbows with some scary hatemongers. He also gets involved with some suspicious baseball team owners. When other bodies start to fall, the mystery deepens. Throughout it all, Mickey is struggling with his patriotic duty versus his love for the game of baseball.

I loved this book.

Mr. Soos does a very good job with the plot by not trying to cram too much into the book. Youc an follow the plot lines yet still be surprised at how it turns out. A little light on the baseball part but it doesn't hurt the book at all.

In 1918 Mickey Rawlings, no longer a rookie, plays for the Chicago Cubs in the midst of America's anti-German hysteria during the hot days of World War I. His buddy, rookie Willie Kaiser, tormented by fans and teammates, becomes moody and morose and Mickey worries about him. Meanwhile someone begins a campaign of harassment against the team. He releases smoke bombs, saws bleacher seats so they collapse, and puts pretzels at all concessions stands so the team is vilified in the press for being pro-German. To cap it all off, someone reduces Mickey to cold showers by stealing his hot water heater.

When Charles Weeghmann, builder of the field and President of the Cubs, suspects William Wrigley is the saboteur because he wants to take over the tea, he asks Mickey to investigate. Then, in the midst of the on-field 4th of July celebration, Willie Kaiser dies of a gunshot wound.

If Soos intends to portray the tenor of the times as well as to present a Q story as intriguing as Bobby Thompson's home run, and a character as irresistible as a beer and hot dog (and I'm sure he does),I'd say he's batting at least .450.

The appealing and resourceful Mickey probes at the very source of America's neuroses at a time when the music of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven is banned, the director of the Boston Symphony jailed for playing German music, German-Americans are being lynched, and even innocent Dachshunds and German shepherds neglected or killed. But the world will right itself again, and even professional baseball survives the turmoil.

Soos's characters are fully developed and intriguing. His portrait of an earlier America in the throes of war hysteria says a lot to us today. We can take the warning to heart. There are no lectures here, though, just a rousing good tale.

This is the third in the Mickey Rawlings series ("Murder at Fenway Park" and "Murder at Ebbetts Field" precede it). Rawlings, a utility infielder who gets traded more often than baseball cards, again finds himself nearby when a murder is committed. This time it is a fellow Cubs teammate, Willy Kaiser. Willy is Rawlings' friend and he vows to track down the killer. Could it be: 1. A player Willy displaced at shortstop, out to get revenge? 2. Another baseball club owner out to destroy the Cubs? 3. Any one of the many citizens whipped into a frenzy by the anti-war propoganda being spread around the US? The plot gets pretty thick as Mickey teams up with his old newspaper buddy, Landfors, to try to sort out fact from fiction. There are many colorful characters we meet on the way including ballplayers, owners, factory workers, German immigrants, businessmen, and members of an anti-war organization. Mickey is in only slightly less danger than in the earlier books. The real danger seems to be that he'll be cut from the team and forced to travel to Europe to fight for his country. Although I'm not a scholar of the period (1918), the descriptions seem to be accurate enough and some of the characters are not fictional (though their actions are) in order to end more realism to the work.

This is a beautiful book with over 150 photos of Negro League Baseball players, each with a concise, informative, interesting synopsis of the picture and player. For any baseball fan, photography fan, and student of African American life, this is a wonderful book.

Reviwer: Bob Kellemen is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction , Spiritual Friends, and Soul Physicians.

Facinating insight into this era of Baseball . The marvellous photographs effectively communicate many aspects of the time . Accompanying essay very informative and has wet my appetite to learn more about the history of the Negro League.

I was one of the lucky ones that got to view this book before it went to print. I'm a professional sports writer and was impressed with not only the text that goes with this book, but some of the pictures that are within its covers. Baseball is my passion and there are certainly plenty of great images in baseball history ("The Catch", Maz's home run, Fisk's HR, etc.), but this provides a different light to both professional baseball and the Negro Leagues. Withers provides a perspective and view on the lifestyle, mannerisms and actions of the Negro Leagues that I've never seen before. I highly reccomend this book to anyone who's interested in baseball history.

The foreward in this book is particularly touching, as it comes straight from the source, Willie Mays, a Negro League and MLB legend. It is a perfect complement to the wonderful photos of this great era from Mr. Withers.