Filling out the Silhouette

West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life
By Jerry West and Jonathan Coleman - 2011 Little, Brown & Company

Soon after I saw the advertisement for this book, I asked an author and family friend what he thought about it. He shrugged his shoulders and very simply said that he didn't want to know.   Jerry West was such an iconic figure to him (even though he's from Boston) that he wasn't interested in a "tell all" autobiography.

Although this is a fair route to consider, there are other things to take into account when deciding on this book.   I think that a book like this demands a high level of literary skills to make it compelling and dynamic, something which this book is not. Also, it would have been better written as a biography.   Ironically, the more interesting parts of the book are when Jerry West is not talking about himself but his honest opinion of other players, coaches, and associates.   Transitions are almost non-existent, making the outline of the book a little difficult to follow.  Additionally, there are a lot of added thoughts and "last lines" that come across as unnecessary and superfluous.

This book seems like an exciting prospect at first but slowly fizzles into what Earvin Johnson is quoted as referring to "good therapy."   To be fair, Jerry West clearly states in his introduction that this book is meant to be a memoir - Jerry West is a man with memories to share - and that must be remembered to appreciate this book.  Besides, some people like good therapy.

The Art of Fielding

By Chad Harbach - 2011 Little, Brown & Company

There are a few interesting aspects about this book that must be considered for review.  In an article from last week's issue, Sports Illustrated named this book the number one in sports entertainment and media for the 2011 year.  Is it really that good?  I think that part of its high ranking comes from the fact that this is Harbach's first novel but the book is good enough that it seems he's been writing for ages.  In other words, Sports Illustrated did not simply take the story into account but also the story about the story.

For the format of the novel itself, Harbach subtly blends a high vocabulary into his book,coming across as impressive but not confusing, and as the book is divided into 82 short chapters it makes the reading easier and keeps the story moving.

From a sport's point of view, Harbarch bravely chooses to focus on the individual psychological aspects of baseball, something that took a long time for the major leagues to accept the reality of.  That Harbach chose to create a star player with Steve Blass disease shows that he is not trying to write a typically heroic, albeit classic, baseball novel, but something that dives into the deeper parts of our nation's pastime.

A nice choice for a sports-oriented reader and for fans of some of the hidden nuances of baseball.

Moneyball

The Art of Winning an Unfair Game
Michael Lewis - 2004 (2011 Reprint) Norton, W.W. & Company, Inc

The title Moneyball does not give the impression of a book that baseball fans would want to read.  It makes it seem the book really pertains to the Harvard graduates that keep appearing in it's pages.  It's not about a big market team, a classic moment in sports history or an inner city athlete making it big.  And yet, this book is good, very good.

Lewis somehow blends the story of a GM, of a team, of individuals, of saber metrics and of a revolution into one very interesting and enjoyable read.  Some chapters are more about the history of stats, some are more about an individual and throughout are sprinkled little revelations about the workings of what Lewis refers to as the "Major League Baseball Club."  This way or that, it keeps the book dynamic and the pages turning.

Clemente

The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero
David Maraniss - 2007 Simon & Shuster

A book by David Maraniss is an almost guaranteed good read and Clemente is just that.

The more interesting aspects of this book, however, are not simply about how overlooked he was playing in a small media town or that he felt his nationality defined him more that his skin color.  Rather, they include stories about his life in the off season, his relationship with certain fans and the aggravating, frustrating details surrounding one night's plane ride.

The book is fluid, interesting and worth the read.

The Mick

Mickey Mantle and Herb Gluck - 1986 Penguin Publishing (USA)

The style of writing does not call for an instant literary classic but the book is fun and anecdotal.  As it is an autobiography of The Mick by The Mick, there is a lot that is not revealed (especially compared to The Last Boy by Jane Leavy) but Mantle is frank in his storytelling.

The home run he hit when he was suffering a major hangover is a pretty familiar story but the book contains an even better or crazier one of when he and Billy Martin decided to climb onto the ledge outside their hotel room...

We Would Have Played for Nothing

Baseball Players of the 1950s and 1960s Talk About the Game They Loved
Fay Vincent - 2009 Simon & Shuster

Sequel to The Only Game in Town, a "response-sequel" to The Glory of Their Times

This book is not read for its literary style; rather it is a trascription of Fay Vincent's interviews with players from the 1950s-60s.  Because of this, it may be a little hard to get used to the style, but it does give the feel of sitting in the living room and listening in as these famous players recount their playing days.

The one thing that would make this book better would be interviews with more players, such as in The Glory of Their Times, which I would consider the better book for a number of reasons.  Each player interviewed represents a various aspects of the game or team but when looking back every and any player adds value to the account of how it was when ball players needed a job in the off season and they played for pure love of the game.

However, the Sports and Historical value along with the perspective offered by the players makes this book worth the read and great for fans too young to know or remember.

The Only Game In Town

Baseball Stars of the 1930s and 1940s Talk About the Game The Loved
(The Baseball Oral History Project, Vol.1)
Fay Vincent - 2007 Simon & Shuster

A "sequel" to The Glory of Their Times, good but not as good

It seems that the players chosen for interviews were selected because of what they represented in the days they played.  Negro Leagues, team rivalries, World War II and more are topics that affected the players careers in different ways. 

The accounts are simple and the effect is a trip down memory lane with the players.  It's a great book to have and read but the brevity and wide spectrum of players leaves gaps making one wish that more players had been included.

Bummy Davis v Murder Inc

The Rise and Fall of the Jewish Mafia and an Ill-Fated Prize Fighter
Ron Ross - 2004 St Martins Press

Bummy Davis is one of the more interesting and entertaining sports books that has ever been printed.  The writing style is extremely unique and, although it may take a page or two to get used to, it is well worth it.  Ross does an excellent job of incorporating humor, creative imagery, and a sense of familiarity to a story about a lesser-known fighter in a well known sport, time, and circumstance.

It would be difficult to single out a favorite part of this book; rather it would have to be narrowed down to a favorite from the favorites from the whole book in general. 

It's even more difficult to sum up this book in a short review but suffice it to say this is a very highly recommended and enjoyable book.

A Giant about Giants

Giants: What I Learned About Life from Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry
Pat Summerall with Michael Levin - 2010 Wiley 

For anyone ever wanting to have a conversation with Pat Summerall, this is the book to read.  The style is more casual than academic as it goes through Summerall's perspectives and experiences as a player and broadcaster.

A player in the 1958 Championship Game, the only player to be coached by Lombardi and Landry in the same season, and one of the greatest broadcasters of all time, Summerall speaks in an easy and friendly tone.  Additionally, there are no traces of arrogance or pride as Summerall frankly admits that throughout the years there were always people back home asking, "So what have you been up to lately?"

An easy and interesting read of the influences two giants had on one.

Classic Baseball Stories

Twenty-Two Legendary Stories from the Diamond
Edited by Jeff Silverman - 2003 MJF

First glance would say that this is a book of classical baseball stories about players from the turn of the century.  Although these stories are from the earlier days of baseball, they did not all necessarily happen.  This book is really a collection of baseball literature from sportswriters when baseball was in black and white (in type and photos) and the reigning national pastime.

Highlights include an article of why baseball is considered the real American sport and "Casey at the Bat," a story with a twist followed by a rebuttal written a few years after. 

Written in the laudatory style of sports writers of old and worth it for anyone interested in baseball history and the way they saw it.

The Old Ball Game

How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson and The New York Giants Created Modern Baseball
Frank Deford - 2005 Grove Press

The evident joy that Deford has in telling over the story of baseball at the turn of the century reverberates throughout the style and content of the whole book.  Although written in the praiseworthy and idealistic style of baseball of old, this does not mask the important roles Mathewson and McGraw played in giving baseball credence and turning it into a sport with respectable professionals.  

The style is different and may not be appreciated by all but the backdrop and characters are what make this book both interesting and enjoyable.

Nobody's Perfect... Well Almost Nobody

Perfect: Don Larsen's Miraculous World Series Game and the Men Who Made it Happen
Lew Paper - 2009 New American Library

Like any legendary record there is much to say about Don Larsen's perfect game and yet this book is more about the players on the field than the game itself.   Paper selects a player by the top and bottom of each inning to delve into and lead up to this momentous game in the player's career.   Paper is even careful to include a section about home base umpire Babe Pinelli, who confessed that he wanted to go out on a perfect game.

It may seem that everything has been said about the game and players and so the book is a surprisingly pleasant and enjoyable read.

Red and Me: My Coach, My Lifelong Friend

Bill Russel and Alan Steinberg - 2009 HarperCollins Publishers

Proud words by an even prouder man, Bill Russel recounts his relationship with Red Auerbach and shares his perspective on all the historic moments they created.    

Be it fan.. or not, who can resist a book by a man like Bill Russel about a personality like Red Auerbach?   

A straightforward, easy read and not too deep, it's about the respect and significance. 

When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi

David Maraniss - 1999 Simon & Shuster

I wonder why this book is called "A Life of Vince Lombardi" instead of "The Life of Vince Lombardi.   I doubt there are many other sports books let alone a book about Lombardi that are as good or as thorough as this one.  David Maraniss rightfully deserves praise as a brilliant author as this book is a comprehensive and well researched portrayal of one of the greatest sports figures of all times.

After reading this book, there is a part of me that always roots for the Pack specifically because they were his team.

Book Highlight: Vince Lombardi's initial reaction the first time he passed through Green Bay, "Who the hell would want to live in Green Bay?"

Dismantling the Mantle Myth and Legend

The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood

Jane Leavy - 2010, HarperCollins Publishers

Jane Leavy makes no qualms about being a Mickey Mantle fan, but her book attempts an unbiased approach to dismantling the myths and legend he left behind. The book is a little difficult to get into at first, as she spends a full chapter dissecting the possibilities and probabilities of the tape measure home run. It's also hard to battle any reader's initial reaction of having heard it all already in regard to a book about Mantle.  It does get more interesting as she selects a key parts of his career to delve into, including the effects all his habits had on his family and children's upbringing.

More interesting sections include the truth behind common facts about the Mick and the various incidents that reveal his true opinion of Joe DiMaggio.  Leavy adds another dimension by talking about the trading card industry and the retroactive affect it had on Mantle's career and post-baseball life.  She also creates an intriguing parallel as she explores the familiar and well loved Mick of fans and teammates and the Mick who mistreated women and alcohol.

All in all provides for a solid book and interesting read.

Mingling with Lions

Mingling with Lions: Eyewitness Recollections from the Renowned Cartoonist and Chronicler of Sports Greatest Stars 
Murray Olderman - 2004 Seven Locks Press

A very interesting book about Odlerman's experiences and views of the athletes he met or interviewed throughout the years. One of the benefits of this book is the variety of sports and the diversity of athletes and figures both from professional and college sports presented in this book. The interspersion of sketches and caricatures of these athletes and figures by Olderman further enhances the reading experience.

The greatest parts of this book are the broad spectrum Olderman covers and the frankness with which Olderman writes his about his experiences and opinions. 

Roger Maris: Baseball's Reluctant Hero

Baseball's Reluctant Hero 
Tom Clavin and Danny Peary - 2010 Simon & Shuster

Roger Maris is a familiar and controversial figure and the authors do a great job of revealing the Roger Maris the media didn't create or destroy.  Even with their help, it is hard to imagine the pressure Maris had to go through in the pursuit of Ruth's record, especially with a media and public praying that he fail.  This book portrays the real Roger Maris and affords him the respect he so deserved.

It is interesting to read about his shaky home life and real location of birth, his relationship with his teammates, and the drive and pride that made Maris the man and player he was. 

In truth, the picture on the book says it all: a man both proud and haunted, bewildered, reserved, and hurt.

The Glory of Their Times

The Glory of Their Times: The Story of the Early Days of Baseball Told by the Men Who Played It
Lawrence S. Ritter - 2010 HarperCollins Publishers

This book is hands down one of the most incredible sports books of all times.

The format for this book are interviews with baseball players who played ball at the turn of the century.   The game and the players have changed since then but the players' accounts of those times are honest and enjoyable.

Look out for great parts including: Germany Schaefer's stealing first from second and his home run exploit that follows and pictures of Tris Speaker and Smokey Joe Wood as roommates.

A fantastic read and absolute must for baseball fans.

Forever Blue

Forever Blue: The True Story of Walter O'Malley, Baseball's Most Controversial Owner, and the Dodgers of Brooklyn and Los Angeles
Michael D'Antonio - 2009 Riverhead Hardcover

This book is very well written and pretty interesting but the story itself is not very dynamic or exciting.  It better serves as a historical account than as a "baseball" book.

As the title says, the book is really about Walter O'Malley and the circumstances and decisions that led him to bring one of New York's historic franchises to California.  Mention of the players, team, managers, or seasons happen in passing and generally to fill in the story of O'Malley.

Although some may argue about the validity of this statement, the book is more about Walter O'Malley than about the Dodgers.

The Blueprint

The Blueprint: How the New England Patriots Beat the System to Create the Last Great NFL Superpower
Christopher Price - 2007 Thomas Dunne Books

Although it is interesting to about how the Patriots went from the bottom of the league to a perennial superpower this book comes across more as a fan's praise than anything else.  In general, the book is more about the growth and evolution of the team as a whole and the owner-manager relationships than about specific players, games, or great moments.

A nice book but not highly recommended for anyone not a big Patriot fan.

Go Long!

My Journey Beyond the Game and the Fame
Jerry Rice with Brian Curtis - 2007 Random House Publishing Group

As with any autobiography the book is limited to what the author chooses to include and how he chooses to approach it.  Go Long is Jerry Rice's book so he gets to write and include what Jerry Rice wants to.

The book is nice and was a very quick read but there is not a lot of depth to it.  It comes across more as Rice giving an overview of his life and career than of a recounting of an actual journey.  Rice does reveal some of his personal opinions throughout the book and in many ways the book comes across more of a shout out to his fans than anything else.   It also seemed like he spoke almost equally about his turn on Dancing with the Stars as about his football career and sentiments.

The Long Snapper

The Long Snapper: A Second Chance, A Superbowl, A Lesson for Life
Jeffery Marx - 2009 HarperCollins Publishers

The story of this book is pretty incredible and there are only so many people out there who may be able to share similar experiences.   In general, it was a nice read but the feeling is more that of an inspirational journey than of a sports book. The benefit of this is that it can be read by those unfortunate few who are not sports fans.  On the other hand, if a sports fan is looking for a book about sports than this is not the book to choose.

Facing Clemens

Facing Clemens: Hitters on Hitting Against Baseball's most Intimidating Pitcher
Jonathan Mayo - 2008 The Lyons Press

I was very exciting when I saw this book, especially with all that had been going with Clemens, and I looked forward to the insight and contest this book would help provide.  To be brutally honest, there was something very, well, boring about this book and I struggled to get through the first few chapters.  Unfortunately in the end, I didn't even make it to the end of the book, I just couldn't force myself to finish it.

Athlete

Athlete (Sports Illustrated)
Walter Iooss - 2008 Time, Incorporated Home Entertainment

First glance would seem to indicate that this book is a collection of some of the greatest sports images of all time, first glance can be misleading.  This book is not necessarily about the greatest photos (although some are included) but also about the moments that the author captured (Shaq sleeping on the Laker plane!)

In addition some images are accompanied by their anecdotes, which helps make this book a nice addition to any sports (or coffee table) collection.