“Welcome back my
friends, to the show that never ends…”
-Karn Evil 9: Emerson, Lake and Palmer
-Every baseball fan in the world on Opening Day
Happy Opening Day, friends!
The Mets sure opened in style, with THOR taking control over 6 before a blister
ended his dominance for the day! We’ve dreamed about this day since last year’s
Wild Card loss to the Giants of San Francisco, but baseball was all around us
all off-season long!
Once upon a long ago, the
only remnants of the game we love during those long Winter months came via
Baseball Digest, The Sporting News and Topps Baseball Cards, which didn’t come
out nearly as early as they do now. Imagine that- no internet, barely any
newspaper coverage, no MLB Network, no Baseball America- need I go on? What to
do, then, for a baseball lover during that long, long off-season?
In 1972 my dad, a
school-teacher and rabid sports fan, introduced me to the only thing that
helped me navigate those long, days of baseball-free winter: BASEBALL BOOKS!!!!
I was a sponge- 8 years old, reading on a near-College level, desperate for the
sound of the crack of a bat hitting a ball and ready and willing to read about
any player or team who participated in this game we so love! The books came in
all forms- from annual editions of “Who’s Who In Baseball” to biographies of
Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson to back issues of the
previously mentioned “Baseball Digest.” For a kid, I started to develop quite a
library, and within 2 years I had a pretty impressive bookcase filled about 90%
with books about our beloved pastime! I’m happy to say that I still own about
30 of those books, the original copies, and have replaced probably 100 more
with various newer editions or used copies via that wonderful book marketplace,
also referred to as most as “the internet.”
We are fortunate to be
living in a world where information is available with the touch of a switch and
that same convenience has enabled authors of all skillsets and training to
publish books of all sorts covering every aspect of the “national pastime.” Now, fans, professional journalists, published
authors and historians alike can see their work displayed side-by-side at a
Barnes and Noble (those that still exist) and on the same upcoming release
list on Amazon. Today, in part 1 of my Baseball Book Reviews, we run that gamut
of authors, and we will be focusing on Mets-related books, of which there were
many, as well as the best baseball book I have read since picking up a copy of
Jim Bouton’s legendary “Ball Four” for the first time, back in 1973.
This has been
an off-season that saw the release of a plethora of great, new baseball books
being released, and as a result, we’ll go in-depth on a handful here, and next
week, we’ll have a capsule summary of about 10-12 more, depending upon how many
I can finish reading this week. I also plan on 2 additional posts, later in
April or early May, covering some of the older releases that I was able to
purchase online to add to my (ever-growing) library, as well as some additional
releases that I have yet to receive, on subjects ranging from Hank Greenberg to
Rick Ankiel. Enjoy part 1, and if you have either any questions about any of
these books, or wish to add recommendations, please comment below!
And, as
always, LET’S GO METS!!!!!
CASEY STENGEL: BASEBALL’S GREATEST
CHARACTER
By Marty Appel
When I was 8 years old, in 1972, I remember
watching a New York Mets game with my dad, and during a rain delay WWOR TV showed
some old Mets footage from 1962, their inaugural season. Prominent in the
footage was their first manager, one Charles Dillon Stengel, and his
double-talk, or "Stengelese" was both amusing and confusing to an 8
year old fan. I asked my dad why a baseball team would hire someone to be their
manager who was such a clown. My dad's response was along the lines of
"not judging a book by it's cover," and he explained to me a bit
about Stengel's career as both a quality major leaguer who once played for his
beloved NY Giants, as well as his very successful career with the crosstown
rival Yankees. I was intrigued by this man, able to simultaneously attract
people to his persona yet, underneath the facade was a brilliant manager who
was able to take the lessons he learned from old masters like John McGraw and
expand upon them and make them his own.
A number of years later, I had the great fortune
to receive a copy of Robert Creamer's bio of Casey back in 1985, as a present
from my dad, and like everything Creamer wrote, you could look at it as a
"definitive work" on his subject. However, since his Casey bio was
written, the ability to receive information and conduct research has improved
exponentially and therefore a great deal of information that previously wasn't
available about Casey's early playing career was now readily accessible.
Marty Appel's research, as always, is
astounding, leaving no stone un-turned, and his hard work paid off as he was
able to access an unpublished manuscript written by Casey's late wife, Edna,
which offered great insight into both their relationship as well as a wealth of
additional information about Casey's long, illustrious career. A truly
three-dimensional portrait came to life of this amazing man, whose career
spanned from Christy Mathewson and Babe Ruth to Mickey Mantle and Tom Seaver.
The span of Casey's career could certainly lead to a rousing game of "Six
Degrees of Casey Stengel!" But why another book about Casey? Well, MLB
Network began a series of specials, entitled "Prime 9" not long after
debuting, and in 2009 an episode entitled "Baseball's Greatest
Characters" named Casey their number one Greatest Character. The seed was
planted- writing the definitive book about Stengel; the thought of finding new
information about Stengel was the challenge, but no moreso then writing books
that deftly and succinctly covered the entire history of baseball's greatest
team ("Pinstripe Empire") or crafting a biography about the late,
great Thurman Munson ("Munson: The Life and Death of a Yankee
Captain") many years after helping Munson write his autobiography. I am
happy to report- for all three books, but in particular with "Casey"
- challenge was accepted, and challenge was MORE than delivered upon with
amazing success!!!
The beauty of reading a book written by Marty
Appel is that, while engaged, you hear the "voice" of the subject
shining through at all times, perhaps the best thing you can say about a
biographer. Appel's words not only bring Casey and an incredible cast of
characters to life, but they allow you to experience events as if they were
happening in front of you, without judgement, without agendas, devoid of
anything other than the subject and his circumstances. Appel has crafted a work
of biographical art, adding new information to a man of whom there's been no
shortage of books and articles written about over the years, some 42 years
after his passing. This shouldn't surprise anyone who has read any of Appel's
past works, especially his recent books "Munson" and "Pinstripe
Empire." It's ironic that one of my very favorite authors specializes in
Yankee's history, of course, having been named the youngest PR Director in
baseball history when iconic Yankee's owner George Steinbrenner appointed him
to the position in 1973. Ironic, because I was raised and remain a raving fan
of the NY Mets (some would say "raving mad"), which in itself should
tell you just how great of an author Appel truly is. In fact, I have purchased
a number of copies of "Pinstripe Empire" for fellow Mets' fan friends,
and to a person they raved about this incredible portrait of a truly reviled
(and often hated) city rival. I've now purchased an equal number of copies of
"Casey Stengel: Baseball's Greatest Character" for the same people,
and I can't wait to hear how much they've enjoyed this incredible book.
Judge for yourself- by all means, wrhether
you're a fan of the Yankees, Mets, any baseball team, sports in general or just
a fan of great biographies, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. The
life of Casey Stengel was, and always will be - amazin' amazin' amazin' amazin'
amazin' amazin' amazin'!!!! Thank you, Marty Appel, for showing everyone why...and
thank you for making Casey’s life relevant again for the many new fans who only
have seen him, if at all, as the same clown I thought he was upon my first
glance!
RATING: Amazin’ Amazin’ Amazin’ Amazin’
PIAZZA: CATCHER, SLUGGER, ICON, STAR
By Greg Prince
Greg is the co-author of the
great Mets’ blog, “Faith and Fear in Flushing” and also grew up in the town
next to mine, although we never “met” in all those years of frequenting the
same pizzerias, supermarkets, et al. It was only my move to California that
brought Greg into my “world” as I sought out fellow Mets fans online and came
across his blog, about a year after it began, somewhere around 2006. Since that
time, although we are have been Facebook “friends” for quite a while, I have to
admit that other than the random “like” here or there, we haven’t engaged in
much conversation. I attribute that mostly to the fact that, through his fantastic
blog, I feel that I know him, through mutual suffering and angst via this team
we live and die with. Greg’s books come from the standpoint of fellow fan, and
sometimes, during the not so wonderful seasons (and of those, we have seen FAR
too many), it’s that much harder to relive something that you’d sooner prefer
to forget. It’s in those moments that the brilliance and relevance of Greg’s
writing shines through, as we do review those losses, those blown games, those
bad trades, although this time we are doing it together, sharing these setbacks
that seem tragic at first, only to grow less hurtful as the wounds cauterize
with time.
Greg’s latest book, “Piazza”
comes a mere 3 years after the catcher released his autobiography, the aptly
titled “Long Shot.” I have to admit that, even after meeting Mike and having
him autograph my book at a signing out here in SoCal, I wanted to enjoy his
book more, the way I LOVED discovering him as a Dodger, watching him tutor my
younger daughter in how to keep her swing level at a baseball camp in the
mid-90’s, and reveled – REVELED- in having him become a Met in an incredibly lucky
series of circumstances in 1998! I still remember the shock and disbelief at
the acquisition, as he was, at that time, my favorite non-Met in the game- by
FAR!! Having met him, shook his hand, watched him instruct my daughter and
those of so many other fathers, and even attended multiple (hated) Dodger games
(ones versus the Mets and many more versus other opponents) to witness his
extraordinary bat in person, the thought that being deprived of watching him in
person was forced to the back of my mind by the thought of getting to watch him
in pinstripes- OUR pinstripes- the Orange and Blue colors replacing the Blue
and White of Brooklyn lore! It meant that I would only get to see him hit when
the Dodgers played the Mets (in person and on TV), as well as the Braves (via
TBS) and the Cubs (via WGN) as MLB TV did not yet exist. I was incredibly happy
to learn that my in-laws, who lived a mere 25 minutes away, somehow had a
better cable system that we did and it included MSG, WPIX, WWOR and Sports
Channel NY (I learned a few years later that my late father-in-law had one of
those “illegal black boxes” hence the expanded channel line-up)! Thereafter, it
wasn’t unusual to “happen” to visit the in-laws on the day of a particularly
important Mets game, and IF the game HAPPENED to be on while we were visiting,
well, wasn’t THAT a fortuitous coincidence.
Lifelong Mets’ fans saw the
Piazza acquisition in line with those of Donn Clendenon, Keith Hernandez and
Gary Carter, all of which led to World Series championships. This one, however,
was different, very different, because, although he had been “raised” in a
different organization like the others, his career wasn’t even at its midway
point and he was young enough that, if he continued the trajectory his career
was taking, he’d be a surefire Hall of Famer and, perhaps, if we were lucky
enough to keep him wearing the “NY” on his hat, maybe it would happen in a Mets’
uniform.
Prince’s book takes you
through all of this, what Piazza’s acquisition really meant to us, as Mets’
fans, how watching him in that uniform gave us renewed pride, success and hope,
and ultimately, what entering the Hall of Fame last summer meant to each of us
still. The details mattered then, and they matter now, and there’s no better
fan then Prince to both share them with those new to these details and those
reliving them once again. Like Tom Seaver, of whom Prince begins this journey
with, Piazza didn’t end his career with the Mets and, like Seaver, his
departure wasn’t easy on the team, the fans OR the player. That’s why this book
is more relatable to a Mets’ fan than Piazza’s own bio, as it takes a raving
fan to be able to truly put what this meant in a way that readers can
understand whether or not you were a fan of the team or just baseball in
general. Seaver was our first Hall of Famer; Piazza, our most recent. In
between? Nothing. The team has had multiple Hall of Famers come through their
clubhouse, but none who stayed long enough to see the team earn their logo on
the player’s plaques in Cooperstown. Prince covers these subjects with his
usual thoroughness, but in a way that makes the reader feel as if they were
sitting together, grabbing a slice of pizza at Gino’s in Long Beach,
reminiscing about old number 31 once more. It’s a conversation I’m glad to have
had, once more, reading Prince’s great account of OUR Hall of Famer, Michael
Joseph Piazza!!!
RATING: A Hit On Clemens’ Head with a Bat!!!
FASTBALL JOHN
By John D’Aquisto
I still remember reading
Ball Four as a kid. It was a paperback copy, already somewhat beaten up, as it
was my dad’s copy, one he had read while riding the LIRR in the summertime, and
it was about 5 years old already, having been released in 1970. It was
eye-opening, especially as a 10 year old, baseball-loving kid. I recognized
most of the names, but I hadn't seen the majority of the players in action.
Unlike Bouton, who played the majority of his career just before my time, I vividly remember John D'Acquisto's career, to
the point of my dad telling me to watch this kid because he's going to be
another Nolan Ryan; may take 4-5 years to get his stuff together, like Ryan, but you can't teach that heat!!!! Well, John's
career might not have hit the statistical heights Ryan's did (and, after all,
no one else will, either), but his life, in and outside the game, is indeed one
that is Hall of Fame worthy!
Brutally honest, John peels back layers rarely,
if ever, disclosed by athletes, from his high school days as a phenom, to
wading through being drafted by the Giants; from tearing up the minors (on and
OFF the field) to finally making it to the bigs; and, most importantly,
reaching what you always dreamed about and what it was actually like to
accomplish it.
All the things we look for in a great novel are
here- a hero, his love (loves), the family offering support, the mentors
guiding our hero through various landmines, the "evil" that lurks
behind various minor league towns, making it big, losing his way, redemption,
great loss, trust gone wrong, redemption and, ultimately, allowing all of us to
feel it as it happened.
John's vivid recall, combined with the seasoned
hand of veteran author Dave Jordan make "Fastball John" the worthy
2016 successor to "Ball Four." AND- for me- having followed John's
career with the Giants (the team of my father's childhood) and the California
Angels (my 2nd favorite team of all time), it was great to learn why this
fastballer's career took the paths it did- so thank you, John, for sharing your
amazing life with us, warts and all!!!
Last and not least, if you had to do it all
again, would you learn to throw a devastating change-up from the get-go??
RATING: Brings The High Heat!!!
DYNASTIC, BOMBASTIC, FANTASTIC
By Jason Turbow
I have a confession to make- I LOVED those “Swingin’ A’s” of
the early/mid-70’s, in spite of the fact that they played in the same division
as my beloved Angels, in spite of the fact that they defeated my MOST beloved
Mets in the 1973 World Series. They were, perhaps, the most INTERESTING team of
all time, if not the best (and that’s still debatable with Yankees’ fans
everywhere). As a result, I’ve read at least 8 books about those teams, and
they’ve run the gamut from insightful to mostly a recounting of games, but each
one added something to the legend of this wild and whacky bunch that won 3
World Series in a row, a number that very easily could have numbered 5 instead.
The team was well-laden with characters that the most
inventive novelist or screenwriter would be hard-pressed to come up with on
their own! From the crushing ego of Reggie to the mistreated Vida; from the
under-rated Rudi to the simplistic beauty of Catfish; all incredible in their
own right, all failing in comparison to the overwhelming owner, the legendary
owner, Charles O. Finley, deserving of the title of this book on his own
volition! Although many details have come out over the years about the various idiosyncrasies
of this team, this is the first book that not only captures all of them but
also brings new information to light for the first time, at least to the
general public.
The players and, in particular, the owner, were fortunate to
have played long before the invention of Social Media. In fact, most baseball
journalists during the early/mid-70’s still covered up many of the off-field
details that certainly would have led to scandals in that day and age. Still,
as the weird, strange and offbeat details started to emerge from the city of
Oakland, it was all journalists could do to NOT disclose them, as the story
that evolved was one too rich to remain bar-room conversation exclusively. The
team was successful in spite of itself, in spite of an owner who was the
biggest character of them all, in spite of the fact that various teams they
faced were so great in their own right that a lucky break here or there and the
Reds or Tigers or Orioles would have been the Dynasty we would be referring too
instead of the men of the Green and Gold!
Part of me wishes to disclose the circumstances that nearly
crushed Vida Blue’s career, or the
reason behind Catfish Hunter’s free agency, or the fight between Mike Epstein
and Reggie Jackson that almost ended in the Yankee’s losing their future
slugger-to-be! However, the greatness of this book lies not only in the
writing, which flows like an incredible novel, but in the details themselves,
of these instances as well as the trades that almost didn’t happen and those
that did, the battles with the Commissioner, the teams they faced, their owner
who almost single-handedly destroyed the team from within, but most of all the
winning that came in spite of all of this!
Forgo the various chapters and snippets that have been published
online, and opt instead to reward Turbow’s thoroughness and insight that
resulted in, by far, the greatest recounting of this legendary team by
purchasing the book yourself and delighting in the many surprises as they
happen. You’ll be really glad that you did!!
RATING: A Gold and Green Delight!!!!
ALL OF THESE BOOKS CAN BE PURCHASED AT YOUR
LOCAL BOOKSTORE OR VIA AMAZON.COM!!!
NEXT WEEK: Part
2 – The Happy and Brief Recaps (of many more baseball books!) - and NOT all of them are 5 star reviews, either!
