And so we begin…Parenting, Phase 3
May 2013
I'm 53 today. I'm heading out for a hike soon, and then we're having a birthday dinner. Alex made a carrot cake. Last night I finished a book called "Why We Love Baseball -- a History in 50 Moments" by Joe Posnanski. Shani got it for me for Christmas and I absolutely loved it. It's … Continue reading Book Review and Birthday Ramblings
It started with a simple podcast. The Forgotten League. It's created and narrated by Vanessa Ivy Rose, the granddaughter of Norman "Turkey" Stearns (who is a Negro League great who I'd never heard of). She takes you through the whole history of the Negro Leagues, but at the same time tells you the story of … Continue reading #NegroLeagueBaseball #Obsessed
Shani heard an NPR story about a new book about Ted Williams called, The Kid. It’s written by Ben Bradlee, Jr., and the word often used to describe it is “comprehensive.” That’s a good descriptor. The book is 853 pages long. Now…Ted Williams is an interesting guy. First off, he’s in the running for the … Continue reading Book Review: The Kid
In 1951, Bobby Thompson of the Giants hit a walk off home run against the Dodgers to win the pennant. It is the first year baseball was televised, it had 2 NYC rival teams, and it is often called the biggest moment in baseball history. They call it the “Shot Heard Round the World.” However, … Continue reading Book Review: Miracle Ball, by Brian Biegel
Class A Baseball in the Middle of Everywhere, by Lucas Mann Let’s start with the caveat: I have been trying to get my writing published for almost 20 years. Any writer who gets published makes me jealous and angry. Now on to the book... This book is a great idea. The author spent a solid … Continue reading Book That Aggravated Me Review
Note: In a sneaky way, this is a book review of W.P. Kinsella’s Shoeless Joe Comes to Iowa, which is the basis for the movie Field of Dreams. This weekend we went on a family hike to Tohickon State Park in Pennsylvania. It is the second time we’ve gone. The first time we went was … Continue reading Returning to the Scene of the Bleed
Babe Ruth had the appetite, strength, stamina, and libido of 10 men. He could eat 3 cream pies in one sitting. He could screw 6 girls in one night. He could drink 15 pitchers of beer. And after any of this, he could (and often did) head right to the ballpark and smash homeruns. He … Continue reading Book Review: Babe, the Legend Comes to Life
Note: Lots of non-baseball topics recently. So I'm posting a baseball book review today and tomorrow. I'm also going to an Angels game Wednesday, so I'll have some solid baseball stuff from that. This is not a good book at all. I guess it’s kind of a fun read. What struck me most about reading … Continue reading Book Review: Juiced by Jose Canseco
OK, so this is the book about the “Black Sox Scandal” in 1919. This is the story of the 1919 White Sox team who were paid off by gamblers to throw the World Series. If you’ve seen the movie “Field of Dreams” with Shoeless Joe Jackson – these are the guys. It’s another baseball book … Continue reading Book Review: Eight Men Out
I swear this is a book review, just give me a little leeway. Whenever my kids want to pretend we’re all baseball players, they ask me what I am. Am I a first baseman? A catcher? I always say I’m a relief pitcher. “I’m pretty good, but not a big name. Some years I’m really … Continue reading Book Review: The Glory of Their Times
I am currently at 887 followers/facebook fans. Huge thanks to old friend, Bill McCarthy, who is posting relentlessy on Facebook for me. The book is called Cobb, by Al Stump. The movie with Tommy Lee Jones is actually about the writer trying to write this book. Here’s the low down. Ty Cobb was insane. Not … Continue reading Ty Cobb Stories You Can Tell at Parties
(I read a crapload of baseball books. I’ll try and write a review for the non-baseball-nut.) I enjoyed the hell out of this book. It’s written in a readable, light novel style that has compelling characters and plot. It takes you through the 1964 season, which was the end of the greatest of the Yankees … Continue reading Book Review: October 1964 by David Halberstam.
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