The Book Review: “Straw” and “’78”

Oh, how many times did I watch Darryl Strawberry do his thing especially as a member of the New York Mets. In so many ways he was the most talented of players I had ever seen. And in so many ways he was the biggest disappointment.

Now in “Straw” with John Strausbaugh (Ecco/HarperCollins, $26.99, 240 pages) Strawberry explains how the wheels came off his wagon, how and why he got violent, into drugs and alcohol, how being a celebrity got to be too much, how he overcame colon cancer. If you are into inspirational memoir – this is for you.

“’78: The Boston Red Sox, a Historic game, and a Divided City” by Bill Reynolds (New American Library, $24.95, 305 pages) is recommended reading for Red Sox fans delving as it does into that tale told many times about that special season and the sociological pressures that afflicted the city of Boston. Tighter editing might have made it a better read and an index would have been useful as a road map for what at times becomes a maze of material not totally sorted out.

For the younger sporting fans - - and there are so many of them – two books especially belong on the bookshelf - “Baseball Great” & “The Prince of Fenway Park”

“Baseball Great" by Tim Green (HarperCollins Children’s Books, $16.99, 250 pages) is geared to ages 8 and up. It is compelling, a thriller, a book that places its 12-year-old central character Ty Lewis is a precarious position in this football and pro gambling subject matter centered to me.

“The Prince of Fenway Park” by Julianna Baggott HarperCollins Children’s Books, $16.99, 322 pages) is aimed at ages 8-12. The book is especially appealing to me in the midst of writing REMEMBERING FENWAY PARK. Part fantasy, part legend, part reversing the curse, part baseball novel - - “The Prince of Fenway Park” is all about Oscar Egg, aged twelve. Potter-ish reading!

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Harvey Frommer is his 33rd consecutive year of writing sports books. The author of 40 of them including the classics: "New York City Baseball,1947-1957" and "Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball," his acclaimed REMEMBERING YANKEE STADIUM, an oral/narrative history (Abrams, Stewart, Tabori and Chang) was published in 2008 as well as a reprint version of his classic "Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball." The prolific Frommer is at work on REMEMBERING FENWAY PARK (2010).

Frommer sports books are available direct from the author - discounted and autographed.
FROMMER SPORTSNET (syndicated) reaches a readership in the millions and is housed on Internet search engines for extended periods of time.

The Book Review: “Bases Loaded,” “The Baseball Hall of Fame” and more . . .

Kirk Radomski was employed in the clubhouse of the New York Mets for a decade. Now in his first book “Bases Loaded” (co-authored by David Fisher (Hudson Street Press, $25.95, 246 pages) the chief figure inn the Mitchell Reports takes the reader behind the scenes for some little tolds stories of the steroid scandal in baseball. It is an eye raising book, a story whose end is not yet in sight, a book as timely as today’s headlines. Controversy and conflict dogged Radmoski who became the main clubhouse supplier of performance enhancing drugs to nearly 300 major leaguers.

“The Baseball Hall of Fame” by Bert Randolph Sugar” (Running Press, $35.00, 272 pages, more than 500 photos) is the mother of all books on the shrine in Cooperstown, New York. Page after page of items from the Hall’s collection intermingle with the text of Sugar, an old hand at the sports book game – he has written more than 50 books. Recommended

From Clerisy press in Cincinnati comes a quartette of baseball books aimed at all kinds of readers and for all types of tastes. “365 Oddball Days in Boston Red Sox History” by John Snyder ($12.95, 372 pages, paper) is an almanac style tome that picks up a lot of eccentric nuances of Sox history through the years. “Rollie’s Follies” by Rollie Fingers ($14.95, 228 pages, paper) is a collection of stats, lists and lore – all very illuminating and entertaining. “Cincinnati’s Crosley Field” by Greg Rhodes and John Eradi ($25.00, 216 pages, paper) is a perfect book for fans of the Reds and others into baseball history showcasing as it does the old ballpark in words and picture. And finally “Dodgers Journal” by John Snyder ($29.95, 800 pages, paper) is a fountainhead of all kinds of information about the franchise since its inception in 1884.

For the golfers for getting or giving there is Homer Kelley’s “Golfing Machine” by Scott Gummer (Gotham Books/Penguin, $26.00, 267 pages) an illuminating look at nuances of the game and the genius whose theories revolutionized it.

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Harvey Frommer is his 33rd consecutive year of writing sports books. The author of 40 of them including the classics: "New York City Baseball,1947-1957" and "Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball," his acclaimed REMEMBERING YANKEE STADIUM, an oral/narrative history (Abrams, Stewart, Tabori and Chang) was published in 2008 as well as a reprint version of his classic "Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball." The prolific Frommer is at work on REMEMBERING FENWAY PARK (2010).

Frommer sports books are available direct from the author - discounted and autographed.
FROMMER SPORTSNET (syndicated) reaches a readership in the millions and is housed on Internet search engines for extended periods of time.

HarveyFrommerSports.com http://frommerluxurytravel-arts.com/
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http://www.sunypress.edu/details.asp?id=61871 (IT HAPPENED IN THE CATSKILLS, new edition)
http://www.sunypress.edu/details.asp?id=61872 (IT HAPPENED IN BROOKLYN, new edition)

Remembering Dom DiMaggio

Sicilian immigrants Giuseppe -- the fisherman -- and Rosalie lived in the North Beach section of San Francisco and raised nine children. Three of the five boys became big league ball players. The last one, Dominic Paul DiMaggio, passed away a couple of days ago at the age of 92.

I was probably the last one to interview him. He is my 130th voice for the opus I am working on - - REMEMBERING FENWAY PARK: AN ORAL AND NARRATIVE HISTORY, slated for 2010 publication.

The man they dubbed the "Little Professor" because of his spectacles and 5-foot-9, 168-pound frame was a hell of a ballplayer even though he played in the gigantic shadows of Ted Williams and brother Joseph. He hit in 34 straight games in 1949, a streak snapped when big brother Joe snared a sinking line drive in a 6-3 Red Sox win over the Yankees.

I reached Dominic Paul DiMaggio on the phone not too long after he passed his 92nd birthday.

“How much time do you need?” he asked. “Thirty minutes.”

“Too much. How about five minutes”

We settled on 20 minutes, and I was told to talk louder throughout. What follows are some of the more moving and interesting aspects of the oral history that should make their way into the book. The words reveal a confident and intelligent man, who had a little tartness to him.

DOM DIMAGGIO: The first time I walked into Fenway Park was April 1940 before the season started, and there was ice on the field. It was a bit of a shock for me having been in California all my life. I was wondering how we were going to start on time. I do believe we did.

The weather wasn’t that bad. But there were cold days. I loved Fenway Park because it was cozy. Playing baseball there was a pleasure and a joy. It was close to the public and the whole thing was a perfect picture in my mind.

The atmosphere was increased when the Red Sox and Yankees played and you could feel that and so I enjoyed playing against New York.

In 1941, when my brother Joe had the hitting streak going, Ted would be talking to the guy in the scoreboard and the guy would keep him posted when Joe got a hit. You couldn’t do that at any other park.

There were times at Fenway when Joe would be coming in from centerfield and I would be coming out. I said very little to him on those occasions. What the hell was I going to do, stop in centerfield and have a conversation?

Sam Mele wasn’t a bad outfielder. Ted Williams wasn’t a bad outfielder either especially at Fenway Park - he played that wall nicely.

I enjoyed a challenge and Fenway Park did offer a challenge because of its structure and that was something but other than that it was a pleasure to play in. Having played there so often for so many years and so many games I felt I mastered the ballpark and got along beautifully with the fences. They didn’t hurt me and I didn’t hurt them.

I did not shoot for the Green Monster. No. I was an all-around hitter, a line-drive hitter, a damn good one too. I loved to hit in Fenway.

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Harvey Frommer is his 33rd consecutive year of writing sports books. The author of 40 of them including the classics: "New York City Baseball,1947-1957" and "Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball," his acclaimed REMEMBERING YANKEE STADIUM, an oral/narrative history (Abrams, Stewart, Tabori and Chang) was published in 2008 as well as a reprint version of his classic "Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball." The prolific Frommer is at work on REMEMBERING FENWAY PARK (2010).
Frommer sports books are available direct from the author - discounted and autographed.
FROMMER SPORTSNET (syndicated) reaches a readership in the millions and is housed on Internet search engines for extended periods of time.

The Book Review: "Yankee Colors” by Al Silverman and Other Notable Reads

The avalanche of quality sports books keeps on coming. They arrive in all sizes and shapes, from major publishers and pretenders to the throne, from first time authors and veterans of the trade. There is room for all in the frenzied, fabulous and fulfilling world of sports books.

“Yankee Colors” with text by Al Silverman and photographs by Marvin E. Newman with a foreword by Yogi Berra who not only seems to be everywhere but is (Abrams, $35.00, 200 full-color and 35 black and white photographs) is a paean to times past, specifically as the sub-title proclaims the glory years of the Mantle era. If you are a fan of lush, lovely, likable photo books with pleasing prose or a Yankee fan of a certain age the book is a must. For others it is highly recommended reading and browsing in a remarkable trip down Yankee memory lane from 1949 to 1963 with the legendary figures in Bronx Bomber history. Newman was a long time contributor to Sports Illustrated and Silverman was at the top of the game as a sportswriter in that time period. `
“Jerry Remy’s Red Sox Heroes” by the one and only Jerry Remy, former Sox star and current winning broadcaster, plus Corey Sandler (Globe Pequot, $24.95, 227 pages) is an up close and personal look at 44 players ranked as the best of all time in BoSox history. You may argue with some of the choices but you will probably lose. The RemDawg knows his stuff and you will too after reading this book.

Continuing in an olde towne team frame of mind there is “The Boston Red Sox From Cy to the Kid” by Mark Rucker and Bernard M. Corbett (Arcadia Publishers, $19.99, 128 pages, paper). A bit pricey especially in these down economic times, the slim product is nevertheless Boston Red Sox illustrated history at a glance.

“Baseball and the Baby Boomer” by Talmage Boston (Bright Sky Press, $24.95, 288 pages) is part history, part commentary, part memoir – all worthwhile. Talmage Boston, a trial lawyer and baseball historian, is at the top of his game in this terrific tome that has detailed essays and strong opinions on such as Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantle, Jimmy Piersall, Roger Maris, Bart Giamatti, Nolan Ryan. A lot of the book in Boston’s words “defends the feats of Maris and Ryan from the ravages of the steroid era.” And that alone (although there are many other reasons) is a strong argument for one to buy this thoughtful book.

For those trivia buffs among you comes a series of books just up your alley - -THE GREAT BOOK OF SPORTS LISTS series. Cities included are Philadelphia, Denver, Washington, DC, Cleveland, Detroit, Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Prices at $14.94, published by Running Press, all paperbacks, the books are geared to fans of specific teams and written by different authors. `

BOOKENDS: “Breaking the Slump” by Jimmy Roberts (HarperCollins, $24.99 249 pages) is all about lessons learned by great players who went on from their worst moments in golf. There are all kinds of highly interesting personal stories from some of the greats.

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Harvey Frommer is his 33rd consecutive year of writing sports books. The author of 40 of them including the classics: "New York City Baseball,1947-1957" and "Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball," his acclaimed REMEMBERING YANKEE STADIUM, an oral/narrative history (Abrams, Stewart, Tabori and Chang) was published in 2008 as well as a reprint version of his classic "Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball." The prolific Frommer is at work on REMEMBERING FENWAY PARK (2010).
Frommer sports books are available direct from the author - discounted and autographed.
FROMMER SPORTSNET (syndicated) reaches a readership in the millions and is housed on Internet search engines for extended periods of time.