SPORTS BOOK REVIEW: Terrific Tomes from Triumph and other Interesting Reads

　
Out of Chicago Triumph Books is a purveyor of all kinds of sports books especially baseball. Out this spring is a collection of worthies for all interests and all kinds of fans.

"Of Mikes and Men" by Pete Van Wieren with Jack Wilkinson (Triumph,$24.95, 224 pages) is as its sub-title proclaims all about his lifetime of Braves baseball. Anecdotal, enjoyable, insightful this book is a must for Braves fans and others will like it, too.

"Straight Talk from Wild Thing" by Mitch Williams with Darrell Berger (Triumph, $19.95, 208 pages) is an outspoken read by one of the more outspoken hurlers in baseball history, one of the more enjoyable current day broadcasters. The former fireballing lefty lets it all hang out.

"Stan the Man" by Wayne Stewart (Triumph, $24.95, 256 pages) is a bouquet of red roses to Stan Musial, Cardinal legend, one of the great players of all time. From the cloth-covered rock that was his first baseball to the Brooklyn Dodger fans who hung the name "the Man" on him through many interviews providing insights into "Stash," this is a winning read.

"Al Kaline: the Biography of a Tigers Icon" by Jim Hawkins (Triumph, $24.95, 288 pages) is all about the Hall of Famer written by the scribe who in 1970 as a 25-year-old first began covering his subject. We are there through the many triumphs on and off the baseball field including Kaline's career as Tiger commentator from 1975 to 2002.

"Scooter" by Carlo DeVito (Triumph, @4.95, 384 pages) is all about the wonderful Phil Rizzuto. Lengthy, detailed, created with loving devotion for the late and great Yankee shortstop and announcer this book has a lot to offer.

From Penguin/Gotham comes "Homer Kelley's Golfing Machine" (paper, $16.00) a title that is full of secrets revealed behind the art and science of the perfect swing.

"The Game From Where I Stand" by Doug Glanville (Henry Holt/Times Books, $25.00, 304 pages) is quick reading but also an unsatisfying work by this ex MLB outfielder and multi-featured media figure on many outlets. He set out to offer insights into the human side of the game. Sophomoric stuff.

"Swinging from My Heels" by Christina Kim and Alan Shipnuck (Bloomsbury, $25.00, 240 pages) is the tale with all kinds of behind the scenes gossip and insight of Kim, one of the most popular LPGA players since she was a 19-year-old in 2003. Warts and all - this is a moving read.
　
MOST NOTABLE: "JEWISH MAJOR LEAGUERS, 2000-2009," Deck of the Decade, produced by Jewish Major Leaguers, Inc.("JML"), a not-for-profit organization. You don't have to even be Jewish to want to buy these cards available at $36 via the JML web-site www.jewishmajorleaguers.org.　
　

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Harvey Frommer is in his 34th consecutive year of writing sports books. A noted oral historian and sports journalist, the author of 41 sports books 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." Frommer's newest work CELEBRATING FENWAY PARK: AN ORAL AND NARRATIVE HISTORY OF THE HOME OF RED SOX NATION is next.
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