Required Reading

I like to read and I like to write.  And if I have my say as to what I get to read and write about, it will surely be baseball!!

Over the last few years I have read my share of terrific books about our favorite pastime.  I though this would be a good place to showcase the books that I have read just in case you’re interested in picking something up.

Also, if you’ve read a book about our beloved sport that you think that I would enjoy, please share!!

Oh, and to make things interesting I will assign a rating to each book.

1 bat = pass and 5 bats = grand slam.  You get the idea…

Billy Williams: My Sweet-Swinging Lifetime With the Cubs 3 BATS

Straw: Finding My Way  3 BATS

Sixty Feet, Six Inches 4 BATS

Heart of the Game: Life, Death, and Mercy in Minor League America 5 BATS

The Machine: A Hot Team, a Legendary Season, and a Heart-stopping World Series: The Story of the 1975 Cincinnati Reds 5 BATS 

Is This a Great Game, or What?: From A-Rod’s Heart to Zim’s Head—My 25 Years in Baseball  5 BATS

Catch Every Ball: How to Handle Life’s Pitches  3 BATS

Sports Illustrated: Great Baseball Writing  4 BATS

Ron Santo: For the Love of Ivy  3 BATS

Hawk: An Inspiring Story of Success at the Game of Life and Baseball  4 BATS

Together We Were Eleven Foot Nine: The Twenty-Year Friendship of Hall of Fame Pitcher Jim Palmer and Orioles Manager Earl Weaver   2 BATS

The Game Is Easy — Life Is Hard: The Story of Ferguson Jenkins   4 BATS 

The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron  5 BATS

Reggie Jackson: The Life and Thunderous Career of Baseball’s Mr. October   3.5 BATS

Going Yard: The Everything Home Run Book      2 BATS

Game Six – Cincinnati, Boston, and The 1975 World Series     5 BATS

The Golden Age Of Baseball      3 BATS

Yogi Berra – Eternal Yankee      5 BATS

Stranger To The Game – The Autobiography Of Bob Gibson – 5 BATS

If You Love This Game…  – Andre Dawson – 5 BATS

Imperfect – An Improbable Life – Jim Abbott – 4 BATS

The Last Boy – Mickey Mantle – BENCHED

Pouring Six Beers At A Time – Stories From A Lifetime In Baseball – Bill Giles – CURRENTLY READING

Still A Kid At Heart – Gary Carter – 4 BATS

Mint Condition – 4 BATS

Stan Musial, An American Life – 3 BATS

Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend – ON DECK

Hustle – The Myth, Life, And Lies Of Pete Rose – 4 BATS

Sparky And Me – ON DECK

Clemente – The Passion And Grace Of Baseball’s Last Hero – 3.5 BATS

The Greatest Game Ever Pitched – Juan Marichal, Warren Spahn, and The Pitching Duel Of The Century – ON DECK

Mickey And Willie – ON DECK

Becoming Mr. October – ON DECK

Enjoy and Thanks for reading!!!