Yogi’s Book Corner! Just In Time For Summer Reading!
Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!
Something New here at Yogi Brewer!
The Book Corner!
Summer is just around the corner and it’s time to pick up some good books for those lazy days at the lake, hanging out on the porch or deck, heck even on rainy days, you might want to pick up a good book.
And as always, your Pal Yogi is here to help.
Before you read any of the books from the list below, you might want to check this out:
Extra Innings-Writing on Baseball by Richard Peterson.
This is a terrific book in its own right and it’s also a great source of reference for books on baseball. The list below and my paraphrased descriptions were taken from Peterson’s Extra Innings.
My goal is to read each of the Featured Books over the next few months (and certainly before the 2008 Fantasy Camp) and share with you my thoughts and comments.
Sounds good!
Here goes:
The Natural by Bernard Malamud
The most studied and historically most important baseball book ever written.
You Know Me Al by Ring Lardner
One of the many great Jack Keefe stories written by one of baseball’s and America’s greatest story tellers.
The Glory of Their Times by Lawrence S. Ritter
This book set the standard for oral histories and brings alive a nearly-lost era of baseball.
The Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn
Perhaps one of the best written American narratives of the 20th Century and may be the finest written book about baseball detailing Kahn’s live and love of the Brooklyn Dodgers as fan and writer as well as the players that he covered.
A False Spring by Pat Jordan
A player’s compelling autobiography and also one of baseball’s greatest books.
Babe: The Legend Comes to Life by Robert W. Creamer
This book gets at the truth of baseball’s greatest legend.
Eight Men Out by Eliot Asinof
History, written as a novel, and the seminal account of the Black Sox scandal.
The Pitch That Killed by Mike Sowell
The incredible story about baseball’s worst tragedy.
Willie’s Time by Charles Einstein
Both baseball biography of Willie Mays as well as memoir of the writer Charles Einstein, placing both their lives in the context of several decades of American history.
…
Here are some additional books to consider, some I have already read and others are also taken from Peterson’s recommendations:
Sandy Koufax-A Lefty’s Legacy by Jane Leavy
Bang the Drum Slowly by Mark Harris
The Great American Novel by Philip Roth
Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella
The Celebrant by Eric Greenberg
Ball Four! by Jim Bouton
And last but not least, and perhaps first of many, let me recommend, no urge you to read these two books by the late, great, and much missed A. Bartlett Giamatti.
Giamatti was an intellectual Giant amongst men. His premature death is made all the more tragic by how deeply he loved baseball and life.
The world today badly needs more people like Giamatti, those in possession of great intellect, profound courage, as well as tremendous ethical and moral clarity.
Really.
Here:
That oughta’ do you for now.
Get out there and start reading!
If you have read any of these or other baseball books and would like to share you thoughts with all of us here please feel free to email me with your comments and I will happily post them!
Enjoy!
Yogi Brewer 