- Hardcover: 258 pages
- Publisher: St. Martin's Press (May 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0312362234
- ISBN-13: 978-0312362232
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 14 x 2.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,495,466 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
If you know your baseball (and some prior knowledge is required), this will make you laugh - it's as straightforward as that.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
40 reviews
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Is this a great book or what?
4 May 2007
Format:Hardcover
My wife picked up a copy of this book for me last weekend. I read it over the course of two days. What a great read. I've always enjoyed Tim Kurkjian's commentaries on baseball, be it on the radio, TV, or print and his take on the past twenty five years doesn't dissapoint. There are some really interesting stories that he shares, that you don't (at least I haven't) heard anywhere else.
There is a chapter about the fear of the baseball. Conversations with numerous players who were hit in the head with a pitch and how it affected them. There is a chapter called "Ambidextrous" that share funny stories about players like Mark Mulder, a left handed pitcher, who does everything below the waist (tie his shoe, golf, bowling) right handed.
The book was also very well written and well laid out. Very much an enjoyable read.
There is a chapter about the fear of the baseball. Conversations with numerous players who were hit in the head with a pitch and how it affected them. There is a chapter called "Ambidextrous" that share funny stories about players like Mark Mulder, a left handed pitcher, who does everything below the waist (tie his shoe, golf, bowling) right handed.
The book was also very well written and well laid out. Very much an enjoyable read.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Great read, but could have been better
9 July 2007
Format:Hardcover
I've always thought that Tim Kurkijan was the second-brightest mind on Baseball Tonight following the amazing Peter Gammons, and that's pretty much reaffirmed by this book. His insights and observations are excellent, and his discussion of the rightful place of statistics in the game is outstanding. He doesn't downplay the role of statistical analysis in baseball, but he does point out that the numbers should always be viewed in the proper context.
The book itself is written at times in what is almost a stream of consciousness format. The stories about individual players or personalities jump around at times, but they're still incredibly funny and poignant. TK also does a great job of throwing in little historical and statistical footnotes.
The book only got to me a couple of times. I felt myself bristle a little when he talked about how insightful John Kruk was on the show. Perhaps Kruk can be that way at times, but as a viewer I find him to be a senseless blowhard far too often. And while Gammons and Kruk are singled out for praise, little is said for the rest of the current crew. I'd like to know his true feelings on each of them, but I understand why he might not want to share those with everyone at this time. I also would have appreciated his thoughts on Harold Reynolds' firing - he praises Reynolds, but doesn't touch the topic of his dismissal. The other area where I would have liked a stronger view was the section on Selig.
Overall, this is an extremely enjoyable read. There are plenty of great stories to make you laugh, and most of us will come away having learned something. I'd recommend it for any baseball fan.
The book itself is written at times in what is almost a stream of consciousness format. The stories about individual players or personalities jump around at times, but they're still incredibly funny and poignant. TK also does a great job of throwing in little historical and statistical footnotes.
The book only got to me a couple of times. I felt myself bristle a little when he talked about how insightful John Kruk was on the show. Perhaps Kruk can be that way at times, but as a viewer I find him to be a senseless blowhard far too often. And while Gammons and Kruk are singled out for praise, little is said for the rest of the current crew. I'd like to know his true feelings on each of them, but I understand why he might not want to share those with everyone at this time. I also would have appreciated his thoughts on Harold Reynolds' firing - he praises Reynolds, but doesn't touch the topic of his dismissal. The other area where I would have liked a stronger view was the section on Selig.
Overall, this is an extremely enjoyable read. There are plenty of great stories to make you laugh, and most of us will come away having learned something. I'd recommend it for any baseball fan.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Good stories written sloppily
26 Mar 2010
Format:Hardcover
Baseball is a great game with a history to match. Some of the stories are legend and some only known to true fans. What Kurkjian does well is tell the stories. What is done poorly is the editing. I found myself re-reading passages that made no sense. For example in the chapter about Baseball Tonight there is a description about a heated argument about knockdown pitches. "Brian Kenny told Dibble, 'Now make sure you say on TV what you said today in the meeting.' 'Don't worry' Dibble said. 'I will.' 'No, you won't,' Kenny said." (pg. 205). What is it? Say it or don't. This is typical of a fair amount of the book. Including the editing problems there are many factual errors. For instance he writes if Bill Buckner had not made the error and thrown out Mookie Wilson in game six of the 1986 World Series the game would have gone into extra innings (pg. 221 No. 8). The game was already in the 10th inning. Makes me wonder what other errors there are. If Kurkjian had been a baseball player writing his memoirs I'd be more forgiving. However he is a credentialed journalist, his job is to make write accurate , well written accounts of events.
For pure enjoyment of telling baseball stories, where accuracy may not be needed or wanted, you'll enjoy this book. Worth going to the library to check out.
For pure enjoyment of telling baseball stories, where accuracy may not be needed or wanted, you'll enjoy this book. Worth going to the library to check out.
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