Sports Book Reviews - by Harvey Frommer

Sports Book Reviews

          This is the time of year for sports book giving and getting. Below are top choices from your favorite critic

THE PATS by Glenn Stout and Richard A. Johnson (HoughtonMifflin $35.00, 365 pages) gets my vote for the best sports book of 2018. Detailed, carefully crafted, filled with fun, facts, passion, timeless and fabulous photographs throughout, this book is a keeper.

Sub titled as an illustrated history of the New England Patriots, the terrific tome spins the fascinating narrative and the complete story through sixteen enjoyable to read chapters focused on the fabled franchise and its five trophies. MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

In the Name of the Father by Mark Ribowsky hones in on football’s Manning dynasty (Liveright Publishing, $29.95, 400 pages). This is a careful rendering of the story of football royalty, the Mannings, Archie, Peyton and Eli. It is a unique exploration of father/son, brother/brother.

Unique, an inside look, honestly written, filled with info not previously known, Ribowsky scores a touchdown with this splendid effort.  GO FOR IT

.         The Story of Baseball in 100 Photographs ($30.00, 224 pages, Sports Illustrated) is a big picture book that attempts to most of the time successfully live up to its title, We are there through the decades looking at the images  and reding the stories. Fun nostalgia. RECOMENDED

ABOUT 

HARVEY

FROMMER

One of the most prolific and respected sports journalists and oral historians in the United States, author of the autobiographies of legends Nolan Ryan,  Tony Dorsett, and Red Holzman, Dr. Harvey Frommer is an expert on such sports subjects as “Shoeless Joe,” the Yankees and rhe Red Sox, and the Super Bowl. A professor now for more than two decades in the MALS program at Dartmouth College, Frommer was dubbed “Dartmouth’s Mr. Baseball” by their alumni magazine. He’s also the founder of www.HarveyFrommerSports.com. Mint, signed, discounted Frommer books are available from the site.

Babe Ruth Awarded Presidential Medal Of Freedom

Seth EverettContributor

SportsMoneySports Broadcaster, Podcaster & SAGAFTRA Union Member

President Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to baseball legend Babe Ruth, with his grandson Thomas Stevens accepting, at the White House on November 16. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)GETTY

Babe Ruth, the Yankees icon who passed away in 1948, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Friday at a ceremony with President Trump at the White House.

Ruth led the New York Yankees to seven American League pennants and four World Series championships. He was also a huge fundraiser for World War II causes.

The Medal of Freedom is considered the nation’s highest civilian honor.

“He raised money and raised hell,” Trump said in his opening remarks Friday. “Maybe that’s why it’s taken him a long time to get this award. He should have gotten it a long time ago. I said, ‘Babe Ruth hasn’t gotten it?’ We took care of that real fast.”

“It’s wonderful that he’s finally been recognized, but what the heck took so long?” asked Tom Stevens, Ruth’s grandson.

At the ceremony, Trump went on an extended riff about the trade from Boston that brought Babe Ruth to the Yankees.

“People don’t know that. Babe Ruth was one of the best pitchers. He still has records today,” Trump said. “In 1920, he started with the New York Yankees. And I have heard for many years, what’s the worst trade in the history of sports? Babe Ruth, a 19-year-old pitcher, for $100,000, and a 35-year-old third baseman. That was not a good trade. Who was out of baseball the following season? That was not good. Of course, $100,000 is probably like $25 million today, but it was still a lousy deal.”

“He became the brand of America,” said Michael Gibbons, director emeritus and historian at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum in Baltimore.

“He carried this country on his back during the Great Depression,” said Jane Leavy, author of the Ruth biography “The Big Fella.”

IBWAA SELECTS DEGROM, SNELL IN CY VOTE

IBWAA SELECTS DEGROM, SNELL IN CY VOTE

 

Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the winners in its Cy Young category Wednesday, with the Tampa Bay Rays’ Blake Snell winning the group’s American League prize, and Jacob deGrom, of the New York Mets, being selected in the National League vote.

 

This is the tenth annual election for the IBWAA in the Cy category.

 

Election results are as follows:

 

AL Cy Young:

 

1^st Place:                  Blake Snell, Tampa Bay Rays – 731 points
2^nd Place:                 Justin Verlander, Houston Astros – 462
3^rd Place:                  Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox – 336

4^th Place:                 Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians – 298

5^th Place:                 Gerrit Cole, Houston Astros – 150

 

NL Cy Young:

 

1^st Place:                  Jacob deGrom, New York Mets – 828 points
2^nd Place:                 Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals – 564 
3^rd Place:                  Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies – 389

4^th Place:                 Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies – 155

5^th Place:                 Patrick Corbin, Arizona Diamondbacks – 92

 

Ballot tabulations by Brian Wittig & Associates, using the Borda Method.

 

The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as a digital alternative to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). Voting for full season awards takes place in September of each year, with selections being announced in November. The IBWAA also holds a Hall of Fame election in December of each year, with results being announced the following January.

 

Among others, IBWAA members include Jim Bowden, Pedro Moura, Ken Rosenthal and Eno Sarris, The Athletic; Tim Brown, Yahoo! Sports; Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports Hardball Talk; Bill Chuck, Billy-Ball.com; Chris De Luca, Chicago Sun-Times; Jon Heyman, Fancred; Tyler Kepner, New York Times; Danny Knobler, Bleacher Report; Kevin Kennedy; Kostya Kennedy, Sports Illustrated; Brian Kenny, MLBN; Will Leitch, New York Magazine; Bruce Markusen, Hardball Times; Ross Newhan; Dayn Perry and Matt Snyder, CBSSports.com; Tom Hoffarth, Los Angeles Times; J.P. Hoornstra Los Angeles Daily News; Tracy Ringolsby, MLB.com; David Schoenfield, ESPN.com; and Bill Arnold.

 

Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a $75 lifetime fee. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available. Members must be 18 years of age to apply.

For more information please visit www.ibwaa.com.

Contact:

 

Howard Cole
Founding Director, IBWAAbaseballsavvy@aol.com

IBWAA SELECTS BETTS, YELICH IN MVP VOTE

IBWAA SELECTS BETTS, YELICH IN MVP VOTE

 

Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the winners in its Most Valuable Player category Thursday, with the Boston Red Sox’ Mookie Betts winning the group’s American League award, and Christian Yelich, of the Milwaukee Brewers, being selected in the National League.

 

This is the tenth annual election for the IBWAA in the manager category.

 

Election results are as follows:

 

AL MVP

 

1^st Place:                  Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox – 1647 points
2^nd Place:                 Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 1142
3^rd Place:                  Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians – 840

4^th Place:                 JD Martinez, Boston Red Sox – 786

5^th Place:                  Alex Bregman, Houston Astros – 719

6^th Place:                  Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians – 637

7^th Place:                  Matt Chapman, Oakland Athletics – 498 

8^th Place:                  Kris Davis, Oakland Athletics – 214

9th Place:                 Blake Snell, Tampa Bay Rays – 146

10^th Place:                Jose Altuve, Houston Astros – 119

 

NL MVP

 

1^st Place:                  Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers – 1529 points
2^nd Place:                 Javier Baez, Chicago Cubs – 949 
3^rd Place:                  Jacob deGrom, New York Mets – 746

4^th Place:                  Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves – 664

5^th Place:                  Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies – 602

6^th Place:                  Lorenzo Cain, Milwaukee Brewers – 549

7^th Place:                  Matt Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals – 436

8^th Place:                  Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks – 426

9^th Place:                  Trevor Story, Colorado Rockies – 285

10^th Place:                Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals – 284

 

Ballot tabulations by Brian Wittig & Associates, using the Borda Method.

 

The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as a digital alternative to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). Voting for full season awards takes place in September of each year, with selections being announced in November. The IBWAA also holds a Hall of Fame election in December of each year, with results being announced the following January.

 

Among others, IBWAA members include Jim Bowden, Pedro Moura, Ken Rosenthal and Eno Sarris, The Athletic; Tim Brown, Yahoo! Sports; Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports Hardball Talk; Bill Chuck, Billy-Ball.com; Chris De Luca, Chicago Sun-Times; Jon Heyman, Fancred; Tyler Kepner, New York Times; Danny Knobler, Bleacher Report; Kevin Kennedy; Kostya Kennedy, Sports Illustrated; Brian Kenny, MLBN; Will Leitch, New York Magazine; Bruce Markusen, Hardball Times; Ross Newhan; Dayn Perry and Matt Snyder, CBSSports.com; Tom Hoffarth, Los Angeles Times; J.P. Hoornstra Los Angeles Daily News; Tracy Ringolsby, MLB.com; David Schoenfield, ESPN.com; and Bill Arnold.

 

Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a $75 lifetime fee. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available. Members must be 18 years of age to apply.

For more information please visit www.ibwaa.com.

Contact:

 

Howard Cole
Founding Director, IBWAAbaseballsavvy@aol.com

IBWAA SELECTS MELVIN, SNITKER IN MANAGER OF THE YEAR VOTE

IBWAA SELECTS MELVIN, SNITKER IN MANAGER OF THE YEAR VOTE

 

Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the winners in its manager category Tuesday, with the Oakland Athletics’ Bob Melvin winning the 2018 IBWAA American League Manager of the Year award, and Brian Snitker, of the Atlanta Braves, being selected as the 2018 IBWAA National League Manager of the Year winner.

 

This is the tenth annual election for the IBWAA in the manager category.

 

Election results are as follows:

 

AL Manager:

 

1^st Place:                  Bob Melvin, Oakland Athletics – 479 points
2^nd Place:                 Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays – 297
3^rd Place:                  Alex Cora, Boston Red Sox – 285

 

NL Manager:

 

1^st Place:                  Brian Snitker Atlanta Braves – 502 points
2^nd Place:                 Craig Counsell, Milwaukee Brewers – 311
3^rd Place:                  Bud Black, Colorado Rockies – 153

 

Ballot tabulations by Brian Wittig & Associates, using the Borda Method.

 

The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as a digital alternative to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). Voting for full season awards takes place in September of each year, with selections being announced in November. The IBWAA also holds a Hall of Fame election in December of each year, with results being announced the following January.

 

Among others, IBWAA members include Jim Bowden, Pedro Moura, Ken Rosenthal and Eno Sarris, The Athletic; Tim Brown, Yahoo! Sports; Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports Hardball Talk; Bill Chuck, Billy-Ball.com; Chris De Luca, Chicago Sun-Times; Jon Heyman, Fancred; Tyler Kepner, New York Times; Danny Knobler, Bleacher Report; Kevin Kennedy; Kostya Kennedy, Sports Illustrated; Brian Kenny, MLBN; Will Leitch, New York Magazine; Bruce Markusen, Hardball Times; Ross Newhan; Dayn Perry and Matt Snyder, CBSSports.com; Tom Hoffarth, Los Angeles Times; J.P. Hoornstra Los Angeles Daily News; Tracy Ringolsby, MLB.com; David Schoenfield, ESPN.com; and Bill Arnold.

 

Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a $75 lifetime fee. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available. Members must be 18 years of age to apply.

For more information please visit www.ibwaa.com.

Contact:

 

Howard Cole
Founding Director, IBWAAbaseballsavvy@aol.com

Shoeless Joe Remains a Scapegoat

Shoeless Joe Remains a Scapegoat

With the recent announcement of a new class of inductees to the Baseball Hall of Fame, the skeletons in the closet come front and center once again.

      Pete Rose and  and "Shoeless Joe" are becoming baseball's odd couple - both ineligible for the Hall of Fame because of a lifetime ban, two of just 15 ever issued by the commissioner of baseball. No person ever permanently banned has ever been reinstated.

       Most sports fans know a lot about Pete Rose: however, their knowledge about Jackson is sketchy, sometimes inaccurate. So for the record - the facts. 

        Joseph Jefferson Wofford Jackson was born to a poor family on July 16, 1889 in Greenville, South Carolina. School was never a part of his life for at the age of six he was already working in the cotton mills as a cleanup boy.
          By the time he was 13 he was laboring a dozen hours a day along with his father and brother. His sole escape from the back-breaking work, the din and dust of the mill, took place out in the grassy fields playing baseball. He was a natural right from the start, good enough to be noticed and recruited to play for the mill team organized by the company. 

         One hot summer day Jackson played the outfield wearing a new pair of shoes. They pinched his feet, so he took them off and played in his stocking feet. A sportswriter who saw what he did dubbed him "Shoeless Joe." The name stuck even though that was the only time Jackson is reported to have played 'shoeless.'
          He despised the name for he felt it reinforced his country-bumpkin origins, the fact that he could not read nor write.
         Perhaps that was why when he played for the Chicago White Sox after stints with the Philadelphia Athletics and Cleveland Indians, he wore alligator and patent leather shoes - the more expensive the better. It was if he was announcing to the world: "I am not a Shoeless Joe. I do wear shoes. And they cost a lot of money!"
          He was the greatest ball player ever from South Carolina, one of the top players of all time. His lifetime batting average was .356, topped only by Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby.
    Four times he batted over .370. Babe Ruth copied his swing claiming Jackson was the greatest hitter he ever saw. Ruth, Cobb, and Casey Stengel all placed him on their all-time, all star team. He was such a remarkable fielder that his glove was called "the place where triples go to die."
      In the National Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown one can find Jackson's shoes. His life size photograph is there. But he is not there even though others with far less credentials and far more soiled reputations are. Shoeless Joe had to leave the game in disgrace, one of the members of the "Black Sox" accused of throwing the 1919 World Series. 

        He was asked under oath at trial:
        "Did you do anything to throw those games?"
        "No sir," was his response.
         “Any game in the series?"
          "Not a one," Jackson answered. "I didn't have an error or make no misplay."
           In fact, Shoeless Joe was under-stating his accomplishments which included the only series home run, the highest batting average, the collecting of a record dozen hits, while committing no errors.
       It took the jury a single ballot to acquit all eight accused players of the charges against them. But the very next day baseball's first commissioner - Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis - issued a verdict of his own. He banned all eight players from baseball for life.
     Landis was brought into organized baseball in the fall of 1920 with a lifetime contract and a mandate to clean up the game using whatever methods he saw fit. He had the reputation of being a vindictive judge, a hanging judge - and he was all of that.
      Every baseball commissioner since Landis has refused to act on Shoeless Joe's behalf. 

     Commissioner Faye Vincent said: "I can't uncipher or decipher what took place back then. I have no intention of taking formal action."
     Commissioner Bart Giammatti said: "I do not wish to play God with history. The Jackson case is best left to historical debate and analysis. I am not for re-instatement."
    All Commissioners have kept to the “company line.”

    Public pressure keeps increasing year by year. But the ban still remains. It is a story that won't go away, like a riddle inside a jigsaw puzzle inside an enigma. It is a story about a great baseball injustice - - - a talented player caught at a crossroad in American history who became a victim, a scapegoat so that the sport of baseball could offer up a cleaner image.

About

Harvey

Frommer

One of the most prolific and respected sports journalists and oral historians in the United States, author of the autobiographies of legends Nolan Ryan, Tony Dorsett, and Red Holzman, Dr. Harvey Frommer is an expert on “Shoeless Joe” having written the best-selling and definitive book on him from which some of the material for this article was taken.

A professor for more than two decades in the MALS program at Dartmouth College, Frommer was dubbed “Dartmouth’s Mr. Baseball” by their alumni magazine. He’s also the founder of www.HarveyFrommerSports.com. Mint, signed, discounted Frommer books including (Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball) are available from the site.

BOOKENDS: The Story of Baseball in 100 Photographs (Time Inc. Books, $30.00, 224 pages) is an overreaching effort as  its title proclaims. It is impossible to tell the story of the national pastime in 100 pictures and a bit more than 200 pages. Many of the images are moving, even iconic, even though many are familiar.The usual subjects are here from Mickey Mantle on the front cover to Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron, Joe DiMaggio, Bryce Harper, etc. If you are into baseball photo books this might be the one for you.  

IBWAA SELECTS OHTANI, ACUNA IN ROOKIE OF THE YEAR VOTE

IBWAA SELECTS OHTANI, ACUNA IN ROOKIE OF THE YEAR VOTE

 

Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the winners in its rookie category Monday, with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s  Shohie Ohtani winning the 2018 IBWAA American League Rookie of the Year award, and Ronald Acuna Jr., of the Atlanta Braves, being selected as the 2018 IBWAA National League Rookie of the Year winner.

 

This is the tenth annual election for the IBWAA in the rookie category.

 

Election results are as follows:

 

AL Rookie:

 

1^st Place:                  Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 451 points
2^nd Place:                 Miguel Andujar, New York Yankees – 375
3^rd Place:                  Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees – 176

 

NL Rookie:

 

1^st Place:                  Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves – 570 points
2^nd Place:                 Juan Soto, Washington Nationals – 378
3^rd Place:                  Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers – 77

 

Ballot tabulations by Brian Wittig & Associates, using the Borda Method.

 

The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as a digital alternative to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). Voting for full season awards takes place in September of each year, with selections being announced in November. The IBWAA also holds a Hall of Fame election in December of each year, with results being announced the following January.

 

Among others, IBWAA members include Jim Bowden, Pedro Moura, Ken Rosenthal and Eno Sarris, The Athletic; Tim Brown, Yahoo! Sports; Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports Hardball Talk; Bill Chuck, Billy-Ball.com; Chris De Luca, Chicago Sun-Times; Jon Heyman, Fancred; Tyler Kepner, New York Times; Danny Knobler, Bleacher Report; Kevin Kennedy; Kostya Kennedy, Sports Illustrated; Brian Kenny, MLBN; Will Leitch, New York Magazine; Bruce Markusen, Hardball Times; Ross Newhan; Dayn Perry and Matt Snyder, CBSSports.com; Tom Hoffarth, Los Angeles Times; J.P. Hoornstra Los Angeles Daily News; Tracy Ringolsby, MLB.com; David Schoenfield, ESPN.com; and Bill Arnold.

 

Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a $75 lifetime fee. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available. Members must be 18 years of age to apply.

For more information please visit www.ibwaa.com.

Contact:

 

Howard Cole
Founding Director, IBWAAbaseballsavvy@aol.com

Babe Ruth Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom Award

Babe Ruth Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom Award

My name is  Linda Ruth Tosetti, and II am granddaughter of Babe Ruth, newly named Presidential Medal Of Freedom recipient.  I want everyone to know  for 37 years I and I wrote letters seeking the honor, as I got to the idea from my mother, Dorothy Ruth Pirone, his blood daughter.   My mother one morning said "Call the White House, I think your grandfather deserves the Medal of Freedom."  As always a dutiful daughter,  I did just that and got an address.  I looked for Senators and Congressmen that might  help us achieve the goal.  We wrote hundreds of letters from President Reagan and all the way to now.   Always getting form letters back from the White House that he was being considered.  On one it said file is full!   A friend of mine, his very young son years ago said if he got to the White House he would help to get medal for Babe.  Well the small boy grew up and works in the Washington D.C.!  He helped the cause a lot. 

I promised my mom on her deathbed in 1989 that I wouldn't give up.  I am so grateful  To  President Trump,  I am speechless. Thank you does not sound like enough.  You helped me fulfill a BIG promise to my mother.   My husband Andrew, who supported me all the way.  To all supporters that have helped me along the way, thank you. 

My grandfather quoted the following;  “You can not beat a man who never gives up."  It fits here.  I will tell you this I believe, my mom's laughing in heaven and saying "we did it" and that a proud and humble Babe would say, "Thanks Prez”

www.truebaberuth.com

IBWAA SELECTS HADER, DIAZ IN RELIEF PITCHER AWARDS VOTE

IBWAA SELECTS HADER, DIAZ IN RELIEF PITCHER AWARDS VOTE

 

Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the winners in its relief pitcher category Sunday, with the Milwaukee Brewers’ Josh Hader winning the 2018 IBWAA Hoyt Wilhelm National League Relief Pitcher of the Year Award and Edwin Diaz, of the Seattle Mariners, being selected as the 2018 IBWAA Rollie Fingers American League Relief Pitcher of the Year.

 

The relief pitcher awards were established in 2010. Election results are as follows:

 

NL Reief Pitcher:

 

1^st Place:                  Josh Hader, Milwaukee Brewers – 326 points
2^nd Place:                 Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers s – 162
3^rd Place:                  Jeremy Jeffress, Milwaukee Brewers – 148

 

AL Relief Pitcher:

 

1^st Place:                  Edwin Diaz, Seattle Mariners – 465 points
2^nd Place:                 Blake Treinen, Oakland Athletics – 458 
3^rd Place:                  Craig Kimbrel, Boston Red Sox – 128

 

Ballot tabulations by Brian Wittig & Associates, using the Borda Method.

 

The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as a digital alternative to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). Voting for full season awards takes place in September of each year, with selections being announced in November. The IBWAA also holds a Hall of Fame election in December of each year, with results being announced the following January.

 

Among others, IBWAA members include Jim Bowden, Pedro Moura, Ken Rosenthal and Eno Sarris, The Athletic; Tim Brown, Yahoo! Sports; Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports Hardball Talk; Bill Chuck, Billy-Ball.com; Chris De Luca, Chicago Sun-Times; Jon Heyman, Fancred; Tyler Kepner, New York Times; Danny Knobler, Bleacher Report; Kevin Kennedy; Kostya Kennedy, Sports Illustrated; Brian Kenny, MLBN; Will Leitch, New York Magazine; Bruce Markusen, Hardball Times; Ross Newhan; Dayn Perry and Matt Snyder, CBSSports.com; Tom Hoffarth, Los Angeles Times; J.P. Hoornstra Los Angeles Daily News; Tracy Ringolsby, MLB.com; David Schoenfield, ESPN.com; and Bill Arnold.

 

Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a $75 lifetime fee. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available. Members must be 18 years of age to apply.

For more information please visit www.ibwaa.com.

Contact:

 

Howard Cole
Founding Director, IBWAAbaseballsavvy@aol.com