Biographies & Memoirs

The Big Fella could be a great read for sports enthusiasts and biographical lovers. This biography delves deep into the life of Babe Ruth, who not only redefined athletic stardom but also lived a life of extremes and adventures. With its captivating storytelling and extensive research, Jane Leavy brings forth the true essence of Ruth's journey, bringing readers face-to-face with the man behind the legend. Get ready to be enthralled by the triumphs, scandals, and the larger-than-life personality of the Babe.

If baseball is your game, this read is a home run. It's not just facts and figures; it's the untold stories and quirky trivia that will give you a new appreciation for every pitch and home run. You'll find yourself amazed and sharing these anecdotes with fellow fans.

Pedro Martinez is a must-read for baseball fans who want to learn more about this legendary player. The book provides a detailed biography of Martinez's life from his early beginnings in the Dominican Republic to his rise as one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball history. The book highlights his incredible skill, fiery personality, and the struggles he faced along the way. The author does an excellent job of bringing Martinez's story to life with vivid descriptions of his games, interviews with Martinez and his peers, and plenty of historical context. If you want to learn about one of the greatest pitchers of all time, Pedro Martinez is the book for you.

Don Zimmer, a legendary figure in baseball, offers readers an insightful look into the world of baseball, sharing his experiences and opinions on various aspects of the game. From his time working with Joe Torre to his encounters with George Steinbrenner, Zimmer provides a unique perspective on the sport. Delving into baseball anthropology and reflecting on the changes in the game over the years, this book is a must-read for baseball fans looking for a blend of humor, excitement, and wisdom.

Moneyball is an eye-opening read for sports fans who want to gain insight into how game-changing strategies emerged in baseball. The book is informative, analytical, and easy to read, as Michael Lewis explains the non-traditional approaches that have led to a winning formula for success. Whether a baseball fan or not, readers will appreciate learning how innovation and new thinking can overcome traditional models, even in this age-old sport.

Billy Beane, general manager of MLB's Oakland A's and protagonist of Michael Lewis's Moneyball, had a problem: how to win in the Major Leagues with a budget that's smaller than that of nearly every other team. Conventional wisdom long held that big name, highly athletic hitters and young pitchers with rocket arms were the ticket to success. But Beane and his staff, buoyed by massive amounts of carefully interpreted statistical data, believed that wins could be had by more affordable methods such as hitters with high on-base percentage and pitchers who get lots of ground outs. Given this information and a tight budget, Beane defied tradition and his own scouting department to build winning teams of young affordable players and inexpensive castoff veterans. Lewis was in the room with the A's top management as they spent the summer of 2002 adding and subtracting players and he provides outstanding play-by-play. In the June player draft, Beane acquired nearly every prospect he coveted (few of whom were coveted by other teams) and at the July trading deadline he engaged in a tense battle of nerves to acquire a lefty reliever. Besides being one of the most insider accounts ever written about baseball, Moneyball is populated with fascinating characters. We meet Jeremy Brown, an overweight college catcher who most teams project to be a 15th round draft pick (Beane takes him in the first). Sidearm pitcher Chad Bradford is plucked from the White Sox triple-A club to be a key set-up man and catcher Scott Hatteberg is rebuilt as a first baseman. But the most interesting character is Beane himself. A speedy athletic can't-miss prospect who somehow missed, Beane reinvents himself as a front-office guru, relying on players completely unlike, say, Billy Beane. Lewis, one of the top nonfiction writers of his era (Liar's Poker, The New New Thing), offers highly accessible explanations of baseball stats and his roadmap of Beane's economic approach makes Moneyball an appealing reading experience for business people and sports fans alike. --John Moe