I enjoyed the Koufax biog by Leavy better than the Mantle one. Maybe that's because of the subject.
Mantle was maybe the most talented player ever. He certainly had two or three of the very best years any player amassed. And, to think he did all this with all of the injuries, often wrapped in tape like a mummy, is astounding. Toss in all his drinking and carousing....
Yet, despite Leavy's attempts to make him more sympathetic--he was generous to teammates, he was abused as a kid (what jerk wasn't abused as a kid?)--he still comes across as a low-life. Read how he autographed baseballs--or didn't autograph them. Read how he flaunted his marriage, openly. Read how he treated women, when he could or couldn't use them. It's hard to like someone like that, hard to root for him.
Interesting that, although they are cited as being interviews, Hank Aaron and Al Kaline, maybe even Frank Robinson were never quoted. Hmm....
Along the way, Joe DiMaggio also comes across as an A #1 jerk. I pretty much knew that, though. My dad didn't let that bother him--DiMaggio was the greatest, the standard against everyone else should be measured, if they could.
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About Me
- Ron Marinucci
- I have been married to Karen for 47 of my 73 years. I have two sons, Mike and Matt, both adults (at least in chronological age), and three grandchildren. I am retired, I suppose. I continue to teach college history, part-time; I still enjoy it, although the increasing amount of silly paperwork is grating and will likely be what drives me to fully retire. I have a BA in history from Amherst College and three graduate degrees. I do a little writing, too, some of which actually brings in some money.
1 comment:
Ron, you're in luck. A new book is coming out on March 8th that restores Joe DiMaggio's luster. A moving, fascinating study of the real Joe from Jerome Charyn, who met Joe and saw him play and has already written a book about MM. I read an advance excerpt. Available for pre-order only "Joe DiMaggio: The Long Vigil" - I think he gives us our hero back. March 8th is the day Joe died - so maybe this is a rebirth?
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