By Dr. Harvey Frommer

 

          (HARVEY FROMMER IS AT WORK ON A BOOK ON THE FIRST SUPER BOWL, 1967. ANYONE WITH CONTACTS, STORIES, SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH).

         

          “Mickey and Willie,” “Walking With Jack,” “Color Blind” and so on . . .

 

          More and more sports books keep on getting published. Some are like bunts that go foul. Others are scratch hits. Still others are home runs. And finally there are the grand slammers. All are to be rewarded for their effort  - -if not their impact.

          “Mickey and Willie” by Allen Barra (Crown Publishers, 496 pages, $27.00) is a grand slammer. Thorough, compulsive reading, carefully conceived and researched, the tome brings us back to what I called “the last golden age” – a time when New York City baseball was king and “the Mick” and the “Say Hey Kid” were royalty. For those of a certain age this is required reading. For others, it is a dual narrative/bio worth the effort. NOTABLE        

          “So you Think You Know Baseball” by Peter E. Meltzer (Norton, $16.95, 344 pages, paper) is as its sub-title proclaims a guide to the official rules. Also from Norton is “Mathletics” by John D. Barrow m($16.95, 320 pages, paper) a book in which the author applies his know-how about stats, economics and physics to talk about 100 things one didn’t know, in the sub-title’s phrase, about the world of sports.

          “Walking With Jack” by Don J. Snyder (Doubleday, $25.95.336 pages) is all about the magic that many times takes hold in the interaction between father and son on the golf course. This book makes the reader realize the “walk” a father will undertake to support his son. Bonding is just one of the terrific themes of this terrific tome.  OUTSTANDING

          “Color Blind” by Tom Dunkel (Atlantic Monthly Press, $25.00, 345 pages) is about a long ago time in the 1930s when Bismarck, North Dakota had bragging rights to one of the most dominating baseball teams in the USA. Dunkel does the subject proud - - weaving a story together of a team, a town and a time. Black and white players bond together through the efforts of a Chrysler car dealer who added stars from the Negro Leagues like Quincy Troup and Satchel Paige. MEMORABLE

          “Loudmouth” by Craig Carton (Simon & Schuster, $24.99, 260 pages) is the first book by the co-host of the Boomer and Carton show on WFAN-NY. Unusual insights pervade this sometimes lively tome.

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About the Author

Dr. Harvey Frommer received his Ph.D. from New York University. Professor Emeritus, Distinguished Professor nominee, Recipient of the "Salute to Scholars Award" at CUNY where he taught writing for many years, the prolific author was cited by the Congressional Record and the New York State Legislature as a sports historian and journalist.

His sports books include autobiographies of sports legends Nolan Ryan, Red Holzman and Tony Dorsett, the classics "Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball," "New York City Baseball: 1947-1957." The 1927 Yankees." His "Remembering Yankee Stadium" was published to acclaim in 2008. His latest book, a Boston Globe Best Seller, is "Remembering Fenway Park." Autographed and discounted copies of all Harvey Frommer books are available direct from the author. Please consult his home page: http://harveyfrommersports.com/remembering_fenway/