A few years ago, Tim McCarver wrote an article about his five favorite baseball books:
His five choices are:
1. "Ball Four" by Jim Bouton;
2. "The summer game" by Roger Angell;
3. "The great American Novel" by Phillip Roth;
4. "The Boys of Summer" by Roger Kahn; and,
5. "October 1964" by David Halberstam.
I have read all but #3 or the one by Phillip Roth.
Bouton's book was very controversial. I did not like it because he betrayed clubhouse confidentiality. Bouton played for the NY Yankees and finished with the Seattle Pilots, the '69 expansion team that was moved to Milwaukee in '70.
Kahn's "Boys of Summer" is probably the best baseball book ever. This is a wonderful gift for a grandfather, father or uncle who grew up in Brooklyn.
Halberstam's book is a recollection of the end of the Yankee dynasty and the great NL pennant race of '64. McCarver's Cardinals beat the NY Yankees in 7 games. It was Mantle's last Series. Also, it introduced Bob Gibson who won game 7 in '64 and '67! He also struck out 17 in game 1 of the '68 but the Cardinals lost to the Tigers!
Angell's book is a good one for an airplane flight.
As always, McCarver is great when it comes to talking or reading baseball.
