Whispers of the Gods

Sportswriter Golenbock delivers a fascinating oral history of Major League Baseball in the 1940s, '50s, and '60s, as witnessed by legendary players. Drawing on intimate interviews with stars such as Stan Musial--and others whom, like Roger Maris, spoke about their experiences for the first time--Golenbock pieces together an on-the-field look into historic developments that unfolded over those three decades. Jackie Robinson's breaking of the color barrier in 1947 is related from the vantage point of former Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Rex Barney, who speaks of the outrage the Black infielder faced by both teammates and opponents ( A lot of players on other teams wanted to strike ). The late Boston Red Sox player Ted Williams offers a maverick take on Shoeless Joe Jackson's role in the Black Sox scandal, arguing that Jackson's part in throwing the 1919 World Series wasn't so simple, and that his achievements still warrant an inclusion in the Hall of Fame. Equally engrossing are the rags-to-riches tales of such players as late Hall of Famer Roy Campanella, who rose from his impoverished childhood to become one of the greatest catchers in the history of the game. Sports fans will be captivated.-- Publishers Weekly Peter Golenbock's nostalgic Whispers of the Gods swings for the fences, relating the real stories behind the legends of baseball's golden age. A home run for baseball fans, this oral history tells the tales of greats like Ted Williams, Ron Santo, Roger Maris, and Stan The Man Musial, who remained enshrined in the pantheon of immortals long after the last out was called and the bleachers emptied out. These firsthand accounts bring to life dugouts and locker rooms, sharing the perspectives of some of the greatest to ever grace the ballfield. Dramatic historical photographs add to the book's sentimental appeal, reviving an earlier era. Whispers of the Gods knocks it out of the park for anyone interested in compelling anecdotes from baseball's Hall of Famers.-- Foreword Reviews A truly wonderful book! Inside info, blasts from the past, great stories. A MUST read for even the most casual baseball fans.--Charley Rosen, author of The NBA in Black and White The heartfelt and honest remembrances of Phil Rizzuto's years with the Yankees and Ron Santo's years with the Cubs are more than worth the price of this book, Whispers of the Gods, by Peter Golenbock.--Pat Jordan, author of Tom Seaver and Me The master of the baseball oral history, Peter Golenbock meanders through the stories of Baby Boom fans' on-field heartthrobs. Some, like Stan Musial, are generational giants, hobnobbing with Kennedys and kings. Others, like Tom Sturdivant, had a moment or two of glory, then were shot-and-beer types. Whispers of the Gods is for anyone who tried to get a far-away game through the audio haze of KMOX or WHO, for whom WAR and ERA-PLUS were never as important as who wagged his bat at the plate or gave away his pick-off move with a glove-tap on his thigh.--Robert Strauss, author of Worst. President. Ever. and John Marshall: The Final Founder