Books are food for my soul! Pull up a beach chair and stick your toes in the sand as the Jersey surf rolls in and out, now open your book and let your imagination take you away.
Showing posts with label Baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baseball. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

62 by Bryan Hoch (Book Review)








Book Review



62 by Bryan Hoch
Publisher: Atria Books 
Publication Date: July 11, 2023
Format: Hardcover - 368 pages
               Paperback - 368 pages
               Audiobook - 13 Hours 19 Minutes
               Kindle - 46795 KB
               Nook - 46 MB
ISBN (HC): 978-1668027950
ISBN (PB): 978-1668027967
ASIN (Audiobook): B0BSB55N6X
ASIN (Kindle): B0BMN9QCRJ
BNID: 978-1668027974
Genre: Baseball



Buy The Book:



Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy of the book via NetGalley from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review.


Book Description:

“The definitive story” (Tyler Kepner, The New York Times baseball columnist) of Yankees slugger Aaron Judge’s incredible, unparalleled run to break Roger Maris’s home run record and the franchise both men called home.

Aaron Judge, the hulking superman who carried an easy aw-shucks demeanor from small-town California to stardom in the Big Apple, had long established his place as one of baseball’s most intimidating power hitters. Baseballs frequently rocketed off his bat like cannon fire, dispatching heat-seeking missiles toward the “Judge’s Chambers” seating area in right field, sending delirious fans scattering for souvenirs.

But even in a high-tech universe where computers measure each swing to the nth degree, Roger Maris’s American League mark of sixty-one home runs seemed largely out of reach. It had been more than a decade since baseball wiped clean the stains of its performance-enhanced era, in which cartoonish sluggers Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds made a mockery of the record book.

Given a more level playing field against pitchers sporting hellacious arsenals unlike anything Babe Ruth or Maris could have imagined, only an exceptional talent could even consider making a run at sixty-one homers. Judge, who placed the bet of his life by turning down a $213.5 million extension on the eve of the regular season, promised to rise to the challenge.

“In the most thorough telling yet of an all-time-great Yankees performance” (Jeff Passan, New York Times bestselling author), veteran Yankees beat reporter Bryan Hoch unravels the remarkable journey of Judge’s run to shatter Maris’s beloved sixty-one-year-old record. In-depth, inspiring, and with an expert’s insight, 62 also investigates the more significant questions raised in a season unlike any other, including how—and where—Judge will deliver his encore.



My Book Review: 

Are you a NY Yankees fan? Do you still get chills from Aaron Judge's magical 2022 season? Well then come along for the journey in 62 by author Bryan Hoch!

In 62, author Bryan Hoch takes the reader back to Aaron Judge's magical 2022 season where he broke the AL single-season Home Run record with 62 home runs that was previously held by Roger Maris' record of 61 home runs that stood for 61 years!

Follow along as author and Yankees beat reporter Bryan Hoch takes you behind the scenes of Aaron Judge's magical 2022 season as he took his place in the record books alongside legendary Yankee Right Fielders Babe Ruth (60 home runs) and Roger Maris (61 home runs) with his journey to hit 62 home runs, and break the AL single-season home run record. Packed with interviews about the season from Aaron and players on the Yankees team, coaches, and executives, Bryan provides a fascinating insight, and statistics that lays out Aaron's historic journey of home run dominance in the 2022 season. 

As a NY Yankees fan from childhood, I loved reading 62! Author Bryan Hoch delves into baseball history of the AL single-season home run record that was held by Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, and now Aaron Judge. I really enjoyed reading about the history of Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris' 1961 chase to break Babe Ruth's record of 60 (1927) home runs that stood for 34 years. Their story was the backdrop for Aaron Judge's chase to break Maris' record 61 years later. I loved that the author provided the reader with a biography of Aaron Judge's life and baseball career, and Aaron's commentaries that was provided in the book throughout his journey in the 2022 season. I loved reading all the stories from the players and coaches interviews, and the amazing statistics that were included in the book. You can't help but get caught up in the excitement as Aaron's 2022 historical season unfolded. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the author takes the reader along for the ride for the Yankees 2022 season, which included their journey to seek a 28th championship (oh so close), along with the drama of Aaron's free agency status at the end of the season, which ultimately led thankfully to his resigning and becoming the 16th Yankee Captain. So Yankees fans, read 62, you won't be disappointed!



RATING: 5 STARS 





About The Author




Bryan Hoch has covered New York baseball for the past two decades, working the New York Yankees clubhouse as a MLB.com beat reporter since 2007. Bryan is the author of 62, The Baby Bombers: The Inside Story of the Next Yankees Dynasty, a co-author of Mission 27: A New Boss, A New Ballpark and One Last Ring for the Yankees' Core Four, and the author of The Bronx Zoom: Inside the New York Yankees' Most Bizarre Season.










Thursday, June 15, 2023

The 1998 Yankees by Jack Curry (Book Review)

 




The 1998 Yankees by Jack Curry
Publisher: Twelve
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
Format: Hardcover - 273 pages
               Kindle - 19373 KB
               Audible - 7 Hours 45 Minutes
               Nook - 18 MB
ISBN: 978-1538722978
ASIN (Kindle): B0B8YWMTN6
ASIN (Audible): B0BBYVPJ3B
BNID: 978-1538722992
Genre: Baseball 



Buy The Book:



Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.


Book Description:


"The 1998 Yankees were a perfectly constructed team. Jack Curry does an amazing job of telling the tales of that phenomenal group." —David Cone

Discover the inside story of the Yankees' unprecedented talent with this gripping account from a reporter who was there for the team's 125 wins.​

The visiting clubhouse in San Diego was soggy, sweaty and sticky after the 1998 Yankees swept the Padres in four games and celebrated winning their 24th World Series title. The players raised bottles of Champagne, sprayed the bubbly on each other and reveled in a baseball season that might have been more memorable than any in history.

Jack Curry was part of that unforgettable scene as a reporter, navigating around the clubhouse to ask the same, pertinent question. After winning an unprecedented 125 games and pummeling teams along the way, were these Yankees, the Yankees of Jeter, Mariano, Posada, Pettitte, Bernie, O’Neill, Tino and so many other vital players, the best team ever?

“Right now, you would have to call them the best team ever,” said owner George Steinbrenner.

Twenty five years later, Curry revisits that season to discuss how that team was built and why the Yankees were such a talented, refreshing and successful club. This book includes new interviews with more than 25 players, coaches and executives, who revealed some behind-the-stories about the magical journey and who also discussed the depth of this historic squad.
 
“From the first man to the 25th man on the roster, I don’t think there’s a team that had more talent and a team whose players knew their roles as well as our players did,” said pitcher David Cone. “If you’re using that as a barometer for the best team of all-time, then I think you can call us the best team of all-time.”

During that wondrous season, Don Zimmer, a Yankee coach and a baseball lifer who began his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954, told associates there would never be another team like the 1998 Yankees. Zimmer was right. Twenty five years later, Curry describes how and why that Yankee team could be the best ever.



My Book Review:

Are you a NY Yankees fan? Do you remember the magical 1998 season? 

In The 1998 Yankees, author Jack Curry takes the reader back to the magical 1998 season when the NY Yankees won their 24th championship, and he gives a detailed inside story of why the 1998 Yankees team is the greatest baseball team ever! 

Following a disappointing end to the 1997 post season, the 1998 NY Yankees team started the new season with unfinished business, and played with a vengeance to claim the championship. Follow along as author and Yankees analyst Jack Curry takes you behind the scenes of the magical 1998 season that brought an unprecendented 125 wins, and a season of pure dominance. Packed with interviews about the season from the players on the 1998 Yankees team, coaches, and executives, Jack provides a new perspective, insight, and statistics that lays out the reason why the 1998 Yankees team was the greatest team in baseball history. 

As a NY Yankees fan from childhood, I loved reading The 1998 Yankees! Author Jack Curry took me back to that magical season, and I went along for the ride on the incredible journey that lead the 1998 Yankees team to an unprecedented 125 wins and their 24th world series championship. I loved reading all the stories from the players and coaches interviews, the amazing statistics, and the photographs that were included in the book. You can't help but get caught up in the excitement as the 1998 season unfolded. The Yankees were relentless in their pursuit, they were focused, confident, and dedicated, which led to a season of dominance. As a Yankees fan, you can't help but relive that magical season as you turn the pages, from the players' stories to the timeline of the season, author Jack Curry sure does make a case of why the 1998 Yankees was the greatest baseball team ever! 



RATING: 5 STARS 





About The Author




Jack Curry is an analyst on the Yankees' pre and postgame shows on the YES Network, where he has worked since 2010. He was part of YES's Emmy Award-winning Yankee coverage in 2011. He is also a columnist for Yesnetwork.com. Until 2009, he was a national baseball correspondent for The New York Times. Before taking over that position, he was the beat writer covering the Yankees for the Times. He worked at the Times for 22 years.