Bottom of the Ninth [Hardcover]

Kirk Gibson (Author), Lynn Henning (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"I came into baseball with a strikeout," Kirk Gibson readily admits in his autobiography, "and I went out with a strikeout. I came in being humbled, and I went out being humbled." In between his humiliations, though, the former Tiger and Dodger outfielder played some of the most passionately charged baseball in recent memory, his apotheosis coming in the opening game of the 1988 World Series with the most improbable--and memorable--home run since Babe Ruth's called shot. What makes this autobiography so intriguing is its opulence. With his fiery temperament, his uniform constantly dirty, and a pair of bad legs in constant need of repair, Gibson was like an old junker that wouldn't stop running. His book, on the other hand, is a glitzy, photo-filled, coffee-table-sized Mercedes, beautifully designed and written with insight.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 159 pages
• Publisher: Sleeping Bear Pr (April 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886947139
• ISBN-13: 978-1886947139
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,021,360 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very well written, easy to read cover to cover., July 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Bottom of the Ninth (Hardcover)

I found this to be an exceptional book. I personally am a big Kirk Gibson fan. I was able to learn alot about one of the most intense baseball players of the modern era. A great book for collectors or any sports fan in general

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Gamer, July 4, 2005

By 

John Orfield (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bottom of the Ninth (Hardcover)

Sports fans admire and respect natural talent but they absolutely love hustle. Kirk Gibson was one of those rare athletes who had both. An All-American in baseball and football at Michigan State, Gibson could have easily had a successful NFL career but he chose baseball instead partly because he wanted a challenge. Kirk Gibson rarely chose the easiest path.

Gibson was one of my favorites because he was the ultimate gamer, someone who thrived in the clutch and simply wanted to win at any cost. Unfortunately, usually that cost was his health. His willingness to put his body on the line helped his teams win a lot of games but it also kept him from having a Hall of Fame-caliber career. Somehow I don't think Kirk minds. After all, he was a key member of two World Champion teams and he had several unforgettable moments -- the 523 foot blast over the Tiger Stadium roof, the World Series-clinching home run against personal nemesis Goose Gossage in 1984, and, of course, the inspiring pinch hit home run off Dennis Eckersley in game one of the 1988 World Series that cemented Gibson's place in baseball lore forever.

Bottom of the Ninth is like most autobiographies -- part truth, part legend, part ego. But anyone who admired Kirk Gibson will enjoy this trip down memory lane, as told by the man himself.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WORST BASEBALL BOOK EVER WRITTEN??!!, September 17, 2000

By 

Jerry Soncrant (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bottom of the Ninth (Hardcover)

That reader from Chicago has got to be kidding!! Besides GIBSON admits in his younger days he was very obnoxious so whats the big secret?? The book reads extremely well even if your not a GIBSON fan.The book also shows that with DRIVE and DETERMINATION you can be a success in almost anything!! A great book for youngsters to read!!!Remember GIBSON wasn't a natural gifted athlete at baseball he excelled because he would not give up!!I wish the TIGERS had a whole team of GIBSONS!!Think of what a great country we would have if we had more people with GIBSONS attitude and drive to not give in to the BEAST of defeat! ([e-mail])