Branch Rickey's Little Blue Book: Wit and Strategy from Baseball's Last Wise Man [Hardcover]

Branch Rickey (Author), John J. Monteleone (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1995

Baseball's only true Renaissance man, Rickey, in his 84 years, was a teacher, lawyer, combat military officer in World War I, professional baseball player, manager, and owner--to name a few of his occupations. Culled from his writings, letters, scouting reports, and lectures, this book portrays his incredible understanding of the game.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

One of baseball's real gentlemen and perhaps its only true revolutionary, Branch Rickey, as president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, made it his mission to change the game--and with it America--by obliterating the color line in 1947. As it took an extraordinary man of will in Jackie Robinson to bear the on-the-field brunt of Rickey's daring, it took a man of equal resolve and courage to conceive and implement the plan in the first place. Rickey, creator as well of baseball's farm system, left a giant and enduring legacy. This slim volume of epigrams and observations--on character, attitude, and baseball itself--compiled from his letters, notes, and personal papers is a treasure trove of good sense, keen insight, and, indeed, some genuine inspiration, a true reflection of the singular man who penned them.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 142 pages
• Publisher: Macmillan General Reference; First Edition edition (June 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028604008
• ISBN-13: 978-0028604008
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,590,403 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Window into the Soul of Branch Rickey, March 15, 2000

By 

Spencer K. Stephens (Rockville, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Branch Rickey's Little Blue Book: Wit and Strategy from Baseball's Last Wise Man (Hardcover)

This book proves why one's words are a window into one's soul. None of the several works I've read about Rickey show his personality so clearly as this, or make him appear as interesting. To read this is to know Rickey the humorist, Rickey the parsimonious paternalist, Rickey the wise man, Rickey the businessman and Rickey the talent. The quotes by him and about him show why Rickey would have been an immense success in whatever field he chose. Thank God it was baseball.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Words of wisdom from one of the great minds of the game., October 31, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Branch Rickey's Little Blue Book: Wit and Strategy from Baseball's Last Wise Man (Hardcover)

Branch Rickey brought Jackie Robinson into the major league, breaking the color barrier. And that wasn't the only barrier he broke during his 60 years in baseball. A terrible player and unsuccessful major league manager, he excelled in spotting talent and teaching players how to play and live. He single-handedly invented the modern farm system for developing talent. A notorious cheapskate, he inspired tremendous loyalty. This book contains his own words, extracted from over a hundred boxes of his writings that are archived at the Library of Congress. I'm giving it as an end of the season present to my assistant coaches on my little league team.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Book to Help Anyone Interested in Learning Baseball, April 14, 2006

By 

Leroy E. Heldman (Knoxville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Branch Rickey's Little Blue Book: Wit and Strategy from Baseball's Last Wise Man (Hardcover)

Branch Ridley's Little Blue Book is simply fantastic. Anyone, young or old can learn the specifics of playing the game of baseball. They have to certainly read every page and apply it to their game, and it is almost guaranteed to improve their ability. I would recommend it to every coach from Little League on up to the Major League. I have purchased one for all the grandsons playing the game, and plan to purchase more for others.