Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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.