Inside Power [Paperback]

Gary Sheffield (Author), David Ritz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 22, 2008

I love this game

Love the feel of the bat in my hand, the grass under my feet, the shouts of encouragement as I step into the box. I draw strength from the fans and play my heart out for them.

I just wish those who control the game had more respect for the guys doing the playing.

What I want to do in this book is show you what it’s been like taking this strange, wonderful, sometimes immensely frustrating life journey. There are a lot of stories to tell from a life lived on and off the field: some sweet, others horrific. Everything from soaking up Little League glory to nearly being shot to death, from learning the startling truth of how I came by my last name to playing with and for characters like A-Rod, Jeter, Lasorda, Leyland, and Torre. And, yeah, I’ll finally set the record straight about Steinbrenner and Bonds.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Sheffield will spend his twentieth year in major-league baseball patrolling right field for the Detroit Tigers in 2007. He has a good chance of ending up in baseball's Hall of Fame, but his career has not lacked for controversy, thanks to the shadow of alleged steroid use. This above-average sports memoir naturally contains his denial of the steroid charges, but it's also peppered with engaging on-the-field anecdotes, forays inside the competitive mind of a world-class athlete, and thoughtfully presented glimpses of the harsh, often uncaring world of big-time sports. For example, Sheffield was a key player on the 1997 World Series champion Florida Marlins. Upset over the lack of public financing for a new stadium, the owner traded all the team's stars early the next year. Little wonder that Sheffield parlayed the experience into a financial windfall for himself. When everyone else acts like it's a business, not a sport, start acting like a businessman or get left behind. Sheffield's star status will generate readers, and his frankness will create additional word-of-mouth interest. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

“A fast and engaging read . . . While Sheffield riffs on issues from his name being linked to the BALCO steroids scandal . . . to racism in Major League baseball . . . he saves some of his best cuts for the Yankees organization.”
—Sports Illustrated

“With a pen as punishing as his bat and as provocative as its proprietor, [Sheffield is] uniquely suited to serve as a tour guide through the good, the bad, and the steroid that is modern Major League baseball.”
—ESPN.com

“Gary Sheffield has always been one of my favorite baseball players. Now I know why after reading Inside Power. His courage, conviction, and commitment are contagious.”
—Tavis Smiley, author and television and radio show host

“Gary Sheffield, passionate, blunt, and opinionated, is a smart black man who always wants to know `why.’ ‘Why are some owners so controlling or inept?’ ‘Why is love so hard to find?’ ‘Why are fewer and fewer blacks playing major league baseball?’ I love Sheff as a player. Having read Inside Power, I respect him even more as a man.”
—Peter Golenbock, author of Dynasty and co-author of The Bronx Zoo


From the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press (April 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307352234
• ISBN-13: 978-0307352231
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 0.7 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,308,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars We Are All A Work In Progress, April 10, 2007

By 

C. W. Emblom "Bill Emblom" (Ishpeming, Michigan USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Inside Power (Hardcover)

Gary Sheffield provides us with a hard-hitting opinionated account of his life beginning when his uncle, Dwight Gooden, used to burn his hand in games of catch in Tampa, Florida, up until his recent trade to the Detroit Tigers. He describes his bitter disappointment in being kicked off his Little League team as a twelve year old for threatening his coach with a bat, his immature view of women as sex objects until he met his wife who didn't share his sentiments, and his experiences with six major league teams. We all have people in our lives who have influenced us either in a positive or negative manner. Dave Huppert, his first minor league manager in the Brewers' farm system, sensed his loneliness and provided necessary encouragement. Brewers' manager Tom Treblehorn, Marlins' manager Jim Leyland and GM Dave Dombrowski, uncle Dwight, and a grandfather who instilled in him the phrase "inside power" are among those who had a positive influence on Gary Sheffield. The wiggle in the bat while waiting for a pitch was an adjustment used to slow himself down. After learning to bat against Uncle Dwight other pitchers appeared slower to him. In meeting his wife and accepting Christ as his savior Gary has found the peace that has eluded him and taught him patience. Nevertheless, it is not inconsistent for him to express his views on a number of subjects related to baseball. If you want his opinion be prepared for an honest answer. If you are afraid of what he might say, then don't ask. This book is a quick read with very short chapters suitable for youngsters. It's refreshing to read a book with no profanity. Good luck, Gary, with your seventh team the Detroit Tigers.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sheffield learns baseball and life go together, May 4, 2008

By 

Guy F. Airey "The Chemist" (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside Power (Paperback)

This is a very brief story about the earlier years of one of baseball's premier players, Gary Sheffield. It is written in very short chapters along the line of Jose Conseco's book, but is more about a maturing process than anything else. Dwight Gooden is Gary's uncle, and that must have been a riot growing up with a role model like that. Gary has alot of baggage he brings around that resembles a chip on his shoulder-- and seems to blame everyone else for any problem that comes along. Sometimes, you have to admit to yourself, that your life is better than most people's and let little things not bother you so much. Eventually, he learns this, and becomes a better person from the "inside". The Inside Power title is to signify his change into becoming a man from a kid. Gary Sheffield is/was one of the world's greatest hitters...when others talked of going 0 for 20, a bad streak for him was 0 for 3. It was an interesting book, but nothing really remarkable about it. You are not going to get any secret tips on how to bat or hit, but you will get a journey on how baseball will make you grow up or you will be very unhappy your entire career. How many people in this world would trade for a career like this guy instead of complaining about 90% of the time about trades and owners? The time he spent with Barry Bonds must have actually made him worse, and is interesting because it was at the wrong time in his career. When I think of Gary Sheffield, I think of a line drive double hit---HARD. guyairey

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read, May 27, 2007

By 

Marcus T. Brody (Tampa Bay, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside Power (Hardcover)

This was a good read. Sheffield wasn't as outspoken as I thought he was going to be, but you learned a lot about what makes him tick in this book. He's a very intense person, who will go to great lengths to prove his worth, both to himself and to others. He doesn't like authority, doesn't like being told what to do or how to do things. This is the basic message you will get from after reading this book. The whole "Bonds" chapter was interesting. Not sure if I believe the steroids issue (I mean, come on, there's no way on Earth he's going to admit to using them--he's got MILLIONS of dollars and his legacy to worry about). He was definitely on juice back when everyone else was. He was IMMENSE! Now he's strong, but not even close to what he was back in 2000 or so. Other than the juice issue, the rest was fairly interesting. It was the kind of book that I read in its entirety in one day, because I didn't feel like putting it down.