Customer Reviews

Last Time Out: Big League Farewells of Baseball's Greatest

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As a life long baseball fan who is relegated to watch major league baseball in a poorly constructed football stadium, where you lose sight of the ball the second the ball goes higher than the short stops head at the laughing stock of MLB, the Metrodome. I am naturally drawn towards reading baseball books reminiscing about a game where baseball was played outdoors on grass. The problem is there are just so many on the shelf it's hard to pick one to read. I came about finding this book by listening to the radio. One night, AM1500 talk show host TD Mischke conducted as usual another fantastic interview with that nights guest John Nogowski where he discussed this book. His knowledge, passion and insight about the game sparked my interest and I went out and picked this book up. It really is a fantastic book about the greats of the game, most of which I never got to see play.

It's really an interesting and unique look at the great players of the past where Nogowski focuses on their final games. Having always had an interest in Joe DiMaggio, because of his desire to have a perfect image, which made his final games difficult since he was not up to his usual standards of perfection. Also growing up watching Cal Ripken achieve so many accomplishments in the Metrodome when he came into town it really made a great read and interesting read. I can't recommend this book highly enough for fans of every age.

"Last Time Out" is a unique baseball book in that it captures some long forgotten moments in the magnificent career of baseball giants like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Willie Mays and Ted Williams. Using newspaper accounts from the day, author John Nogowski finds a magical way to bring you back to those days of yesterday, so it seems as if you're sitting in a first base box seat as Joe DiMaggio rips a double off Larry Jansen or as Ty Cobb pinch-hits and pops out before a raucous Yankee Stadium crowd. Crammed with career statistics as well as the very last box score that carried the great players' name, "Last Time Out" offers 25 of baseball's greatest on the way out. Their very last time - out.

THIS BOOK IS ABOUT MANY FORMER STARS SUCH AS MICKEY MANTLE, TED WILLIAMS AND SANDY KOUFAX PLAYING THE FINAL GAME OF THEIR CAREER. AUTHOR JOHN NOGOWSKI GIVES US A BIT ABOUT THEIR CAREER THEN GOES INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE LAST GAME OF EACH PLAYER ALONG WITH THE BOX SCORE. HE ALSO PROVIDES SOME GREAT PICTURES AND COMPLETE SEASON BY SEASON LIFETIME STATS. YOU GET ALOT IN THIS BOOK. I READ THIS IN 2 DAYS. HOPE MR. NOGOWSKI PUTS OUT ANOTHER BOOK LIKE THIS SOON. VERY RECOMMENDED..

This is a gem of a book and one to be savored. I recommend you read a story and put the book down for a day or two before you read the next story. Every one of these players is worth reflecting on for a while before you dig into the next one.

John Nogowski knows and loves baseball, and has created a keeper for any sports library.

Ned Foster