From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. In an inspired Major League pairing, all-star pitcher Gibson, 73, talks mechanics, psychology and culture with 63-year-old Reggie Jackson, one of the game's greatest hitters. Although they never faced each other on the field, they square off on everything from pitch counts and swing styles to catchers, managers and umpires, to clubhouse environments and media distractions. In lengthy discussions steered by author Wheeler (Gibson's autobiography collaborator), the two often turn conversational, sharing stories about Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols, among others, but the book reads best when the duo discusses controversies: spitballers, hit batters, steroids, free agency and racism. Their egos and memories remain remarkably vivid; Gibson, who spent 17 years on the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals, constantly cites his own stats, and Jackson, who won the World Series with both the A's and the Yankees, takes credit for Derek Jeter's success. Fans will come away from this discussion between greats with even greater understanding and appreciation for the game.
Review
"If you want to understand baseball’s game inside the game between the pitcher and the hitter, this is it. Two of the greats have written a classic."
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Willie Mays
“Gibby and Reggie finally share their perspectives as two of the fiercest competitors who ever played the game. Trust me…It’s a great read.”
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Joe Torre“Wow! Knowledge and insight into the game for players, kids and the fans. Two of the game’s greatest under pressure: Mr. October and Bob Gibson. SIXTY FEET, SIX INCHES is fun, full of information and an easy read.”
--Mariano Rivera
“For the first time Mr. October joins Mr. October. It doesn’t get much better than this.”
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Tim McCarver “For a baseball fan, this breezy book is like a giant box of popcorn–once you pick it up, you can’t put it down. Insight after insight from two of the most compelling figures in the game’s history.”
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Bob Costas"Oh to be a fly on the wall. Here is an inside look from two of the greatest competitors ever to put on a major league uniform. Both have strong opinions about that magical 60' 6" space between the hitter and the pitcher -- and they have the stats to back it up."
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Tom Seaver.“These conversations are usually only heard in Cooperstown during Hall of Fame weekends. Two giants of baseball discussing the game they love. This is a fun book!”
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Joe Morgan“Love it. Two of the most dominating personalities in the game, one from each side of the plate. The pitcher from the defensive side and the hitter from the offensive side. Both of these Hall of Famers had dominating approaches and felt they controlled every aspect of their game. Intimidation with tremendous concentration. The authors had both. People sometimes don't understand the mind games and personal challenges that go on between the hitter and pitcher. It’s all right here. You have to have a great ego to compete and succeed at the challenge of hitting as well as pitching at the highest level. This is a fun read. I recommend this book to all.”
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Johnny Bench
“Two good friends got together to talk about the game we love in a book that makes you feel like you’re sitting on a couch and talking to two of the best to ever play the game. Ask a question and you get an answer. Great insight for the baseball fan or baseball player.”
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George Brett
HOW A HALL OF FAME HITTER THINKS:
They
wanted to pitch me in, I think. But I backed off the plate about four inches more than usual and leaned forward, so it wouldn’t look like I’d moved. I faked it to make it appear normal. That way, they’d go ahead and bring the ball in, but I was actually far enough from the plate that I could handle that pitch. It was the only time in my life I ever did that. I baited them into giving me inside strikes. Then as soon as they started throwing the ball I would just raise up . . .
HOW A HALL OF FAME PITCHER THINKS:
Hitters who stand practically on top of the plate and don’t like the ball inside will still
swing at a ball inside. Then they might back away a little bit for the next pitch, to give themselves some hitting room, and if you bring the ball a little further inside they’ll
still swing at it because it looks the same to them as the last pitch. They don’t realize that they’re standing in a different spot. Their body didn’t get the memo from their brain. Now the plate’s a whole lot wider than it was, and there’s no way in the world that guy’s going to do anything with a good pitch on the outside corner, even if he’s looking for it. He’ll pop it up or roll it to the second baseman.
You’ve just got to know who you can do what to. That’s what pitching is.
