Tim McCarver's Diamond Gems [Hardcover]

Tim McCarver (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 21, 2008

Baseball’s premier national television analyst Tim McCarver presents fascinating tales from the game’s greatest players and personalities

Tim McCarver’s Diamond Gems is a treasure trove of fabulous anecdotes from the many baseball celebrities who have appeared on “The Tim McCarver Show.” A valuable mix of baseball history with a personal touch, this book is a natural for everyone who loves the game. Includes tales from baseball greats Sandy Koufax, Stan Musial, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, Tom Seaver, Cal Ripken Jr., Johnny Bench, Don Mattingly, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones, David Wright, and many more.

“Baseball is THE storyteller’s game. So, if you love the game, you’ll love Tim McCarver’s treasure trove of stories. And you’ll also understand why Tim never has to fear a rain delay.”
—Bob Costas, NBC & HBO Sports

"Tim McCarver's Diamond Gems is the modern version of The Glory Of Their Times. It's fun and engaging and instructive and even sweet now and then. Tim could always call the pitches, and he also seems to get everyone to deliver their best stuff here.”
––Frank Deford, author, The Entitled

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tim McCarver was a major league catcher from 1959 to 1980 and World Series MVP in 1964 with the St. Louis Cardinals. A six-time Emmy winner, McCarver was ranked by TV Guide as one of the top ten sportscasters of all-time in its all-century edition. His acclaimed “The Tim McCarver Show” is enjoying its seventh season on television after two years on national radio. He lives in Sarasota, Florida.

Jim Moskovitz is the creator and producer of Chevrolet's “The Tim McCarver Show.” He has written and produced several long-running television series, prime-time specials, and sports books. He lives and works with his wife, Joyce, in Manhattan.

Danny Peary is the writer-researcher for "The Tim McCarver Show." This is his third book with McCarver. He lives in New York City and Sag Harbor, New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (February 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071545948
• ISBN-13: 978-0071545945
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,483,317 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Diamond Gems: Priceless Stories From Baseball's Greats, May 9, 2008

By 

Richard von Kleist "Richard von Kleist" (Vancouver, BC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tim McCarver's Diamond Gems (Hardcover)

Tim McCarver's "Diamond Gems" is a comprehensive collection of anecdotes and stories from the legends of the baseball diamond. These stories, gleaned from McCarver's internationally syndicated, talk show, weave an almost mythological tapestry of the mindset of the greats of baseball. Stan Musial claims he was a "low ball hitter and a highball drinker." These stories divulge amazing and often profound revelations. Don Mattingly credits Lou Piniella as the person who taught him how to hit for power in the majors; Mike Schmidt, with sadness that oozes off the page, regrets that he didn't have a friendlier relationship with the Philly fans; and Alex Rodriguez and Cal Ripken relate the same story of how Ripken was pushed into playing shortstop for one last time during his last all star game appearance. This gem of a story is told from the point of view from Ripken and Rodriguez and neatly juxtaposed in the book. With stories like these how can you lose? "Diamond Gems" is a must-read for all baseball fans and sports enthusiasts alike. Everyone will have their favorite stories, their favorite gems from the baseball diamond.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tim McCarver's Gem, March 30, 2008

By 

Sir Luis "magnesiumag" (Teaneck, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tim McCarver's Diamond Gems (Hardcover)

When I first read this book I saw that this was simply not a book about the sport of Baseball but about the history and of the names that come to mind whenever we relate a great moment to a parrallel in our own lives. Tim McCarver in his own right as a former player and now broadcaster is one to respect with his interviewing methods as more like sitting with these respected individuals on a Sunday in your living room just letting these stories flow and though sometimes you feel that you've heard all this before, this book brings it straight and to the point.

3.0 out of 5 stars Better analyst than a writer, March 4, 2011

By 

Marc Ranger "Baseball fan" (québec, canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tim McCarver's Diamond Gems (Hardcover)

Tim McCarver is one of the best baseball analyst out there. Out of nowhere, he can relate anything he sees on the field with an anecdote he fishes out of his enormous baseball knowledge.

However, Diamonds Gems left me unsatisfied. The book is divided by position, each position starring players or managers who shares something out of his bag of experiences. Some of the stories are of moderate interest, some others features events any baseball fan knows about (like A-Rod letting Ripken Jr handling short-stop duties at the all-star game).

Some baseball critics compared Diamond Gems with "The Glory of their Times", but believe me, those same critics will find Juan Pierre as good a player as Ty Cobb... Pierre isn't bad, but he isn't Cobb either. Same with Diamond Gems.