Customer Reviews

Willie Mays: A Biography (Baseball's All-Time Greatest Hitters)

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Not the standard by which biographies should be judged, but okay. Unless you're a huge Willie or Giants fan, it's not a must read. There are a few editing mistakes and several factual errors. Juan Marichal was suspended eight days not nine in 1965 for his fight with John Roseboro as reported in the book. There were other errors that a baseball fan would know as obviously wrong, such as making a 400' throw from the outfield to 2nd base.

It covers Willie's life equally. Talks of his special relationship with Leo Durocher and how Willie didn't care for Bill Rigney. It talks about Willie's two marriages a sufficient amount and his problems in buying a house when he first moved to SF. It also tells that Willie moved back to NY to placate his first wife to try to save his marriage. Maintaining homes on both coasts was a strain on Willie financially. The book also mentions that Willie worn large baseball hats, so it was easier for his hat to fall off and impress the crowd. Now we know!

Willie Mays: A Biography (Baseball's All -Time Greatest Hitters)

I liked the story and was filled with admiration for his outstanding character as well. I got bored with too many statistics that I'm sure that I will not remember. He represented what is finest in baseball and that is primarily playing for the love of the game and was willing to mentor young players. He was a very humble person and always gave his best no matter how he felt.

For a solid biography of baseball's great, look no further than Mary Kay Linge's WILLIE MAYS: A BIOGRAPHY: it covers everything from his segregated childhood in Birmingham Alabama to how he became the first black team captain in baseball, then moved up to become a world-famous player. From his army stint to his championship season, WILLIE MAYS captures all the highlights of his career and life.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch