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Baseball Junkie Paperback – February 1, 2017

4.6 out of 5 stars 129

Aubrey Huff has always been controversial. Just read the flurry of 1-star reviews that came flooding in one day from people that never even read the book but were angered by some of Aubrey's tweets. They make for entertaining reading for sure! Funnily enough, as a result of the negative feedback from those that disagreed with Aubrey's opinions, book sales for Baseball Junkie have seriously ramped up. Some twitter trolls went as far as accusing Aubrey of being a racist, privileged white dude. But in reality, Aubrey has never had it easy. He grew up in a trailer park in a small Texas town. His dad was brutally murdered by a white guy with a gun. At age six, he was suddenly thrust into the position of being the leader of his little family. At age nine, he decided to take matters in his own hands, making a deal with his mom. If she would buy him a baseball cage, he would work tirelessly to become a professional baseball player. He worked his heart out, hitting 200, sometimes 300 balls a day in that cage, seven days a week. But that had little effect on his career in high-school Aubrey did not stop there. He fought and clawed his way into a junior college, and worked twice as hard as everyone else to earn a place in the lineup at The U. Nothing was ever handed to Aubrey on a silver platter. Yes, he finally made it to the big leagues, but even then, the demons he had to wrestle with on a daily basis crippled him After retirement, Aubrey finds himself on his knees in his bedroom closet one evening, weeping, a loaded .357 Magnum pressed against his temple, ready to end it all. So that's the heart of this book. Aubrey buries no one but himself in Baseball Junkie. He draws an intimate portrait of life in the big leagues, and bares all, revealing the internal struggles he experienced, taking the reader inside the complex life and mind of a man as he balances victories with the crippling demons of addiction, divorce, anxiety, depression, and feelings of inferiority. It inspires the reader to seek more than what this world has to offer. To rise above mediocrity, achieving his or her true potential while staying focused on what really matters when the fame and excitement of the game fade with the sunset. Best of all, Baseball Junkie shows how we are all just human after all. Susceptible to the traps life sets out for us, and the landmines lowlife twitter trolls lay in our path.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Aubrey is one of the very few to show us what enduring as a professional athlete is really all about, giving us a look behind the mask that every one of us must wear to do his job, far beyond the money and notoriety that comes with it. Aubrey has unveiled parts of himself that only his therapist might know if it weren't for his courage to simply just be who he is. His transparency is awe inspiring. Invincible far transcends the game of baseball. It could be a how-to guide on accepting yourself as you truly are. Aubrey reveals flaws so close to home that it causes a stirring in me to be more forthcoming with my own, and shows he has nothing to prove to anyone but to God and himself. What a gift that would be if we all lived like that. --Barry Zito - former pitcher San Francisco Giants

Aubrey Huff has written an honest, disturbing, courageous, inspiring book that goes well beyond baseball, it addresses life challenges, including addiction, depression and suicide. I've always said baseball is the hardest game to play. Huffy's story takes that to another level. --Tim Kurkjian - MLB analyst for ESPN

I'm not much of a reader but when Aubrey asked me to read his book I was shocked he even knew how to read, much less write a book! But what was even more shocking was what I read. As a good friend and ex-teammate of Aubrey's for nearly three seasons I saw firsthand what a fun loving, carefree attitude he had in the clubhouse. I couldn't believe the story I was reading was the same guy. An absolutely shocking, uncomfortable, sad, and hilarious read, all at the same time! --Kevin Millar - 2004 World Series Champ and analyst MLB Network

About the Author

Aubrey Huff is a former Major League Baseball player who played for 12 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, and San Francisco Giants. Aubrey won two World Series Championships with the Giants in 2010, and 2012 and won a Silver Slugger, and Edgar Martínez award in 2008 as a Designated Hitter. He has finished in the top 25 in MVP voting 3 times in his career and holds the record for most R.B.I.s in a season, 95, at the University of Miami. Baseball America, The Sporting News, and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association named Aubrey a first-team All-American his junior year. Aubrey is currently speaking to local schools and organizations about the journey of his life, and the struggles he had to overcome to reach the pinnacle of baseball success. His message off the field is even more profound. A message built around vision, belief, and a deep seeded faith that can inspire anyone to move forward with their dreams. Aubrey lives in Del Mar, California with his wife and two young sons.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ DreamGrinder Press; First Edition (February 1, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 268 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0998440701
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0998440705
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.6 pounds
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 129

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
129 global ratings
Shortcomings of a washed up baseball player
1 Star
Shortcomings of a washed up baseball player
In his media tour, Aubrey shares his struggles, his demons, his willingness to overcome. The reality is, he may be a complex guy with inflicted issues, but he possesses a simple mind. Despite supposedly overcoming some of these demons to get to the other side, a more balanced side, we see in real time that he actually learned nothing and is still stuck in his self-inflicted inferiority complex.He spends his free time thriving off attacking social cause-induced marches, protests. Yet, when people push back on his notion, he comes out swinging like a spoiled brat.You really want to spend your well-earned money on this garbage of a book from a garbage of a man?
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2017
One particular part of the book struck a strong chord with me. Aubrey speaks of meeting with a top dollar therapist. After numerous sessions he asks the Dr. if he's ever suffered from depression? The therapist answers no and that ends up being their last session together.

I graduated from High School in 2010. The Giants were my hometown team and caught my imagination that Summer. I followed them religiously and Aubrey was my favorite player. His season a feel good story of a player whose career seemed to be on death's doorstep the prior year. In July Bochy asks him to play in the outfield, his response? "Now you'll get to see who's really the best athlete on the team". His confidence and production signified an inspiring revival. But as the old saying goes, you can't judge a book by its cover.

My father worked long hours everyday and my grandparents cared for me as a child. My father is also an alcoholic, and let's just say the times we spent together didn't always make for the greatest memories.

Aubrey's account of being the awkward, polite kid making his way from a small town in Texas to the University of Miami resonated strongly with me. The feeling of being a little fish in a big pond makes for a scary experience, especially when you've grown up without a positive male role model. It makes for many feelings of uncertainty, angst, insecurities and a lack of identity as you reach adulthood. You look around and wonder: why can't I be happy like everyone else?

If these feelings aren't properly treated, it leads to substance abuse: alcohol, painkillers etc. It feels so easy and natural to numb the pain. I'm amazed Aubrey was able to have the baseball career he did in spite of his addictions. Panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression are horrible things to live with. I wouldn't wish them on anyone.

Aubrey was in position with everything to lose, and despite that he's on the road to recovery. Mr. Huff I applaud you for your vulnerability in sharing these things. It makes a difference for someone like me who knows (to an extent) how you feel. I hope you find many years of happiness with your family in retirement.
11 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2017
I was a huge Aubrey Huff fan before reading this book. He was one of the good fun guys during the time he played for the SF Giants. After reading this, my respect for him has quadrupled. He was a man struggling and lucky for him, he recognizes exactly what his issues were/are. I will always wish him and his family the very best, one day at a time. He shows his raw life issues and his honest battle against the evil. Aubrey Huff is one brave man to share this with us, the fans. Good read. Good stuff!!! There are so many other professional fans who would never go here. This book about a man willing to share speaks volumes of him, his character and his dedication to God and his family. A+
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2017
I absolutely loved this book. It made me laugh i.e. The Pat Burrell story and the rally thong. It also made me cry when I read about your father. I will also say it made me angry at you how you treated your beautiful family. Most of all it made me think. Think about how things can seem so amazing to us the public when behind the scenes real life can be a mess. I am so glad you are on the right track and your wife stood by you and has forgiven you. It had to be hard to bare your soul like you did so thank you. Stay strong and be happy.
9 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2017
Loved this book! It's an honest story about a World Championship ball player who struggles with anxiety, depression and addiction. Every time I picked up the book, I was right back in his story. The measure of a good book is that you don't want it to end. As I was closing in on the end of this book, I was reading more slowly so that it wouldn't end - I do this with books I love. Baseball Junkie is an intriguing, honest and raw story of a real struggle to regain one's self and provides hope and inspiration to anyone who reads it.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2017
With such a compelling story to tell, I'm sure at some point Mr. Huff was tempted to do a tell all book. However, he wrote with pure class. He showed regular viewers an accurate and realistic glimpse into major league baseball - from whitnessing Jose Canseco putting his cell phone down to take an at-bat in Tampa Bay, to recognizing that Buster Posey saw a major change in his personality after he had overcome a drug addiction and rehabilitated his character. Worth the read, not just for giants fan but for anyone - a true comback story written with courage and honesty.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2017
A very honest book from a very lucky man to be where he is today with all he has done to himself, his family and friends. I'm sure as he says a few times " some of this was hard to write" and relive some of the events. But a story that will somewhere someday help someone with their demons and know that you can overcome anything. Oh and the fact the man didn't sell anyone out to make this book happen is a nice change. Not all about the book sales. Not to give anything away but my favorite quote was"I didn't have a plan B. I always figured that would distract from plan A."
-Aubrey Huff.
Thank you Mr Huff for your time and story.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2017
It takes a lot of courage for a person to realize and admit they have a problem. It takes even more courage to share their story. Aubrey's story is one of the best I have read. Just because athletes get paid millions of dollars does not mean they are invincible or super human. Road trips are lonely, nights are long, temptations are there. Some remain strong, some break. This book gives you a great outline on how life is as a professional athlete on and off the field. I highly recommend reading this book.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2017
Great book. Different perspective that your traditional athlete biography. It shows the dark side of sports that no one wants to talk about but all the fans want to know about. It was a great insider look on the darker side of the sport for the fans who want to know what really happened and what really fueled my favorite players. Aubrey Huff should be commended and thanked for having the courage and guts to tell the truth about what really happened behind the scenes. I truly enjoyed reading this book cover to cover.
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Top reviews from other countries

Christian
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in Canada on August 14, 2017
great book