Description
Book SynopsisA rare glimpse of professional ballplayers, not as pitchers, hitters, managers, and coaches, but as dads and grandads.
Sons of major league baseball players grow up in a unique environment, not only because they are raised in part by professional athletes, but also because they are raised by the game itself. They come of age immersed in the distinct sounds and aromas of baseball. The locker rooms, the cinderblock-lined corridors beneath the stands, the dugouts, and the fields are the playgrounds of their youth.
In Sons of Baseball, Mark Braff interviews 18 men who share their exclusive stories, ballpark memories, and the challenges and rewards of having fathers whose talents enabled them to reach the pinnacle of their profession. Each chapter is devoted to one son talking about his experiences, from the poignancy of one son’s disclosure that his dad has not been able to acknowledge his son’s sexuality as a gay man, to the humor of another son absconding with the groundskeepers’ cart in Cleveland.
Including the sons of well-known players such as Cal Ripken, Yogi Berra, and Mariano Rivera as well as beloved lesser-known players, Sons of Baseball provides a unique, well-rounded perspective on the lives of professional ballplayers and their families. And with father-son photos from the families’ personal collections, this book is a rare, first-of-its kind compilation for all fans of the game.
Table of ContentsForeword by Cal Ripken Jr
Introduction
Chapter 1. Jerry Hairston Sr. & Jr.—Following grandpa and dad into the family business
Chapter 2. Roger & Kevin Maris—Still teaching lessons from dad
Chapter 3. Larry Dobby Sr. & Jr.—From baseball to Billy Joel
Chapter 4. John & Dusty Wathan—Cup ball and stories from Buck O’Neil
Chapter 5. Henry & David Rodriguez—Seeking dad’s acceptance: “All I wanted was a Barbie”
Chapter 6. Mariano & Jafet Rivera—“Come on, Rivera, throw the cutter”
Chapter 7. Vada Pinson Jr. & III—Yearning for a father’s love
Chapter 8. Yogi & Larry Berra—Fielding fungoes from Mickey Mantle
Chapter 9. Dave & Jeff McNally—A national television debut at age seven
Chapter 10. Jack & Matt Aker—If it’s Tuesday, this must be Lynchburg
Chapter 11. John W. Powell Sr & Jr—Stealing (and abandoning) the groundskeepers’ cart
Chapter 12. Gil Hodges Sr & Jr.—Embracing the legacy
Chapter 13. Tony Pena Sr & Jr.—Poking sleeping players with toothpicks
Chapter 14. Jim & Michael Bouton—Riding upside down to Yankee Stadium
Chapter 15. Leo Cardenas Sr & Jr.—“I should have made it”
Chapter 16. Bobby & Robby Richardson—Getting past Frank Crosetti, baseball cop
Chapter 17. Mike & Andy Hargrove—Fishing off Bo Jackson’s lap
Chapter 18. Ron & Brandon Guidry—Handfuls of Bazooka and other stadium fun
Acknowledgments
A Note on Sources
About the Author
