Dodger Baseball

Best Baseball Books

by
Michael Norris
June 19, 2025

I have always loved reading, unfortunately, my eyesight is not what it once was. I still have several books I want to read, including “Killing Crazy Horse”, the last Bill O’Reily book I purchased. I am also a huge fan of Jeffery Deaver and his murder mysteries with Lincoln Ryme, ” Bone Collector”, etc. All of that love started when I was young of course. The school library had so many different choices. I am a huge history buff, so anything about history was a must read.

I think I have read almost every book Herman Wouk wrote. His historical novels were a favorite of mine as were the novels of Leon Uris. Of course, when I was in the Army, I read a bunch of the popular spy novels of the time, Ian Fleming, Donald Hamilton’s Matt Helm novels. The Executioner series by Don Pendelton, and John D. McDonalds, Travis McGee series. But I also read every book on baseball I could find.

That started in grammar school. I would read these biography books they had on Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. I forget who the author was, but there were no photos, just silhouettes of the players. I did not even know what Ruth or Gehrig looked like until I was about 8. I also started reading novels by John R. Tunis. Tunis, who started writing after WWI, wrote freelance for American sports magazines while playing tennis in the Riviera.

He wrote an 8-book series on the Brooklyn Dodgers, starting with “The Kid from Tompkinsville”. His main character, Roy Tucker, was used later in a novel by Phillip Roth, ” American Pastoral”, which was considered the inspiration for “The Natural” and “Bang the Drum Slowly”. Roth also wrote Goodbye Columbus and ” Portnoy’s Complaint”. Tunis never considered himself a writer of children’s books, but all but one of his 24 books were published for juveniles. He is credited with rise of the juvenile fiction book market in the 40’s.

The eight Dodger books in order were “The Kid from Tompkinsville”, 1940, “World Series”, 1941, “Keystone Kids”, 43, “Rookie of the Year”, 44. “The Kid Comes Back”, 46, “Highpockets”, 48, “Young Razzle”, 49, and ” Schoolboy Johnson”, 1958. I read all of them in grammar school except the last one, which I have never seen in print. They were short, usually less than 200 pages. Tunis’s books addressed many subjects. Even antisemitism. In one of his novels, the manager of the Dodgers works hard to get his players to accept their new catcher, Jocko Klein, who is Jewish.

He also preached about fair play and sportsmanship. As a kid, I really enjoyed the books, and I felt his writing made me more aware of our differences as human beings, and a lot more tolerant of those who were not like me. Those books were my beginning of my quest for knowledge and ultimately a reasonable understanding of history, and how each of us might look at it differently. My list of favorite baseball books ranges from novels to the true stories written by players, and their biographers. They are in no numerical order.

Lost in the Sun

Co-written by Wally Wasinack and Mark Langill along with Gleason, it chronicles his youth and move to California, where he became a prized prospect for the Dodgers. He was signed by Kenny Myers, who he came to consider a father figure. He was a 5-tool player with speed, power, and a great throwing arm. He would have one MLB at bat and get a double. Through a series of mishandled options, he was eventually drafted into the Army, he was the only MLB player to see combat during the Viet Nam war. He was wounded and he never really recovered enough to play at the level he did prior to the wounds. Very well written and insightful.

Ball Four

Boutons behind the scenes semi-autobiography is loaded with a lot of personal stories about some of the game’s biggest stars and the story of the first and only year of the existence of the Seattle Pilots and his transition from a flame throwing fastball pitcher to a knuckleballer. Some players were notably angry after its release because they felt what goes on in the clubhouse was not for public knowledge. It is a must read for any baseball fan. The manager of the Pilots was a guy named Joe Schultz, a former catcher who spent parts of 9 seasons in the majors. His go to phrase of Let’s go pound some Budweiser is classic.

The Boys of Summer

This book by Roger Kahn is one of the best books about baseball I have ever read. Kahn was the Dodger beat reporter for the New York Herald Tribune. He was a Brooklyn native and had a natural love for the Dodgers. The book covers the two years; 52-53 that Kahn covered the team. He also went back and interviewed many of the players years later. These interviews and stories provided a lot of insight to that very powerful but just this short of being great, Dodgers team. Excellent read and had some nice photos too. I especially enjoyed the chapters on Duke Snider, Erskine, and George Shuba.

Baseball is a Funny Game

Although his name is on the book as the author, this book by Joe Garagiola was mostly ghost written. It was released in 1960, the last season of what was considered baseball’s golden era. There were still just 16 teams, 8 in each league. Many of the things done by teams in those days would be considered outmoded by today’s fans. For example, it was not unusual for teams to keep marginal players on the roster who were exceptionally good at hurling insults at the opposing team. They were called bench jockeys. Garagiola, much like Bob Uecker, used a lot of self-deprecating humor in the book, downplaying his baseball skills a lot. He was a much better player than he made himself out to be. It also chronicles his friendship with fellow catcher and St. Louis native, Yogi Berra.

Catcher in the Wry

This book, written by Mickey Herskowitz and Bob Uecker was published in 1982, the year the Brewers went to their only World Series. Uecker has a unique sense of humor and is adept at telling humorous stories about himself. When asked why he became a broadcaster, he gave the names of 12 National League pitchers. Uecker went from being a career .200 hitting catcher, to being crowned Mr. Baseball. His portrayal of Harry Doyle in the Major League movies is classic. This book is in that vein. Bob was one of the best storytellers ever. To quote Gene Mauch, “Grab a bat and end this rally!”.

Moneyball

Now to be honest, I watched the movie and have never read the book itself. I do have several baseball fan friends who have read it and say it is an excellent read. Considering how many of us watched the A’s that season and were amazed they were even competing after losing all their star players, I would have to concur. The movie was excellently done using the actors and then actual film of the A’s that year.

Bang the Drum Slowly

This novel about a fictional team called the New York Mammoths was written by Mark Harris, actual name, Mark Harris Finkelstein, and released in 1956. It has been adapted both to the small screen, TV, and movies. It follows a pitcher named Henry Wiggen, who doubles as a life insurance agent. The TV adaption featured Paul Newman as Wiggen, and Albert Salmi as his dying teammate, Bruce Pearson. The movie version had Michael Moriarity, (Pale Rider), as Wiggen and Robert DiNiro as Pearson. Pearson is the third string catcher on the team, and Wiggen is the star pitcher. He won’t sign a new contract with the Mammoths unless they tie him to Pearson in the contract, meaning if Pearson is traded, Wiggen must be traded to the same team. Pearson begins the season on the bench, but the manager eventually starts playing him since the other two catchers on the team stink. Wiggen does not tell the team that Pearson is dying, but they eventually find out. Well written, it is one of four baseball novels written by Harris that feature Wiggen as the central character. The movie was excellent.

Sandy Koufax, A Lefty’s Legacy

This book is in my personal library. It was published in 2002 and became a best-seller. Written by Jane Leavy, a sportswriter who once wrote for the Washington Post, is one of three she did on baseball greats Koufax, Mantle and Ruth. Many have said it captures the mystery and magnificence of Sandy better than any of his other bios’. It covers the entire spectrum of Koufax, from his religion to his toughness and unselfishness known only at the time to his teammates. She did extensive interviews with them and Koufax himself gave her his blessing to speak with them and stayed in contact with the author the entire time. It is an excellent read and something every Dodger fan should have.

Well, those are some of my favorites. I also enjoyed the three books written by former Dodger and funnyman, Jay Johnstone. Temporary Insanity, Over the Edge, and Some of My Best Friends Are Crazy. His stories about his time with the Dodgers are both hilarious and priceless. One of my favorites was Fred Claire, who witnessed Johnstone in line at the concession stand during a game in full uniform, including cleats, waiting to purchase some hot dogs. A nonfiction work I also enjoyed was The Catcher Was a Spy, the story of MLB catcher, Moe Berg who worked for the OSS during and before WWII. What are your favorites?

MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS

OKC Comets 6 – Round Rock Express (Texas) 0

Bobby Miller still has command and control issues. In 5.0 innings, Miller threw an inefficient 101 pitches/61 strikes. He did allow 5 hits and 2BB and registered 7 K. The run he did allow was unearned thanks to a dropped foul pop by catcher Chuckie Robinson. But it was a good bounceback start after his last debacle.

OKC started the scoring with an Alex Freeland HR in the 1^st inning.

Alex Freeland 🤝 first inning dingers

MLB's No. 44 prospect (@Dodgers' No. 4) goes yard in the opening frame for the second straight game — this one 410 feet at 104.4 mph — for the @OKC_comets. pic.twitter.com/5uhwrgkeia
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 18, 2025

In the 2^nd, the Comets plated 5. Hoese led off with a double. With one out, 3 Comets hitters drew BB and the first run was scored. After the 2^nd out, Ryan Ward drew a 4^th walk in the inning for the 2^nd run. Michael Chavis slugged a bases clearing double to give OKC a 6-0 lead.

In the 5^th Esteury Ruiz hit a 3-run HR to give OKC a 9-1 lead.

The Comets continued to pile it on with 3 unearned runs. A BB, E3, and 2 ground outs scored one run. Michael Chavis singled home a 2^nd run, his 4^th RBI. After Ruiz drew a BB, Kody Hoese’s 4^th hit scored the Comets’ 12^th run of the game.

After Logan Boyer retired all three batters he faced in the 6^th, Alexis Diaz made his OKC debut. He hit one batter, and got three fly outs. He threw 8 straight 4-seamers before throwing 3 sliders to the 4^th batter. His 4-seamer was mid 90’s. His slider averaged 87.9 MPH (87.1, 88, 88.5). Diaz 12 pitches/7 strikes.

#Dodgers newly acquired closer from the Reds, Alexis Diaz made his debut with OKC today. His fastball and slider looked good. 12P / 7S / 1IP / 0H / 0R / 0BB / 0K. He hit one batter and got a lot of soft contact that resulted in flyouts. pic.twitter.com/J22VYF1xyU
— 🇺🇸 DooM_Sal (@msalas24) June 18, 2025

Craig Kimbrel entered the 8^th. After 2 outs, James Outman hit a monster 438’ HR for the Comets 3 HR and 13^th run. Per the Comets’ announcer, of the 6 longest HR this year for OKC, Outman has 4 of them.

438 feet. 110 MPH of the bat.

That good? pic.twitter.com/j64pCpNYq5
— Oklahoma City Comets (@OKC_comets) June 18, 2025

Nick Frasso pitched a scoreless 8^th. 9 pitches/8 strikes.

OKC scored two more off infielder Alan Trejo in the bottom of the 8^th to close out their scoring at 15.

Edgardo Henriquez came in the 9^th to close it out. At 14-1, certainly not a save situation. He gave up a one out single to Trejo on a 101.2 MPH 4 seamer. The next batter lined into an unassisted DP to Chavis. Line drive only by trajectory. The exit velo was 59.7 MPH. What Trejo was doing that far off base on the hit was very curious.

I learned from the OKC announcer, Alex Freedman, that Edgardo Henriquez’s last outing was 2.0 IP, and that the Dodgers will probably be looking at Henriquez being a multi-inning reliever at the MLB level.

Las Vegas (A’s) won their game, and their magic number for 1^st half championship is 2. They have now won 9 consecutive games and 12 out of last 14.

15 is the most runs by OKC at home this season.

Michael Chavis – 4-4, 1 BB, 3 runs, 4 RBI, 2 doubles (2), triple (3)
Kody Hoese – 4-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (8)
Esteury Ruiz – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 4 RBI, HR (4)
James Outman – 1-5, 1 BB, 3 runs, 2 RBI, HR (15)
Alex Freeland – 1-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (10)

Box Score

Midland RockHounds (A’s) 11 – Tulsa Drillers 5

A late, one-run lead for the Tulsa Drillers disappeared Wednesday afternoon behind a nine-run 7^th inning from Midland that featured both speed and power from the RockHounds. Tulsa owned a 3-2 lead entering the top of the seventh, but the RockHounds erased the margin thanks in large part to four stolen bases and two homers in their big inning. The result was an 11-5 loss for the Drillers.

The RockHounds had jumped in front in the game with a pair of runs in the second inning off Tulsa starting pitcher Patrick Copen. They held the 2-0 lead until bottom of the fifth when the Drillers went in front courtesy of Taylor Young.

Kendall Simmons opened the fifth with a double, and Chris Newell drew a walk. With the runners at first and second, Young turned around a full-count offering from Midland starter Gage Jump, hammering a drive onto the outfield berm beyond the left-center field fence. It was the second home run of the season for Young, and it gave Tulsa a 3-2.

Kelvin Ramirez relieved Copen and kept the RockHounds off the scoreboard in the top of the sixth.

Jorge Benitez took over for Ramirez to open the seventh, and he quickly jeopardized the lead when he walked the inning’s leadoff batter, Kolby Halter, on four straight pitches. Halter stole second base, and after a line out, he also stole third.

Henry Bolte reached safely on an infield single before Luke Mann struck out for the second out of the inning.

It would take a while for the Drillers to get the third out. Junior Perez singled in the tying run before a double steal and a walk loaded the bases. The third walk of the inning forced home the go-ahead run and ended the afternoon for Benitez.

Kelvin Bautista was summoned from the Tulsa bullpen and threw a wild pitch before a three-run homer from Carter Aldrete cleared the bases. A double, followed by a run-scoring single from Sahid Valenzuela accounted for the seventh run of the inning.

Euribiel Angeles completed the nine-run frame with a two-run homer that gave the RockHounds an 11-3 lead.

The Drillers added a pair of consolation runs in the bottom of the ninth when a walk by Sean McLain and a base hit by Newell set up a two-run single from Young.

The game originally featured a marquee starting pitcher matchup as Patrick Copen took the mound for Tulsa, while Gage Jump made the start for Midland. Copen is ranked as the 29th best minor league prospect for the Los Angeles Dodgers, while Jump is ranked the second best for the Athletics and the 99th best in all of Minor League Baseball. Neither starter was involved in the decision.

Copen worked the first five innings for the Drillers, needing 92 pitches to do so. He allowed two runs on just three hits, but he issued five walks while striking out five. Copen has now given up 12 walks in 15.1 innings pitched since joining the Drillers. Just as they teach it in MiLB. (Sorry Bluto, had to say it).

Jump produced a similar line, allowing four runs on three hits and four walks while striking out three in 4.1 innings.

Taylor Young – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 5 RBI
Noah Miller – 2-5
Damon Keith – 2-4, double (11)
Kendall Simmons – 1-2, double (3)

Box Score

Great Lakes vs Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals) game has been cancelled due to inclement weather. Since both teams have been eliminated in the 1^st half, the game will not be made up.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 5 – Lake Elsinore Storm (San Diego) 3

The Quakes won their seventh straight game overall on Wednesday afternoon, as they held on for a 5-3 win over the Lake Elsinore Storm.

Starting pitcher Christian Zazueta was incredible over five innings of one-hit scoreless baseball, as he set a new career-high with ten strikeouts, earning his league-best seventh win of the year. Zazueta needs to move to Great Lakes.

The Quakes grabbed an early lead against Storm starter Kash Mayfield, who was also outstanding over three innings. Mayfield walked Jose Meza to open the second though and saw him steal two bases and eventually score an unearned run on a throwing error by catcher Carlos Rodriguez, making it 1-0. Mayfield allowed just the one base-runner and also set a new career-high, finishing with eight strikeouts.

Rancho starting catcher Angel Diaz had a big day at the plate, as he finished with two hits and three RBIs, helping the Quakes build a 4-0 lead.

The Storm got two back in the sixth to make it 4-2, but saw Diaz extend the lead back to three with his second run-scoring hit of the day, making it 5-2 in the sixth.

Lake Elsinore put some pressure on Dilan Figueredo in the ninth, as they scored a run and brought the tying run to the plate on three different occasions. Figueredo worked through the ninth, allowing just one run, recording his first save of the year to finish it off.

The Quakes will send lefty Sterling Patick to the mound on Thursday.