by Bill Madden
First published 2017
Lou Piniella opens his baseball life to readers after nearly fifty years in the major leagues. The former Yankees outfielder and five-team manager teams with veteran sportswriter Bill Madden to examine his career from multiple angles. Piniella played outfield for the powerhouse Yankees teams of the 1970s before managing clubs in both leagues. He shares direct observations about the colorful personalities of the Bronx Zoo era, including Reggie Jackson and Catfish Hunter. Piniella describes his close bond with Thurman Munson and his complex dealings with George Steinbrenner. His managerial years brought a World Series victory with Cincinnati under owner Marge Schott and success transforming Seattle from basement dwellers into contenders. He worked with stars like Ken Griffey Jr, Randy Johnson, and Alex Rodriguez. Piniella witnessed baseball evolve into a multibillion-dollar enterprise and offers sharp criticism of controversial issues like steroids. The memoir combines field stories with clubhouse insights and dugout perspectives across his extensive career.
Genres: biography, sports, memoir, baseball
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: behind-the-scenes, career-retrospective, insider-perspective
Setting: Bronx, Cincinnati, Seattle, Yankees
Period: 1970s, Multibillion-Dollar Era
512 pages · Paperback · Harper Large Print