Product Description
They lived in the headlines and on the edge.He was the most famous and probably the finest ballplayer of his generation.She was America's blonde.They were intense, impassioned lovers and long after that, gentle and loving friends.All that didn't work between Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe was their marriage.

Here Roger Kahn describes the love, the joy, the heartbreak that was Joe and Marilyn, one of the great poignant romances.Drawing on more than five years of research, Kahn gives us a DiMaggio who was almost as godlike as his legend on the diamond, but vulnerable and human off the field.With her knockabout childhood and her stormy starlet years, he presents a Marilyn of whom someone said: "She doesn't need a husband, she needs a salvation." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

THE BRONX BOMBER AND THE BOMBSHELL
ROGER KAHN DOES A VERY GOOD JOB WRITING THIS VERY INTERESTING AND ENTERTAINING STORY. HE DOVOTES THE MAJORITY OF THIS BOOK ABOUT JOE, A SMALLER SEGMENT ABOUT MARILYN AND FINALLY A VERY SMALL BUT INTERSTING SEGMENT ON THEIR LIFE TOGETHER. SINCE THE MARRIAGE ONLY LASTED 9 MONTHS NOT MUCH COULD BE WRITTEN. THE READER GETS A VERY GOOD LOOK AT WHAT BOTH OF THEM WERE LIKE PERSONALLY. SHE CAME FROM A FAMILY OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND WAS VERY VULNERABLE AND INSECURE AND SEEKED THE LIME LIGHT. JOE CAME FROM A LARGE FAMILY AND WAS VERY QUIET, DISTANT AND COLD. HE PREFERRED HIS PRIVACY. SO RIGHT OFF THE BAT THEY WERE A HUGE MIS-MATCH. KAHN GIVES ALOT OF FACTS AND INFO ABOUT BOTH OF THEIR CAREERS AND DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH BASEBALL STATS AND MOVIE TRIVIA. KAHN ALSO DISCUSSES THE QUESTION OF FOUL PLAY IN HER DEATH. ALL IN ALL I THINK THIS IS A NICE READ FOR ALL FANS WHO LIKE BASEBALL AND HOLLYWOOD GOSSIP. WELL WORTH READING.

A STORY OF ENDURING LOYALTY AND LOVE


Just when we think there couldn't possibly be one word left to be written, said or whispered about the tragic life of Marilyn Monroe something else comes along.Roger Kahn (The Boys Of Summer)has chosen to focus on the sometimes passionate, sometimes stormy, ultimately caring relationshipbetween Joe DiMaggio and Monroe.Oftencalled "the dean of sportswriters," Kahn has an encyclopedic knowledge of sports figures andoffers insights into DiMaggio's personality not previously explored.

Of course, one can never know what is truly in another's thoughts or heart yetKahn has done a yeoman's job of relating Joe and Marilyn's story from their first meeting when she finds Joe attractive, really quite shy as she saw herself to be,through their courtship to theirmarriage and its dissolution a scant nine months later.Ultimately, there is DiMaggio's dawning realization that Marilyn cannot be saved and then the heartbreak of her too-early death.All that was left for him was to plan her funeral.

Topnotch voice performer Dick Hill brings respect and meaning to this story which has so often been sensationalized in the press.With an easy listening voice, nuance, andintonationshe capturesthe couples and joys and sorrows.Many will remember the popularHill from his previous audio book recordings. He has received three Audie Awards and been named a Golden Voice and a Voice of the Century by AudioFile magazine.

This is, in large part,a touching, sad story but also one of enduring loyalty and love.

- Gail Cooke

One Of The Best Books Written By Kahn
This is perhaps the most underrated book written by Roger Kahn.

From the opening pages where a Hollywood hack "mourns" the death of Marilyn Monroe, Kahn takes the reader on a touching journey of the life & times of Joe DiMaggio and Monroe.

As much a history of the pop culture as it is a biography, Kahn touches all the bases on how both were drawn to each other's fragility, but their love was virtually doomed from the start.

There are so many books that explore the couple for entertainment value only, as if Joe & Marilyn were living their lives in a drama on the large screen. Kahn addresses them as human beings who were not like the public personas created for consumption by fans or curious observers.

It is truly a memory of love, but also a tragic tale on how those with apparantly so much ultimately are so alone at the end of the day.



... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams, Joe Dimaggio, Mickey Mantle, Paul Molitor, Dave Winfield, Kirby Puckett, John Olerud, Carl Yastrzemski, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Brock, Lyman Bostock, Alex Rodriguez, Bobby Murcer, Joe Torre, Honus Wagner, Todd Helton, Charlie Gehringer, Troy Tulowitzki, Tim Raines, Gil Hodges, Tris Speaker, Tomoaki Kanemoto, Vladimir Guerrero, Craig Biggio, Carlton Fisk, Keith Hernandez, José Reyes, Tim Foli, Bob Meusel, Joe Gordon, Andre Dawson, Brooks Robinson, Willie Stargell, Dave Kingman, Pete Browning, Travis Hafner, Tommie Agee, Neifi Pérez, Goose Goslin, Willie Mcgee, Rod Carew, Bobby Veach, Jeff Bagwell, Jim Fregosi, Melky Cabrera, Eric Byrnes, Jeff Kent, Heinie Groh, John Mayberry, Bob Fothergill, Harry Stovey, César Tovar, Luis Gonzalez, Chuck Klein, Jack Glasscock, Bob Johnson, Ralph Kiner, Adrián Beltré, Dixie Walker, Randy Hundley, Nap Lajoie, Damion Easley, Bobby Doerr, George Sisler, Larry Doby, Gary Matthews, Jr., Babe Herman, Eric Davis, Ken Boyer, Doc Cramer, Robin Yount, Fred Lynn, George Kell, Brad Wilkerson, Dwight Evans, Ray Schalk, Johnny Mize, Tony Fernández, Félix Pie, Mark Kotsay, Lave Cross, Mickey Vernon, Jason Kendall, Rich Gedman, Roger Connor, Chone Figgins, Billy Williams, Aubrey Huff, Johnny Callison, Joe Cronin, Orlando Hudson, Mark Grace, Bob Elliott, B. J. Upton, Jim O'rourke, Buddy Rosar, George Burns, Ray Lankford, Eric Chavez, Randy Winn, Scott Cooper, Chad Moeller, Joe Medwick, Andre Thornton, Tony Lazzeri, César Cedeño, Jim Hickman, Carlos Gómez, Bill Terry, Hack Wilson, Hoot Evers, Sam Thompson, Gregg Jefferies, Chief Wilson, Mark Ellis, Sam Chapman, Cristian Guzmán, Gee Walker, Carlos Guillén, Mike Blowers, Mike Greenwell, Dante Bichette, Richie Zisk, José Valentín, Sam Barkley, Jim Bottomley, Home Run Baker, Chick Hafey, Harry Craft, Arky Vaughan, Elmer Valo, John Valentin, Frank White, Harry Davis, Fred Carroll, Mike Lansing, Mike Cubbage, Bill White, Gus Bell, Ma...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=16193 ... Read more

Product Description
In The Odes of DiMagglo, Michael P. Richards chronicles the life and times of Joe DiMaggio, perhaps the the most well-known athlete in the history of baseball. He tells the story of Joe’s rise to prominence on the New York Yankees, his record-breaking hitting streak in 1941 and his rocky marriage to Marilyn Monroe, and analyzes the factors that led to his status as an American cultural icon. Throughout, Riccards brings a fresh perspective and keen historical insight to the nearly mythjical true-life tale of the “Yankee Slugger.” ... Read more

Product Description
The life story of Joe DiMaggio provides coverage of his youth as the son of an Italian fisherman, his service in World War II, his baseball career, his business dealings, and his brief marriage to Marilyn Monroe. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good info, lame effort
Durso writes like he was the only person who knew DiMaggio. He disgraces colleagues and friends in the attempt to make his relationship with DiMaggio look better. While the info within this book was good, it does not do justice to the life of the American icon, Joseph Paul DiMaggio. While this book is a decent effort, Richard Ben Cramer's "Joe DiMaggio: A Hero's Life" looks to be the better read. The one part I did enjoy was the information on DiMaggio's lawyer Morris Engelberg and his law office's campus HQ in Hollywood, FL where Yankee Clipper Enterprises is run. Decent book overall, but too much reptitiveness and not enough new info.

Any Joe DiMaggio fan would be pleased by this book.
As a lifelong baseball fan and Joe DiMaggio fan, I was most pleased by this book.The book moves along well and tells the Yankee Clipper story from the viewpoint of someone who knows his subject well.I believe anyfan of DiMaggio and his era of baseball will thoroughly enjoy this work.Ihave read many DiMaggio books and this one is as good as any.I recommendit!

Interesting, But No Hitting Streak
A reasonable effort, but surely there must be more out there on this American Icon.I learned some interesting tidbits about Joe and his penchant for hitting streaks.Outside of that, not much else that youcould not find out on your own with a few minutes of research.True, JoeDimaggio is a serious recluse, but the information on him is all there inblack and white.I never got a true sense for seasons or accomplishments. Joseph Durso was just all over the place with this effort.To write aboutJoe Dimaggio, you have to write with love and passion for the man and thegame.I just never got that feeling reading this book.It was likereading a racing form.Interesting facts, but not great reading. ... Read more

Product Description
idely considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Joe DiMaggio transcended sports and was a true American icon. Beyond his public life in a New York Yankee uniform and his glamorous if brief marriage to Marilyn Monroe, DiMaggio was an intensely private individual who rarely, if ever, revealed himself to biographers attempting to tell his life story. Until now, Morris Engelberg, DiMaggio's closest friend and confidante over the last 16 years of his life, had rare access and insight to the man behind the legend. Teamed up with longtime AP journalist Marv Schneider, Engelberg corrects inaccuracies in recent biographies of DiMaggio and reveals the true, inside story of the great "Joltin' Joe." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

It's not about baseball
Someone passed this book to me and I thought it would be about Joe DiMaggio's baseball career. For the most part, it wasn't. Instead, it's Morris Engelberg's perspective on DiMaggio's last decade and half, as well as the obligatory Marilyn Monroe chapter. Who is Morris Engelberg? He's an apparently successful lawyer, Jewish, grew up Orthodox in New York, who was crazy about DiMaggio. What's interesting about that, of course, is that lots of Jewish New Yorkers, along with millions of non-Jewish New Yorkers, were crazy about DiMaggio, and about baseball. It was no surprise, then, to find the brief introduction written by Henry Kissinger.

So if the book isn't much about baseball, what do we learn from it? That DiMaggio was honest, straightforward, also cranky and full of himself about who he was based on his amazing, if short-lived baseball achievements. And insecure about his lack of education. Engelberg helped him out, charging not a penny, by becoming his agent for a high-paying career in a field I hadn't ever thought about -- memorabilia. DiMaggio made his income, much higher than in baseball, simply by signing his name on baseballs and photographs. Yes, there was also Bowery Savings Bank and Mr. Coffee, but the common theme was that the name and the face was what was worth money, and what made him important. We also learn about his difficult family life (not as a child, but as an adult) with an estranged son, a brother he didn't get along with, and, to put it mildly, various women. But he did find success and meaning later on raising money for a Florida Children's hospital, and with his grandchildren.

If you're looking for a book about baseball, it's not that. But if you want to get a glimpse of how an honest but otherwise unskilled sports giant lives out the rest of his life, it's an OK read.

DiMaggio...
Joe Dimaggio was a pompous jerk, who mandated that had to be call when he was introduced at the "stadium." He also had to be the "last" person to enter, and therefore have the most attention, where ever he went too. His brother Dom had more class in his baby finger than Joe. There is no doubt that Joe was a great ball player and very well could be the greatest to ever play the game, but he destroyed, in my opinion his greatness, with his own narcissism. Setting the record strait never does.

Yankee Clipper
Very enjoyable book!It's amazing how devoted Morris was to Joe D.What a great friendship they shared.I admired both men in reading about it.And what a pro Joe D. was!I liked how he always insisted on looking his best and would not sign those bats!!He was tough and men today just aren't as strong as the great Dimaggio was!He's such a legend and his 56 game hitting streak amazes me every time I read about it.I can't imagine anyone being good enough to break his record.He was an amazing man and a real class act.Great book!

Enjoyable and Personable Account of Joe DiMaggio's Life
Had I read the readers' reviews of this book prior to reading the book itself, I might have passed it up and missed out on an exceptionally well-done, thoughtful and moving account of Joe DiMaggio's life (particurly the later years). Engelberg's biography of Joe is, of course (since he is telling the story of a man he knew intimately and worked with for over 25 years) also a look at the relationship between the two men; Sports Icon and shrewd businessman/lawyer/confidant. Too many of the little details about Joe ring true for me to doubt that the overall tenor of this book is not on the mark. I read this with a dual interest (being a long time Marilyn Monroe fan, as well as a fan of the Yankee Clipper), and the relationship between the two, which Engelberg recounts based on his own conversations and knowledge, rings true. Engelberg makes no attempt to hide his disdain of Joe's brother, Dom, nor of a few other folks that apparently there were conflicts with, particulary concerning memorabilia and what happened to Joe's World Series rings. This is no way detracted from the story itself. Setting the Record Straight takes on the task of doing that, at least from the viewpoint of someone who appears to have been a dear friend of DiMaggio's. While I am sure there are other agendas out there, particularly in the readers review section, those issues are beyond the scope of the book itself.

I found this moving, sad at times, and altogether a sensitive and sympathetic view of Engelberg's hero, who became his friend as well. Other books may be better for biographic details, particularly of Joe D's playing years, but this book makes an effort to maintain the dignity that DiMaggio displayed his entire life, and rebuts and/or clarifies some incidents that were reported in other biographies.

Engelberg and Cramer are both scum
After knowing little of the Dimaggio, Cramer, Engelberg situation this book sheds little light on who actually was looking out for Joe.Engelberg portrays himself as a Joe D worshipper in most unbelievable ways.He details how he helped Joe make millions of dollars without any compensation while Joe was alive.Basically the book is Engelberg's long winded attempt to clear his name when, in doing so, the book heightens suspicions of Engelberg.In my humble opinion, Engelberg and Cramer were both out to take advantage of Joe and some claims made in each book are likely valid.I enjoyed reading the book up to 80 pages, after which the book goes on to glorify Engelberg to ad nauseam.
... Read more

Product Description
The Edgar Award-nominated author of Gun Monkeys delivers an adrenaline rush of a novel that features a special appearance by Joe DiMaggio.

The high spot of Teddy Folger's life was the day in 1954 that he got an autographed baseball card from Joe DiMaggio himself.It's been downhill ever since.Which is why he just unloaded his freeloading wife and torched his own comic-book store–in one of the stupidest insurance scams in history.Enter Conner Samson.The down-on-his-luck repo man has just been hired to repossess Teddy's boat.Little does he know there's a baseball card on board that some men are willing to kill for.Thus begins a rip-roaring cross-country odyssey–and with bodies piling up, the squeeze is on for the penultimate piece of Americana.And Conner will be lucky if he ends up back where he started: broke and (still) breathing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Suicide Squeeze
If your a fan of the author you need to read this book.It is a great short read.

Awwwwesoooooome!
I've read a bunch of Gischler's books and I enjoyed this one the best. This isn't your normal, hard-boiled crime caper novel. It's a tongue-in-cheek version with a rogue's gallery of good guys with bad luck and bad guys withlow self esteem. The main dude, Conner Samson, is a hilarious half-drunk repo man with a gambling problem who finds himself caught in the crosshairs of some Yakuza boss' search for a rare baseball card. It may sound silly, but it actually works. There's plenty of blood and guts, gratuitous sex and sarcastic dialogue, and somehow he threw in a little life lesson that wasn't all that corny. In all, this book was really fun and actually made me laugh out loud. I read through it pretty quickly. Definitely recommended - especially since it's like five bucks. Enjoy!

More Goods From a Guy Who Knows How to Deliver
The good thing about Victor Gischler books is that they're full of fun, clean narrative and lots of action. The bad thing, as I'm starting to realize, is that if you've read one of them, you've read most of them (note, I didn't say "all").

Don't misunderstand me--Suicide Squeeze is a fun book with a fairly inventive story. Conner Samson, your typical down-on-his-luck-bum type, gets mixed up with local mobsters, the Yakuza and a trigger happy former-NSA agent over...a baseball card. See? Inventive, right? And a lot of fun as well. Gischler's strength evenly lies in his ability to make a story both complex and accessible at the same time. His books read like Hollywood blockbusters, which in my opinion, tastes almost like a delicacy in a world of stuffy, hyper-literate, dust-collecting "instant classics" that the New York Times insists should be on your reading schedule.

As mentioned, Gischler's near-trademark storytelling and the smirk you can tell he's cracking while crafting these fun tales work against him as readers become more acquainted with his work. On their own, Gischler's books are the epitome of a fun read, however, when compared to his other works, more than a few common threads begin to connect (and almost tire) his stories' themes and their characters.

If this is your first time hearing the name "Gischler," by all means, read Suicide Squeeze! But if you're familiar with some of his other works (also worth checking out for their own merits), be warned that you may have seen this story before.

Michael Ferrari
Author, Assault on the Senses

Delightful, Clever Thriller
It all starts with a one-of-a-kind baseball card and ascends from there into a wild ride piloted by one Connor Samson.Along for the ride are a nympho, an ex-NSA ninja woman (NSA?), a giant black bodyguard, a bunch of Yakuza heavies and many more colorful characters.The plot is simple -- everybody wants to get ahold of the baseball card -- and proceeds at breakneck speed.The book is like a James Bond novel, outrageous, but not so outrageous that it is silly.Gischler does a yeoman's job keeping everything under control.Wild as it is, Gischler has penned a disciplined, enjoyable book. Definitely four-stars and I'll throw in a fifth for sheer creativity.

Wanted To Like It
I really wanted to like this book.His cast of characters sounds interesting, a marginal repo man, Yakuza, a NSA super-SWAT women (yes NSA, the author doesn't know any better) and various others.But to my mind the characters just didn't come together to build an engrossing tale.I was able to put the book down for days at a time come back to it and read a few of the very short chapters, then put it down again.It took me over a month to read and that's unusual.I can't point to any one thing and it's not a horrible read it just never drew me in.I will say it was a lot better than the author's Gun Monkeys which I really disliked.I didn't dislike this one, I just didn't care. ... Read more

Product Description
The greatest Yankees players, the greatest Yankees teams, and the greatest Yankees moments: This book describes them all in a way that will thrill every fan. Jam-packed with more than a century s worth of historic photos, memorabilia, and exciting commentary, New York Yankees: Yesterday & Today is a detailed and fascinating snapshot of the history of the fabled Yankees history.

Meet the outstanding Yankees teams of the past and present, including possibly the best team in the history of baseball, the 1927 Yankees.
Get up close and personal with the greatest Yankees players, from yesterday s heroes to today s superstars.
Relive the Bronx Bombers most thrilling World Series games--their exhilarating wins and those rare, heartbreaking losses.
Continue the heated debates of yesteryear: Joe DiMaggio or Mickey Mantle? Casey Stengel or Joe Torre? Goose Gossage or Mariano Rivera?
Visit the hallowed grounds of historic Yankee Stadium; get an up-close look at new Yankee Stadium.

Relive the most memorable moments, and enjoy the colorful legends, lore, and legacy of the incomparable New York Yankees as you take in the words and pictures of this tribute to one of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball. ... Read more

Product Description
In all of sports history, there has rarely been a bond like the one that linked the Brooklyn Dodgers with their fans. True believers to the core, Brooklynites cheered their team through every season, but never more passionately than the summer of 1955. And for a brief and shining moment on the sunny afternoon of October 4, 1955, Brooklyn stood still. Finally, the Dodgers, the beloved Bums, laid to rest a hard century of World Series futility and brought to Flatbush what Brooklynites never had before and would never have again: a championship.Bums No More! is a brilliant account of the Dodgers' World Series victory – the year they finally beat the Yankees. BUMS NO MORE! is more than just a baseball book. Author Stewart Wolpin has captured the camaraderie and fervor of an entire borough. From front porch steps to crowded bars, the wide-ranging emotions and atmosphere of the streets of Brooklyn during this marvelous season come to life. BUMS NO MORE! is a wonderful, nostalgic tribute to Brooklynites and baseball fans everywhere. – STEWART WOLPIN, a former sports writer with The Newark Star-Ledger in Newark, New Jersey, was a major contributor to The Ballplayers (William Morrow, 1990) and lives in New York City. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Learned My Lesson to read "samples" before buying!
Yuck!

It took less then ten minutes and paging through 16% of this book to realize I had gotten a real loser!Dry... boring...disappointing!

And this was a book I PAID for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank goodness it was only $2.99 but was overpriced at that!

Never really wre Bums
Great book.It's a shame that it's out of print, but it's good that a few are still available.

The Best Brooklyn Dodgers Book Ever Written
This is a deeply moving and powerful account of the greatest baseball story in history.

The interviews with the fans including people like Larry King are just fascinating. The research and detail in the accounts of the World Series games puts in you in the stands but you can't order a "dawg and a beeya."

The author conveys the importance of the team and its victory not just in baseball terms but in the greater social significance of the community and the nation.

If you love baseball legend and lore, this is required reading and you can't beat the Kindle price.

BUMS NO MORE
I'M WELL PLEASED WITH MY BUMS NO MORE. AS A YOUTH I WAS A BROOKLYN DODGER FAN. EVERYTHING WENT WELL. GOOD JOB.
THANK YOU!BUMS NO MORE - The Championship Season of 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers

A classic in the history of baseball
In 2004, the Boston Red Sox finally broke their long standing curse and won the World Series. In 1955, a similar event occurred. The Brooklyn Dodgers, who had won many more pennants than the Red Sox, finally defeated their longtime nemesis, the New York Yankees, in the World Series. It was a time of enormous rejoicing in Brooklyn, but in many ways it was the last hurrah. Changing demographic patterns had led to a consistent decline in attendance at Ebbets field, and in a few years, they were the Los Angeles Dodgers. Furthermore, Ebbets field had been leveled, so both aspects of the team in Brooklyn were nothing but memories.
This book is an account of that wonderful season, where all of the memories of previous defeats were erased. It starts with a recapitulation of the failures, the greatest of which was the collapse in 1951, where the Dodgers led the Giants by 13 ½ games in the early part of August. They ended the season in a tie and in the third playoff game, Bobby Thompson hit a home run to send the Dodgers home for the winter.
It is also an account of how the Brooklyn people felt about the Dodgers. When I watched the fine Ken Burns video on baseball, some of the interviews were with people who grew up in Brooklyn and worshipped the Dodgers. This book captures the passion that those people felt for their team, and how in many ways, it was also America's team. When Jackie Robinson became the first black to play in the major leagues, it was for the Dodgers. For years after the color barrier was broken, the Dodgers continued to lead in having black players, so blacks all over the country considered the Dodgers to be their team.
There are some events in baseball that will stand forever, and the Red Sox victory in 2004 will be one of them. However, given the number of times they had played in the World Series and lost, the Dodger victory in 1955 probably surpasses the Red Sox in terms of breaking the pattern of failure. This is especially true when you factor in the fact that it was truly a climax, as shortly after, the Brooklyn Dodgers and their stadium were no more. But, it was truly a joy ride while it lasted, and this book is a wonderful description of an extraordinary season. It is a classic in the history of baseball. ... Read more