| In his autobiography, Jim Palmer Hall of Fame pitcher and three-time Cy Young Award winner is the talented but physically (and emotionally) fragile hurler who humorously bears many grudges against his old manager and nemesis Earl Weaver. He writes about his life as a professional baseball player and the manager he loved to hate. These two clashing personalities proved to be a winning combination for the Baltimore Orioles baseball organization from the 60's to the 80's. Palmer recalls his early days as a schoolboy phenom with offers of college scholarships and minor league contracts, his near death from an auto accident in his late teens, and his early success with the Orioles winning a World Series game in 1966 by shut out. He also talks about the lingering and near career ending arm problems that plagued him for his entire time in the majors.
Things begin to really boil with their first meetings in the minor leagues and then the years spent on the big league team together. Weaver was obsessed with winning and pulled no punches when trying to achieve that goal. His extremely colorful language laced with expletives was aimed at all within earshot. He rarely praised players nor was he diplomatic towards umpires. Palmer will not admit that the curmudgeonly manager helped to motivate him to greatness, but he won't deny it either. Palmer fills the book with his favorite stories of how the two mixed like oil and water. Weaver also made it to the Hall of Fame for his part in taking the Orioles to the World Series in 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1979 and winning it in 1970. The language in this book is not suitable for young readers. | ||
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Plot & Themes job/profession: Job/profession/poverty story Yes Sports story? - baseball Sports story Yes Period of greatest activity? - 1950+ Subject of Biography Gender - Male Profession/status: Ethnicity - White Nationality - American Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 4 () United States Yes The US: - West - Northeast City? Yes City: - dirty, grimy (like New York) Century: - 1960's-1970's Writing Style Book makes you feel? - very happy - like laughing Pictures/Illustrations? - A ton 16-20 B&W How much dialogue in bio? - significantly more descript than dialog How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 76%-100% of book |
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