Erskine's book is a collection of memories. While they jump around in time, they are all fascinating and light hearted. Erskine does not go into long explanations about his philosophy of pitching or his view of baseball then versus baseball now, still his opinions and beliefs are easily ascertained.
Probably the most enjoyable part of this book is that Erskine doesn't believe that baseball owes him something. He understands the magical moment in history that he lived in. He has also preserved some colorful history that would otherwise be lost because many of the ballplayers he mentions have passed away. He has created not only a fun baseball read, but a valuable document for those in the future who will wonder, "What was it like when the Dodgers were in Brooklyn..."
The only criticism that I have of this book (and it is a minor one, to be sure) is that the stories were just meandering. Sometimes a story took place ten years after he played, followed by a story of Erskine in the minors. At other times, Erskine went over ground he'd already covered. While this is not a big deal, it, at times, slowed the pace of the book down. However, this is more the fault of the editor than the fault of Erskine.
If you liked Roger Khan's "The Boys of Summer" then this book is like going back for a sequel. This book is gracious, funny, and makes you appreciate what a special time the 1940s and '50s were in baseball and in America.
Carl was always willing to show friendship with his competitive peers outside the `white lines', and willingly received Jackie Robinson's contributions to the game. It was fun to read about how the communities and families got involved in the early years of baseball on the professional level. Carl's attitude outside the competitive realm was always acceptable in anyone's home or community.
Because I am not an avid reader, the way in which Carl formatted his book is interesting and fun to sit down and read. As a avid baseball fan and former coach, I appreciated Carl's sharing of his personal and professional experiences.
I have a great deal of respect for a personable professional like Carl Erskine.
Because I am not an avid reader, the way in which Carl formatted his book was interesting and fun to sit down and read. As a avid baseball fan and former coach, I appreciated Carl's sharing of his personal and professional experiences.