Cult Baseball Players

[pwdennis]

Just picked up an interesting book at a used book store. The title of it is CULT BASEBALL PLAYERS edited by Danny Peary (Simon & Schuster/Fireside Books, 1990). The book is a collection of short essays written by leading writers about their favorite players. While a some of the subjects (Pete Rose, Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax, Ted Williams, Yogi Berra) can hardly be described as "cult" ballplayers there are enough that are somewhat obscure so as to make the book worth purchasing. Among some of the less prominent (or forgotten) ballplayers featured:

Steve Dalkowski by Ron Shelton
Dick Stuart by Bud Collins
Dale Long by Larry Colton
Roy Sievers by Thomas Boswell
Steve Bilko by John Schulian
Bo Belinsky by Art Spander
Chief Meyers by Lawrence Ritter
Joe Charboneau by Terry Pluto
Marv Throneberry by George Vecsey
Zeke Bonura by Jean Shepard
Louis Tiany by Peter Gammons
Vic Power by Danny Peary
Mark Fidrych by Ernie Harwell
Walt "No Neck" Williams by Michael Downey

A delightful book, well worth searching for. 60 profiles in all, most of them about players from the 40s-50s-60s

[NCFella19]

A "Glory of Their Times" selection on Chief Meyers PLUS the tales of Super Joe Charboneau and his eye-socket-beer-bottle-opening trick? To quote the Scooter: Holeee cow!

[Max Power]

I actually picked it up when it was 1st released - - concur, a fun read.

[Alan Smithee]

Its an entertaining book. best read in lttle bits. some of the essays are silly but some are quite brilliant. Ron SHelton's essay is as good of a profile of a ball player as you will ever read.