October Baseball

For baseball players, the dream of a championship season begins in spring training. Newcomers and veterans, journeymen and legends, all come together for a single purpose—to win the World Series. And each year, all but one team goes into the off-season disappointed. But for that one team, the hard work of spring training and the grind of a 162-game season gives way to the euphoria of a championship, fulfilling a dream for the team and its fans.
The 28 players, managers, and pitching coaches here have all experienced baseball’s postseason. Many have been a part of championship teams; others have lived every baseball dream except winning the World Series. Among the interviewees are Jack McKeon, Jim Leyland, Tony Perez, Mark Grace, Robin Yount, Lou Piniella, Don Baylor, Jeff Bagwell, Alfonso Soriano, Larry Bowa, and Jim Thome. Mike Lowell provides a foreword as well as an interview. These baseball men share their thoughts about their accomplishments, the art of hitting and pitching, what it takes to become a champion, and the leadership qualities necessary for a winning team. They also reflect on the people who have motivated them and what goes on in a winning major league clubhouse.

Broward County, Florida, educator Dan Zachofsky was named the state’s Teacher of the Year in 1994. Also the author of Idols of the Spring: Baseball Interviews About Preseason Training (2001) and Collecting Baseball Memorabilia: A Handbook (2000), he is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research.

Dan Zachofsky
Foreword by Mike Lowell
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 272
Bibliographic Info: photos, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2005
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2181-7
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8297-9
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      v

Foreword by Mike Lowell      1

Introduction      3

Jack McKeon: Trader Jack, the Donald Rumsfeld of Baseball      15

Jim Leyland: The Skipper      26

Mike Lowell: Marlins Hometown Hero      37

Josh Becket: World Series Most Valuable Player      47

Wayne Rosenthal: Pitching Coach and Guru      54

Dontrelle Willis: The Journey of the D Train      64

Tony Perez: The Heart and Soul of The Big Red Machine      70

Robin Yount: The Brew Crew’s Most Valuable Player      78

Luis Gonzalez: Gonzo’s Championship Season      89

Mark Grace: Professional Hitter and Gold Glove Winner      98

Tommy Hutton: The Phillies’ Steady Pinch-Hitter and Commentator      105

Juan Pierre: Team Leader and Master of the Small Game      114

Chipper Jones: Baseball’s Best Run Producer and Switch-Hitter      122

John Smoltz: Braves Top Gun Turned Closer      132

Javier Lopez: Quiet Superstar      141

Tom Glavine: Braves Pitching Great, Future Hall of Famer      148

Burt Hooton: Mr. Happy, 1981 Championship Season      157

Lou Piniella: Sweet Lou, Clutch World Series Performer and Manager      167

Don Baylor: Manager, 1987 Championship Season      177

Steve Blass: 1971 Pirates World Series Hero      185

Jeff Bagwell: Superstar, Future Hall of Famer      193

Jim Thome: Phillies’ Winning Slugger      199

Craig Biggio: Astros Leader and Gold Glove Winner      206

Larry Bowa: The Phillies Fanatic-Manager, 1980 Championship Season      212

Alfonso Soriano: All-Star, Superstar and Future Hall of Famer      220

Jeff Nelson: The Set-up Man in Pinstripes      226

Jim Edmonds: Clutch Hitting Slugger and Defensive Anchor      239

Craig Counsell: The Grinder and Winner      246

Bibliography      255

Index      257

“Zachofsky has asked all of the right questions. Anyone who loves baseball will love this book”—Sportsbiz on the Business Talk Radio Network; “good read…baseball fans…will enjoy”—South Florida Sun-Sentinel.