A Game of Moments

This collection of new interviews—conducted by the author—recounts some of the pivotal moments in the careers of professional baseball players and in American history. Negro League players Leon Day, Buck O’Neil, Monte Irvin, Wilmer Fields and Joe Black speak about their experiences on the other side of the color line. Hank Aaron relates how the challenge of breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record was not only on the diamond. Bob Feller, Cecil Travis, Tommy Henrich and Jerry Coleman describe the effects of World War II on their careers. Bobby Thomson and Ralph Branca address the “Shot Heard Round the World” in the Giants vs. Dodgers playoff of 1951.

Ron “G-Man” Gerrard has worked in broadcasting for 30 years—as a network sports anchor, producer and reporter. He has covered 17 World Series and All-Star Games, more than 200 World Championship Boxing events, and numerous PGA golf tournaments. A member of the Nevada Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, he lives in Henderson, Nevada.

Ron Gerrard
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 194
Bibliographic Info: 58 photos, index
Copyright Date: 2018
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7194-9
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3205-6
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments    vi
Preface    1
Hank Aaron 3
Sparky Anderson 7
Bobby Avila 10
Ernie Banks 11
Dick Bartell 13
Joe Black 15
Ewell Blackwell 17
Lou Boudreau 19
Ralph Branca 20
Lou Brock 23
Gates Brown 24
Lew Burdette 27
Rod Carew 29
Gary Carter 32
Rico Carty 33
Chris Chambliss 36
Ed Charles 37
Jerry Coleman 39
Babe Dahlgren 41
Alvin Dark 45
Tommy Davis 47
Leon Day 49
Bucky Dent 51
Larry Doby 53
Bobby Doerr 54
Don Drysdale 56
Carl Erskine 59
Elroy Face 60
Bob Feller 62
Wilmer Fields 64
Rollie Fingers 66
Tito Francona 69
Steve Garvey 70
Bob Gibson 72
Al Gionfriddo 77
Jim “Mudcat” Grant 78
Tony Gwynn 80
Harvey Haddix 83
Bud Harrelson 85
Ernie Harwell 87
Tommy Henrich 89
Ralph Houk 93
Monte Irvin 95
Ferguson Jenkins 98
Harmon Killebrew 99
Ralph Kiner 101
Bob Lemon 103
Al Lopez 105
Juan Marichal 106
Eddie Mathews 108
Bill Mazeroski 110
Rick Monday 113
Manny Mota 116
Ron Necciai 118
Buck ­O’Neil 120
Tony Oliva 121
Mickey Owen 123
Gaylord Perry 125
Johnny Podres 126
Dick Radatz 128
Dusty Rhodes 129
Robin Roberts 134
Brooks Robinson 135
Cookie Rojas 138
Al Rosen 139
Joe Rudi 141
Ron Santo 142
Mike Schmidt 144
Red Schoendienst 146
Roy Sievers 150
Ted Simmons 152
Enos Slaughter 156
Hal Smith 157
Willie Stargell 159
Ron Swoboda 162
Gene Tenace 163
Bobby Thomson 165
Cecil Travis 167
Johnny Vander Meer 170
Mickey Vernon 172
Bob Watson 174
Billy Williams 175
Dick Williams 178
Maury Wills 180
Jimmy Wynn 181
Index    183