Bill White has written this book from three perspectives: as an all-star player, veteran broadcaster and as the former president of the National League. He offers honest and insightful evaluations about baseball and society. There is one chapter devoted to his broadcasting partner and friend, Phil Rizzuto. ( )

Before reading this book, I didn't know who Bill White was. People who aren't baseball fans can enjoy this book. It's written in a charming, upbeat, straightforward manner that's easy for anyone to digest. The book is full of inside interesting facts and happenstances and insights into people of the game, from players to owners to broadcasters. Lovely book. What I loved most is Bill White's attitude. Always. About everything. He's a man of integrity.

Bill speaks about the early days of his playing career, when black players couldn't eat or stay overnight at the same places the team did. It must have been unimaginably difficult. The racism of those days is a dark, unhumane chapter in American history. Although I experienced racism firsthand moving from Connecticut to New Orleans in the early 1960's, -- and it was appalling to even a young teen -- I'd never heard about the atrocities of baseball until this book. I'd heard about top name black entertainers dealing with similar situations. Thank goodness for sports and the military for helping pioneer integration.

America has made big strides but still has a distance to cover as regards racism. The book is about Bill White's experiences as a player, broadcaster, National League President, and his personal observances and reflections. There's quite a lot of baseball history here.

Bill, if you read this, I know nearly nothing about top name entertainers, sports figures, or anybody else who's famous. They aren't part of my life, and it's enough to keep up with those who are. Like you, I try to enjoy my life and do what's right. Maybe that's one reason I loved the book. It's not a literary work, but it's a story every person can read, told in an easygoing style. It was a welcome respite from a difficult book I'm reading currently.

Although I live with an avid baseball fan and have attended numerous Cardinals games over the years, I don't usually read "baseball books". This one I wanted to read before it was released, and it was well worth it. ( )

A lot of fun for a long time Yankee fan such as myself who grew up listening to the author call games with Phil Rizzuto and Frank Messer. A few fun stories that I hadn't heard before and a whole heap of "baseball isn't what it was in the old days" (but never overbearing). ( )