A freewheeling memoir of baseball, journalism, and New York spanning over 50 years of America's pastime
Before he'd covered dozens of World Series; before he'd written about countless hirings, firings, superstars, and
scandals, Bill Madden was a cub reporter on one of his first assignments at Yankee Stadium—and manager
Ralph Houk had just gone out of his way to spit tobacco juice all over Madden's shoes. “That’s Ralph’s way
with rookie writers he doesn’t recognize,” came the explanation. “He doesn’t mean anything by it.”
So began a Hall of Fame scribe's career, as detailed in this clear-eyed memoir. With verve and candor, Madden
reflects on five decades of triumphs, misadventures, and unforgettable characters.
From Jackie Robinson to Aaron Judge; from newsrooms filled with hundreds of teletype machines droning like
an army of cicadas to the sleek yet ruthless digital age, keen baseball fans will devour these tales of America's
pastime against the backdrop of a rapidly changing media and cultural landscape.