Nice Guys Finish First - The Autobiography of Monte Irvin
Irwin's manager on the New York Giants, Leo Durocher, used to snap: "Nice guys finish last." Irwin has spent his whole career refuting that theory. Irwin, who was born in 1919, one of 13 children, moved with his family from rural Alabama to New Jersey when he was a youngster. After starring in all sports in high school, he joined the Negro leagues. After a slow start with the bat, he made himself into a power-hitter "just by watching DiMaggio." He relates colorful stories about those who played with him, such as Roy Campanella, Josh Gibson ("the greatest hitter I ever saw, black or white") and Satchel Paige. Although he was originally recruited by the Brooklyn Dodgers, Irvin finally made the major leagues with the Giants in 1949. The book, written with freelancer Riley, is quietly startling in its candor on the inner financial workings of the Negro leagues; how superior pitching was the big difference between the Negro and major leagues; his disagreements with Jackie Robinson ("Jackie's teammates really didn't like him"); and the drama surrounding the Giants' championship teams of '51 and '54. After retiring, Irwin went to work in the commissioner's office, and the most explosive item in the book concerns Pete Rose: "Not only did he bet on games, but I think it's been made clear that [he] called other managers to get certain information to use in his betting." Irwin was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1973, and with this classy memoir, he has proved Durocher wrong.-- called other managers to get certain information to use in his betting." Irwin was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1973, and with this classy memoir, he has proved Durocher wrong.Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.