Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms: A Lifetime of Memories from Striking Out the Babe to Teeing It Up with the President
In the past few years there has been a dearth of quality baseball books that don't deal with the Mets, Yankees, or one of baseball's new millionaires. This book of reminiscences by 1930s pitcher Elden Auker breaks this trend. Only the most dedicated fan could still identify Auker as one of the rare submarine pitchers in the Major Leagues, but all fans will find his recollections enjoyable. Now over 90, Auker recalls his boyhood growing up in Kansas and pitching against the great Negro Leagues star Satchel Paige, his Major League career with several teams, and a post-baseball business career that included a particularly interesting visit on Cape Cod fishing with Joseph P. Kennedy. Auker recalls his relations with such stars of his era as Lou Gehrig, Hank Greenberg, Jimmie Foxx, and Ted Williams, and the closeness that traveling together by train brought to a team of players. Auker was not a star, never winning 20 games, but he played on two pennant winners and one must wonder what his talents might be worth today. This memoir deserves wide reading and is highly recommended for all public and school libraries. William Scheeren, Hempfield Area H.S. Lib., Greensburg, PACopyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.