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The Big Bam
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Great book, not so great narration.
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Publisher's Summary
Based on newly discovered documents and interviews, including pages from Ruth's personal scrapbooks, The Big Bam traces Ruth's life from his bleak childhood in Baltimore to his brash entrance into professional baseball, from Boston to New York and into the record books as the world's most explosive slugger and cultural luminary.
At a time when modern baseball is grappling with hyper-inflated salaries, free agency, and assorted controversies, The Big Bam brings back the pure glory days of the game. Leigh Montville operates at the peak of his abilities, exploring Babe Ruth in a way that intimately, and poignantly, illuminates a most remarkable figure.
Critic Reviews
"[Montville is] one of America's best sportswriters." (Chicago Tribune)
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- David Morrison
- 03-21-17
Outstanding book
This was an excellent book on the life of Babe Ruth. Every baseball fan should read. Babe Ruth was probably one of the greatest or the greatest ever to play the game. This book tells a story not only about baseball of this era but the life he lived.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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- Hermano
- 09-16-10
See Just How Great the Babe Was
We know he hit a lot of home runs, but his single season and total records have been broken. So was he really a big deal? This book puts it all into perspective. His stats were staggering compared to everyone else in the era... 3 times as many home runs as the previous leaders. He was as popular as Michael Jordan and John Mayer put together... a symbol of the country. And wait until you read how fast the Babe was going when he was ticketed for speeding down Broadway. The Brick / Montville duo is the best. I would say this is not as good as the Ted Williams book, but close.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
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Overall
- Alan
- 06-13-06
The Big Bam
I nearly gave up on this book. Over 40 minutes into it before the author stopped speculating and inventing heresay. Reminded me of the awful Babe Ruth movie "The Babe" with John Goodman. Lots of information, but overall disappointing for a baseball nut who understands that Baseball is a game re-invented because of Babe Ruth and that no other figure in its history has been as significant.
13 of 17 people found this review helpful
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- DB
- 09-19-18
It’s the Babe!
I haven’t read a baseball book in a long while but when I saw the narrator was Scott Brick - I’m in. The story moves along quickly, more focused on the man than on his baseball prowess. There is enough about baseball to keep fans reading, but enough character study to keep avid readers enthralled.
Scott Brick narrates the book. Enough said - he’s the best in the business.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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- Me & My Girls
- Va United States
- 10-25-16
The Legend, and the Man
Leigh Montville is a long time sportswriter for the Boston Globe goes behind baseballs greatest player and finds; well basically, he finds mystery unanswered questions and many stories of excess. He also passed on many of the extraordinary legends surrounding "The Bambino's" excessive appetite for food, drink, women, and spending.
He also brought forth the less well known facets of of the slugger's life; Ruth seeking out a personal trainer. Ruth being one of the few players making enough money to not need an off-season job. The unwillingness of the games owners to look past his earlier indiscretions, his image having been forever forged by his wild, reckless twenties.
Montville investigates stories about the supposed feuds between Ruth and fellow Yankee legend Lou Gehrig, his Hall-of-Fame manager Miller Huggins and his chief challenger as the games preeminent player Ty Cobb. A better than average biography and an excellent book on baseball.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
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- John
- 12-07-15
Great baseball book
What a ride thru the life and times of the Babe!!! The book had me smiling and laughing all the way thru, the guy just never stop moving!!!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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- Bruno
- 02-09-15
Babe still rules
Great story.
The Babe saved baseball no doubt about it.
This was great book.
I wonder if he would hit a hundred HRs today!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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- Kevin McCoffee
- Serbia
- 02-05-15
Super Babe
Outstanding biography of the Babe's amazing energetic life, well read. Great for the baseball fan, but also just a great story.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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- Scott Reed
- Louisville
- 09-04-19
The finest Babe Ruth book I've read.
Excellent in every way, especially the first section that describes in great detail his upbringing at St. Mary's School.
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- chrisbmartin
- 02-24-19
the babe truly bigger than life
All though Ruth was a towering figure in baseball off the field he was pretty much a one dimensional hedonist. Knawing at food sex and partying like a starved animal. Good full life view of the Babe from orphan days to his personal reform at the end of his career. A likeable guy if you were partying with him but horrible if you had to room with him on the road.
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- Mikey
- 03-10-15
The Sultan of swat!
Any additional comments?
This book captures Babe's personality and larger than life baseball career. He is personally an idol for me and has been for years, although this book informed me of some facts that I didn't know before.
His personality, his humour, his home runs and his baby face are what make Babe Ruth one of the most entertaining sports personalities of the century. Whether you're a fan of baseball or not, buy this book as it will engross you and keep you interested throughout. Enough said - BUY IT!
0 of 1 people found this review helpful