Why I Love Baseball

By: Larry King

Narrated by: Larry King

Length: 2 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Larry King is a true-blue baseball fanatic. Going to his first game as a kid in 1940s New York was the start of a lifelong love affair. This heartfelt valentine to America's game evokes a simpler time in our country's history: complete with the smells of popcorn, beer, and hot dogs; the sight of the green, closely-mowed infield; the dark brown dirt paths; the crisp white uniforms; the sound of the excited voices of announcers; the crack of the bat; and the roar of the crowd. Baseball, he discovered, is its own unique universe.

Over his long and distinguished career, Larry King has had the opportunity to meet and interview such heroes as Casey Stengel, Jackie Robinson, and Ted Williams. Passion for the game has suffused his life. Even now, he revels in the Orioles and the Mets. Every reason to love baseball is laid out in this nostalgic book, as King gives an inside view to the trading cards, the scuffles, the most classic plays, the labor disputes, and the personalities that pervade the sport. It is the only team game without a clock or a designated ending time. Larger-than-life personalities make up its history. Why I Love Baseball will appeal to anyone who recognizes baseball as America's favorite pastime.

King has loved baseball for as long as he can remember, and this ode to the game is truly a love song. You can hear the joy in the author's voice. In a time of serious national focus, Larry King's personal reminiscences and unique view of the impact of baseball is a welcome look at the modern history of the game.

©2004 Larry King and New Millenium Entertainment

Critic reviews

"A charming, sweet, and savvy paean to the national pastime." (Publishers Weekly)

Larry King triples, but is left stranded at third.

Just a heads up for families, Larry says the F word twice. Both times he's quoting someone, but it took me by surprise since this is Mr. CNN. Anyway, at first I wasn't sure what to make of this. But once I discovered the book is simply constructed around Larry's childhood memories, Larry reading articles other people have written about the game ("The 99 reasons baseball is better than football" is great!), and hundreds of stories from a guy who knows a lot of players personally, I really enjoyed this book. Larry's delivery, as it always does, makes it seem like he's talking just to you. And he never once sounds like he's reading. It's all very conversational. The only reason I'm giving it four stars, instead of five are the two sections that contain nothing but quotes from famous baseball players. While I'm sure on paper they're a great read...it's not a section that translated well to the audio version. Enjoy the book, and go Mariners!

It's a grand old game

As a lifelong baseball fan, I found this work enjoyable. As another reviewer stated, there is alot of reading of others views, quotes, and observations but that's ok. This book will help the casual fan see the sport differently (not as dramatically as moneyball) and perhaps see the passion in the grand old game that some of us have. Baseball is not thought of as an exciting sport with today's MTV generation, but they're missing something. Do you miss baseball? Then this book will reintroduce you to a truely unique sport.

Perfect!

This was a romantic book about a game I just love! Read by King himself added a lot to the book. I MUST read if you like the game. I will probably have to listen to it at least one more time!