This book is the autobiography of a man who in his own words was "a liftime .235 hitter." But oh what a .235 hitter! A man who played with Jackie Robunson, Pee Wee Reese, and several other famous Brooklyn Dodgers, who while managing the Red Sox had a pitcher who called him a "gerbil," and dealt with a "clueless owner" while managing the Rangers, and who was fortunate enough to be part of the Yankees' late 90s dynasty. And the stories he tells in this book are ones worthy of a man who has been in baseball over 50 years. His times with the Dodgers, his reign as manager of the perenially hopeless Chicago Cubs, his times as bench coach with the Yankees. And yet he has a kind word for virtually everyone he has either played with or against, or managed or coached, with the exception of Bill Lee. It's apparent the two did not get along, then again I'm not sure how I'd handle being called a "gerbil" either.

This book shows "Zim" to be a delight both on and off the baseball field and a man who has seen virtually everything in his baseball life.

Zim: A Baseball Life is a great read for any baseball fan. Don Zimmer is a true gem, his wisdom, knowledge, and humor are all found in this wonderful book. Sports fans of all ages would enjoy this book.

Who's the answer to more baseball trivia questions than anyone else in history? Don Zimmer, of course. "Zim: A Baseball Life" is 52 years' worth of anecdotes from the one guy who's been everywhere and seen it all.

Zim's the only man to have been in uniform at all three New York Yankees' perfect games (the first and last of which were 43 years apart); he played a pivotal role in the Brooklyn Dodgers' lone World Series victory (by coming out of the game early); he was the first to play third base for the New York Mets (hundreds have followed, and, like Zim, none lasted very long); and he managed the 1978 Boston Red Sox when Bucky Dent hit that pop fly over the Green Monster on October 2nd.

"Zim" is a fast read, spilling over with Zim stories on every page. It's written on a very simple level, but is meticulously researched and, as a result, is completely authoritative. A couple of factual errors pop up, yes, which co-writer Bill Madden probably could have caught (Zim is said to have received roses when the Yankees won the 1999 season opener; news that is surprising when you remember the Yanks lost that game), but overall the errors, like strands of Zim's hair, are few and far between.

The 2002 baseball season is about to begin and, no surprise, Zimmer will be there in uniform again. He's a funny guy (and a funny-looking guy) and it does the troubled sport of baseball a world of good that Zimmer is still around, the link between Pee Wee Reese and Derek Jeter, Clem Labine and Mariano Rivera, Sal Maglie and Roger Clemens, Walter O'Malley and George Steinbrenner. Here's hoping Zim has another half-century's worth of stories left in that massive belly of his.

I've just finished reading Bill Madden's Pride of October. I couldn't put it down. When it is all said and done, this may be the best book on the Yankees--ever. This is a refreshing departure from typical baseball books, which are seldom more than protracted research papers. Madden visits Don Mattingly at his horse farm in Indiana, takes a tour with Whitey Ford of Whitey's old neighborhood in Queens, spends several days in South Carolina with Bobby Richardson, and finds the oldest living Yankee, Marius Russo, in Fort Myers, Florida (the Yankees didn't even know where he was!). Thanks, Mr. Madden, for the most honest, compelling and entertaining portrait of Yankee players I've ever read.

As a Yankee fan, did you ever wish you could just sit down with your heroes and ask them some interesting questions about themselves and their time with the Yankees? Well, in his book, Pride of October: What It Was Like To Be Young And A Yankee, Bill Madden makes our wishes come true. In a book that's as entertaining as the players and team it covers, Madden brings back so many memories of our past heroes.

For me, the book really hit home, when Madden sat down and talked with Bobby Murcer, who was a hero of mine as a youngster. In that chapter, Madden, through Murcer's words, tells the story of how disappointed Bobby was when he was traded from the Yankees after the 1974 season. When I read the passages, it brought me back to when I was fourteen years old and was crushed when I found out my favorite player was traded. Now, almost thirty years later, I realized Murcer was as devastated as I was.

Through Murcer, Lou Piniella, and Reggie Jackson, Madden also captures the very emotional days after the tragic death of Thurman Munson. Yankee fans who remember those sad days of August 1979, will have the strong emotions brought back when they read the words of Munson's former mates.

The book has many interesting tidbits about some very famous Yankees. For example, when talking to Phil Rizzuto, Madden, explains to us why Phil was and still is so scared of lightning. Yankee fans fondly recall how the "Scooter" would "bolt" from the booth as soon as he saw lightning. Well, when you read the book you'll find out why. You will also read how the events of September 11th, affected Phil's life.

An early chapter in the book deals with former Yankee pitcher, Marius Russo. Though I've been a die hard fan for over thirty years, I frankly never heard of Russo. Madden's chapter on Russo was special because Russo was a teammate of Lou Gehrig and the former Yankee pitcher tells how sad it was to see Gehrig suffer with ALS.

As a Yankee fan since 1967, I not only enjoyed the book, but also appreciated the fact that Bill Madden gave me a chance to "talk" to my heroes.

Just an UNBELIEVABLE book...the stories from both the most popular Yankees (Rizzuto, Ford, Berra) to the back-up catcher on the five straight championship teams in the 50's are all must-read. 18 chapters on 17 men (1 women - Arlene Howard, the widow of Yankee great Elston Howard) covers the all-time greats and the not so recognizable players. Modern guys like Jackson, Pinella, and O'Neil make sure that all eras are covered. The best baseball writer in the NY papers, has penned one of the best baseball books I have ever read.