Hello Everybody, I'm George Kell

Rating:
Summary: A decent man sheds new light on baseball's golden years
Review: That George's book turned out to be a long, tall, cold drink of water on a hot summer day came as no surprise to me. For us in Michigan who have lived with George throughout his years as the premier Tiger TV announcer, or as one of the great players of his time, we have long known of his commitment to to all that is good and right about America's pastime. But, he also served as a prophet concerning the aspects of the modern game which led to a slow decay not only in the quality of the game, but in the character of some of the game's players and management (thankfully the 1998 season of McGwire-Sosa, and of the Yankee's team-first approach has ushered in the possibility of a solid reversal of that trend). In any event, how can a baseball aficionado not feel the warm sunshine of yesteryear as we read of a living Hall of Famer's account of playing under Manager Connie Mack, alongside and against Ted Williams...Joe DiMaggio...even Minnie Minoso! George's book is special. I can virtually guarantee you will not read the likes of "Hello everybody, I'm George Kell" ever again. It is an easy-reading account of baseball's glory days, when a nation came out of a war against the forces of evil, and after looking in the mirror, realized the color line must be obliterated in what was then the undisputed King of American sport. I do not easily grant a five star review, but George's decency shines through the entire book, just as his light has shined his entire life. Bravo!

Rating:
Summary: A decent man sheds new light on baseball's golden years
Review: That George's book turned out to be a long, tall, cold drink of water on a hot summer day came as no surprise to me. For us in Michigan who have lived with George throughout his years as the premier Tiger TV announcer, or as one of the great players of his time, we have long known of his commitment to to all that is good and right about America's pastime. But, he also served as a prophet concerning the aspects of the modern game which led to a slow decay not only in the quality of the game, but in the character of some of the game's players and management (thankfully the 1998 season of McGwire-Sosa, and of the Yankee's team-first approach has ushered in the possibility of a solid reversal of that trend). In any event, how can a baseball aficionado not feel the warm sunshine of yesteryear as we read of a living Hall of Famer's account of playing under Manager Connie Mack, alongside and against Ted Williams...Joe DiMaggio...even Minnie Minoso! George's book is special. I can virtually guarantee you will not read the likes of "Hello everybody, I'm George Kell" ever again. It is an easy-reading account of baseball's glory days, when a nation came out of a war against the forces of evil, and after looking in the mirror, realized the color line must be obliterated in what was then the undisputed King of American sport. I do not easily grant a five star review, but George's decency shines through the entire book, just as his light has shined his entire life. Bravo!