April 1, 2018
Cowritten with journalist Kerasotis, this book provides a harrowing look into the risks and prejudice Alou (b. 1935) faced during his baseball career. It begins with Alou's childhood in the Dominican Republic where he dreamed of becoming a doctor. Everything changed when he stood in for an injured player at the 1955 Pan American Games and was soon offered $200 to play baseball in America. Alou not only had to deal with racial discrimination but also needed to learn English, which he did by watching TV and reading newspapers. He broke into the majors in 1958 with the San Francisco Giants. Eventually, he would become manager of the Montreal Expos in 1992; the first Dominican manager in the league. Overall, Alou is open about his past, including losing his 16-year-old son and managing during the steroid era. There is wonderful description of game action that does not take away from the personal stories. Includes a forward by Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez. VERDICT The authors give a full picture of Alou's arduous and, at times, lonely experience in MLB. Highly recommended for public libraries where baseball is followed, particularly for those who serve Latin American communities.--Keith Klang, Port Washington P.L., NY
Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
March 26, 2018
Hall of Fame pitcher Alou, who made history in 1958 as the first person to go from the Dominican Republic to playing with a major league team, delivers a fascinating memoir of his baseball career. Alou’s career as a player and later as a coach inspired many Dominican players to move to the U.S.: “The pipeline was open, and it wouldn’t be too long before the trickle turned into a flood.” Alou was enrolled at the University of Santo Domingo, studying to be a doctor, when, at age 21 in 1956, he was signed by the New York Giants. He played in its farm teams until he made it to the majors after the team moved to San Francisco in 1958. He is honest about the reality of his life, including dealing with racism (“There was a pecking order in baseball... and the third-class citizens were the Latinos”) and having to get off-season jobs to make ends meet. He recounts the highlights from his glory days in the 1960s, when he played with future Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Orlando Cepeda, and recalls winning more than 1,000 games as a manager for both the Giants and the Montreal Expos. This is a powerful memoir of a remarkable player who made a lasting impact on America’s pastime.