Whispers of the Gods

Tales from Baseball’s Golden Age, Told by the Men Who Played It

Peter Golenbock’s nostalgic Whispers of the Gods swings for the fences, relating the real stories behind the legends of baseball’s golden age.

A home run for baseball fans, this oral history tells the tales of greats like Ted Williams, Ron Santo, Roger Maris, and Stan “The Man” Musial, who remained enshrined in the pantheon of immortals long after the last out was called and the bleachers emptied out. These firsthand accounts bring to life dugouts and locker rooms, sharing the perspectives of some of the greatest to ever grace the ballfield.

Seventeen different ballplayers describe how they came up in the game, how they got into the majors, and what they were thinking while on the field. Each gets their own chapter charting the trajectory of their career from sometimes humble origins to the World Series or MVP seasons. They share their triumphs, defeats, and aggravations, giving a strong sense of what the big leagues were like.

Interviews recorded at the players’ homes are transcribed and condensed while preserving each player’s voice. They reminisce on what it was like to share the field with Hall of Famers like Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and Satchel Page, going beyond the accolades one is accustomed to hearing to give an idea of what they were like as people. Dramatic historical photographs add to the book’s sentimental appeal, reviving an earlier era.

Whispers of the Gods knocks it out of the park for anyone interested in compelling anecdotes from baseball’s Hall of Famers.

Reviewed by Joseph S. Pete

Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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