What's the BEST Book Written About Babe Ruth?

[RTK]

There's a new book out titled, "The Big Fella" by Jane Leavy. 656 pages and there's supposed to be some new material included.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

I second the Creamer book and add another really good one by Bill Jenkinson, THE YEAR BABE HIT 104 HOME RUNS. It traces Ruth's 1927 season from spring training through the end of season barnstorming. Smelser's book is also very good.

The new book by Jane Leavy is questionable to me, she tends to sensationalize things and does not do great research in my opinion. Just me opinion.

[jerseygary]

Speaking not only as a Babe Ruth fan, but someone who took a traveling exhibit from the Babe Ruth Museum around the country for a year back in '02, I put Creamer's book above all the one's I've read. Sure, it's from 1974, but as someone already wrote in this thread, Creamer got to interview the people who knew him and played with and against him. I think the book's subtitle, "The Legend Comes to Life" speaks for itself when comparing this against other biographies.

That said, Big Bam is quite good and I recommend that as well. I really thought the author did a spectacular job describing the last year of Babe's career and how he dealt with retirement better than anything else I've read. Also, his description of the pain and suffering he went through from the cancer was harrowing for me. But to really get the essence of the man, Creamer's book is for me the best.

I suggest reading the others after Creamer's book.

In addition to "Big Bam", check out Keene's "The Babe in Red Stockings" for a comprehensive telling of his time in Boston, "Young Babe Ruth" by Brother Gilbert who knew Ruth in St. Mary's, Kelley's "In the Shadow of the Babe" to hear actual players who faced the Babe tell their story and Barthel's "Babe Ruth is Coming to Your Town!: Post Season Barnstorming Games, 1914-1935" for his famous tours. There's more, but those are the one's that come to mind first.

[stlcardsfan]

Have only read the Creamer book but it was excellent.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by jerseygary

Speaking not only as a Babe Ruth fan, but someone who took a traveling exhibit from the Babe Ruth Museum around the country for a year back in '02, I put Creamer's book above all the one's I've read. Sure, it's from 1974, but as someone already wrote in this thread, Creamer got to interview the people who knew him and played with and against him. I think the book's subtitle, "The Legend Comes to Life" speaks for itself when comparing this against other biographies.

That said, Big Bam is quite good and I recommend that as well. I really thought the author did a spectacular job describing the last year of Babe's career and how he dealt with retirement better than anything else I've read. Also, his description of the pain and suffering he went through from the cancer was harrowing for me. But to really get the essence of the man, Creamer's book is for me the best.

I suggest reading the others after Creamer's book.

In addition to "Big Bam", check out Keene's "The Babe in Red Stockings" for a comprehensive telling of his time in Boston, "Young Babe Ruth" by Brother Gilbert who knew Ruth in St. Mary's, Kelley's "In the Shadow of the Babe" to hear actual players who faced the Babe tell their story and Barthel's "Babe Ruth is Coming to Your Town!: Post Season Barnstorming Games, 1914-1935" for his famous tours. There's more, but those are the one's that come to mind first.

Gary brings up a succinct point in quoting Mr. Creamer's subtitle, "The Legend Comes to Life". That's precisely what Robert Creamer accomplishes; he allows us to go back in time and re-live Babe's life. Again, it's enthralling, and timeless with his use of the many key people he interviewed to bring fans a well-chronicled flashback of The Babe.

---Brian Powell

[JollyElm]

Let's hope Creamer knew what he was doing, because I just hit a BIN on ebay for $3.99.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Hot Springs Bathers

The new book by Jane Leavy is questionable to me, she tends to sensationalize things and does not do great research in my opinion. Just me opinion.

I am very much not a fan of her work. Don't like her writing style at all.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by Hot Springs Bathers

The new book by Jane Leavy is questionable to me, she tends to sensationalize things and does not do great research in my opinion. Just me opinion.

I second what you feel about Jane Leavy. She relishes upsetting the apple cart. Hank Bauer warned her not to be messing with Mickey Mantle's legacy; she didn't listen, and drilled down on his 565-foot home run. The 4,206 fans that were there that afternoon of April 17, 1953 would drill her with their empty beer bottles.

I won't go in to what she suggested about Sandy Koufax.

Let's just say, LEAVE LEAVY'S WORK ABONE----DON'T BOTHER WITH IT, 'CAUSE IT'LL BOTHER YOU!!!!!

-----Brian Powell