Synopses & Reviews
In this andlt;Iandgt;New York Timesandlt;/Iandgt; bestselling autobiography, baseball legend Mike Piazza takes readers into his exceptional and storied careerand#8212;from the rumors and controversies to his proudest achievements.andlt;brandgt;andlt;brandgt;Mike Piazza was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixty-second round of the 1988 baseball draft as a and#8220;courtesy pick.and#8221; The Dodgers never expected him to play for themand#8212;or anyone else. Mike had other ideas. With talent, determination, and a formidable work ethicand#8212;thanks in large part to his fatherand#8217;s aspirations for himand#8212;he became the National League Rookie of the Year in 1993, broke the record for season batting average by a catcher, holds the record for career home runs at his position, and was selected as an All-Star twelve times.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;With the Dodgers, Piazza established himself as baseballand#8217;s premier offensive catcher, but the team never seemed willing to recognize him as the franchise player he was. He joined the New York Mets and led them to the memorable 2000 World Series with their cross-town rivals, the Yankees. Mike tells the story behind his dramatic confrontation with Roger Clemens during that time. He addresses the steroid controversy that hovered around him and Major League Baseball, and he discusses the rumors of his being gay. He also describes the thrill of his game-winning home run on September 21, 2001, the first baseball game played in New York after 9/11. Along the way, he tells terrific stories about teammates and rivals that baseball fans will devour.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;and#8220;A story of hope and audacityand#8221; (Bloomberg.com), andlt;Iandgt;Long Shot andlt;/Iandgt;is a fascinating memoir written with resolute honesty, insight, humor, and charm. Itand#8217;s surprising and inspiring, and will continue to be one of the most talked-about sports autobiographies for many years.
Review
andlt;divandgt;"Piazza applies the single-minded drive he showed at the plate to making the case for his legacy. . . . [He]
Review
"Mr. Piazza has had one of the stranger and more inspiring careers in baseball history. . . . [andlt;Iandgt;Long Shotandlt;/Iandgt;] explain[s] how this non-prospect blossomed into a legendary hitter."
Review
"Beloved Mets catcher Mike Piazza comes out swinging in a new memoirand#8212;confronting rumors about being gay and taking steroids, detailing his romantic home runs and finally setting the score with his hated rival, Roger Clemens."
Review
"Piazza applies the single-minded drive he showed at the plate to making the case for his legacy. . . . [He] is forthright and often quite funny. . . . Mets fans will find insights, if not solace, in Piazza's account of the team's woes."
Synopsis
In this New York Times bestselling autobiography, baseball legend Mike Piazza takes readers into his exceptional and storied career from the rumors and controversies to his proudest achievements.
In this remarkably candid autobiography, superstar Mike Piazza takes readers inside his life and career to show what it takes to make it to the major leagues and to stay on top.
Piazza was drafted in the sixty-second round of the 1988 MLB draft, a courtesy pick because of a family connection to Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda. No one expected Mike Piazza to play in the major leagues except Mike and his dad not even the Dodgers. But with talent, determination, and a formidable work ethic, long shot Piazza learned the demanding position of catcher and not only made it to the majors, he became one of the great players in the history of the game.
With resolute honesty Piazza addresses the issues that swirled about him during his career: the rumor that he was gay, the infamous bat-throwing incident with Roger Clemens, and the accusations of steroid use that plagued nearly every power hitter of his era. But above all, Long Shot is the story of a superstar who rose to the top through his talent and his deep drive to succeed."
Synopsis
In this remarkably candid autobiography, superstar Mike Piazza takes readers inside his life and career to show what it takes to make it to the major leagues and to stay on top.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Piazza was drafted in the sixty-second round of the 1988 MLB draft, a courtesy pick because of a family connection to Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda. No one expected Mike Piazza to play in the major leagues except Mike and his dadand#8212;not even the Dodgers. But with talent, determination, and a formidable work ethic, long shot Piazza learned the demanding position of catcher and not only made it to the majors, he became one of the great players in the history of the game.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;With resolute honesty Piazza addresses the issues that swirled about him during his career: the rumor that he was gay, the infamous bat-throwing incident with Roger Clemens, and the accusations of steroid use that plagued nearly every power hitter of his era. But above all, andlt;I andgt;Long Shotandlt;/Iandgt; is the story of a superstar who rose to the top through his talent and his deep drive to succeed.
About the Author
Mike Piazza grew up in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, and was chosen by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixty-second round of the 1988 Major League Baseball amateur draft. He was National League Rookie of the Year in 1993 and was a twelve-time All-Star selection. He holds the record for most home runs by a catcher (396) and held the record for highest batting average in a season by a catcher (.362) until it was recently broken. He lives with his family in Miami Beach, Florida.Lonnie Wheelerand#8217;s numerous books include collaborations on the autobiographies of Hank Aaron (andlt;iandgt;I Hadandnbsp;a Hammerandlt;/iandgt;), Bob Gibson (andlt;iandgt;Stranger to the Gameandlt;/iandgt;), Mike Piazza (andlt;i andgt;Long Shotandlt;/iandgt;), a baseball dialogue between Gibson and Reggie Jackson (andlt;iandgt;Sixty Feet, Six Inchesandlt;/iandgt;), and reflections on a summer at Wrigley Field (andlt;i andgt;Bleachersandlt;/iandgt;). He lives in New Richmond, Ohio.