Sweet Lou: Lou Piniella a Life in Baseball - Hardcover

Isaacson, Melissa

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1600782019 ISBN 13: 9781600782015

Publisher: Triumph Books, 2009

Synopsis

From Rookie of the Year to two-time Manager of the Year, with three World Series rings in between, Lou Piniella's story is as compelling as the man himself. From a boyhood in Tampa that shaped, in every way, the athlete and person he would become; to his years with the Kansas City Royals, an experience that would teach him about the business of baseball; to his wild years in New York that would give him his first two World Series rings and thrust him into George Steinbrenner's infamous revolving door; his many varied experiences all set him on course to finding his true calling. Sweet Lou brings the story of one of the most intriguing managers in the game to life, relives history with those who were there, and probes the man himself: his great loves, his great losses, and his greatest successes. Author Melissa Isaacson explores Piniella's background, his parents, his friends, and his roots in Tampa that explain not only his hot-headedness but also reveal a very down-to-earth family man. Along the way, she charts his ascension to become the beloved skipper of the Cubs, setting his sights on his sixth pennant and the possibility of leading the Cubs to their first world championship in 100 years. She examines the personal losses he has absorbed, including good friends and mentors who died prematurely, as well as the passing of his father after he came back to Tampa. In one chapter she looks at his life outside of baseball, which reveals a multifaceted and highly active businessman. And another chapter, devoted to the famous temper, tells some of the stories that at times have made him the bane of umpires around both leagues. Sweet Lou is a riveting portrayal of a consummate andcontroversial larger-than-life baseball personality whose full impact on the game has yet to be measured.

About this title

About the Author

Melissa Isaacson is in her 26th year of covering sports, returning to her native Chicago to write for the Chicago Tribune in 1990. She has since been the principal beat writer for the Bulls and Bears as well as a columnist and feature writer, covering virtually every major sporting event over the years.

A lifelong baseball lover, Isaacson covered the Florida Grapefruit League for Florida Today and the Orlando Sentinel, and has been part of Chicago's seasonal and postseason baseball coverage, including the '03, '07, and '08 Cubs.

Isaacson graduated from the University of Iowa in 1983. She is the author of Transition Game: An Inside Look at Life with the Chicago Bulls. Isaacson lives in Northbrook with her husband Rick Mawrence and their children, Amanda and Alec.

From the Back Cover

A genuine passion for baseball fuels the fire that runs through Lou Piniella's veins. One of the game's finest tacticians, Piniella honed his craft in the white-hot crucible of the New York Yankees organization and understands the heart-and-soul dedication necessary to forge a winning baseball team.

Sweet Lou thoughtfully presents Lou Piniella's storied life in baseball as a player and a manager. From the neighborhood pickup games of his youth and his career in the big leagues, through his managerial positions in Cincinnati, Seattle, and Tampa, and on to his quest to lead the Chicago Cubs to a world championship, Piniella's love of the game shines through every moment and will inspire all who read his story.

From the Inside Flap

Baseball is in Lou Piniella's blood. The son of athletic Spanish immigrants, Piniella's boyhood in Tampa, Florida, was an education in the finer points of the great American game. Those early experiences shaped the person and athlete he became and led him to the pinnacle of the sport, including the Rookie of the Year Award, two Manager of the Year Awards, and three World Series rings.

Sweet Lou brings the story of one of baseball's most intriguing managers to life, relives history with the players who created it, and explores the heartbreaks, successes, and colorful cast of people that have forged Piniella into the gifted competitor he is today. Stories of Billy Martin, Reggie Jackson, George Steinbrenner, Marge Schott, Rob Dibble, Alex Rodriguez, Ben Grieve, Kosuke Fukudome, and many more underscore Piniella's true passion for the sport.

Edition details

• Publisher: Triumph Books
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1600782019
• ISBN 13: 9781600782015
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224