This was a labor of love and learning compiling these books. A few notes. I read them all, so it’s not just a recommendation or a favor. We ended up heavy on NY, baseball and hoops this year, but they are not just for NY fans. Also these were all published in 2023. I had a bunch of others from earlier years as well. All hot off the press, if that’s what still happens. You will learn something from each. I also included links from our podcast from a few of those authors, and we hope to add more of them to the list in the New year. Enjoy and give them a shot for your holiday shopping.
A Mic For All Seasons by Kenny Albert
It’s ironic reading this book about the career of Kenny Albert, because in many ways my career away from the microphone was shaped early on by a book… “YESSS,” written by his dad, the award winning sportscaster Marv Albert. For those who don’t know, Kenny is the only play-by-play broadcaster who currently calls all four major sports in North America, and goes deep into so many amazing stories from one of the hardest working voices in the business.
Basketball Empire by Dr. Lindsay Krasnoff
We have also enjoyed having Lindsay Krasnoff on our podcast , and her latest book is not about the NBA, it’s about the global growth of the sport through the eyes and the experiences of the French, and how a sometimes forgotten role in the sport has now risen to new heights that many might not have seen coming.
Best American Sportswriting 2023 edited by Richard Deitsch
Every year when this book shows up its like an early holiday present. I have every one since 1991 and was really happy to see Triumph books pick this up again a few years ago. One of the more intriguing things to notice is what makes the editors cut from platforms far and wide. It changes every year and always makes us smarter. Kudos to Richard Deitsch for keeping the ball moving this year.
Goodbye Oakland by Andy Dolich and Dave Newhouse
We include on the list on a wistful but effective note, as two sports lifers, Andy Dolich and Dave Newhouse, team up for a sad and timely look at the demise of Bay Area sports and why, with great historical perspective. You can hear Andy on our podcast here as well.
Life In The G by Alex Squadron
A first time book author, Alex Squadron brings fans into…deep into…the lives and personalities of the players of the NBA G League, and the team he covered, the Birmingham Squadron. You learn a great about the mindset of players, and coaches who are fighting for the chance at the NBA, but also learn even more about the ones who figure out their roles and make basketball a vocation even if never making it to the top of the athletic pyramid.
Lucky Me: A Memoir of Changing The Odds by Rich Paul
One of the most dominant agents and insiders in sport on the planet didn’t start out on top. It took a lot of grit and hustle in business, entrepreneurship and some good fortune that kept him going at key stops along the way, and how he helped shape LeBron James, his lifelong friend, into the business mogul he is today as well.
One of our great gifts is having Dave Kindred continuing to tell stories, this labor of love for the award winning journalist is another amazing, and very different one. As Dave dealt with personal hardship, his urge to write sustained him. For years, he has recapped the games of the Lady Potters, including their many runs to state championships. He attended game after game, sitting in the stands and making notes, paid nothing but Milk Duds. And the team and their community were there for him as he lost a grandson to addiction and his wife to long-term illness.
The first of two books on the list by veteran writer Gary Myers, this one takes fans back to the life stories of the Super Bowl champion 1986 Giants, and how they have supported, challenged and grown as people since that season. If you ever wondered about “what happened to…” after the games end, this is a wide ranging and very heartfelt look into the post careers of stars big and small from Big Blue. It’s much more than a football book, it’s a life lesson book well beyond the fans of the Giants. Lots to learn from this.
The Right Call by Sally Jenkins
Another welcome voice for the ages, Sally Jenkins is one of the great listeners and storytellers. This book is a bit of a digression from her Washington Post work today, and gives us some great anecdotes and leadership lessons from boldface names like Bill Belichick, Peyton Manning, Michael Phelps, and more. It is a great playbook for what works not in sports but in life.
The Tao of The Backup Catcher by Tim Brown with Erik Kratz
We talked to Tim Brown on our podcast about the book, and how it resonates well beyond baseball into the roles we have in everyday life. It is a fun and insightful read not just about baseball, but about understanding and acceptance into where we fit in on our own team.
The 20 Greatest Moments in NY Sports History by Todd Ehrlich and Gary Myers
Take two is a little more fun and lighthearted, as Myers teams with veteran sports and news producer Todd Ehlrich to out context to debates in NY sports history. Broken down into four parts, each event gives you the storyline, the justification and then the debate with lots of first person accounts to support. No losers here, and it has great potential for replication elsewhere.
The 1998 Yankees: The Inside Story of the Greatest Baseball Team Ever by Jack Curry
Maybe it’s because New York has been without a title in the four major sports for a record number of years, but having one of our great storytellers, Jack Curry, take us back and into the Yankees record setting 1998 World Series championship was a good read for a Hot Stove season as well. The recall for fans, not just of the Yankees, but of baseball and pop culture, is terrific.
There ya go…a dozen to enjoy as much as I did. Thanks to all.
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