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A Pirate for Life
Exploring a pitching career that began with a complete-game victory over Hall of Famer Don Drysdale in 1964 and ended when he could no longer control his pitches, this book details the life of Pittsburgh Pirates great, Steve Blass. This insider's view of the humorous and bizarre journey of a World Series champion pitcher turned color commentator will delight Pirates and baseball fans alike. Recounting his first years in the Major Leagues and his battle with the baffling condition that would ultimately bear his own name, Steve Blass tells the story of his life on and off the field with a poignant, dazzling wit and shares the life of a baseball player who had the prime of his career cut short.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 17, 2023
Steve Blass’ book A Pirate For Life is exactly the dose of invigorating nostalgia Pirates fans need. Excepting a couple short, winning windows (1990-1992, 2013-2015) rooting for the Pirates in the decades since their last World Series Championship has been grim. Steve’s charming, funny, relentlessly positive book is a reminder of times when the Pirates were great and being a fan was consistently fun.
Blass is best remembered in baseball for the malady that bears his name — Steve Blass Disease — an inexplicable, career ending case of the yips. This took Steve down at the height of his career, just a year after his best season, and only two years removed from being a World Series hero. Acknowledging this, Blass opens his book with his sudden, mysterious loss of pitching ability. It’s fascinating to get his first hand account, especially to hear his debunking some of the many rumors that circulated about its possible cause.
Blass then moves on to the meat of his book — describing his storied career with the Pirates as they ascended toward being one of the great, powerhouse teams in baseball. Blass is a excellent storyteller. His tales of the famous teammates who help and inspired him in his early years — roommate Bob Friend and team leaders Bill Mazeroski and Roberto Clemente are priceless. Blass was famous as a jokester in a Pirates clubhouse that was renowned as the loosest in baseball, and his stories of teammate’s shenanigans are hilarious. (His story of Vic Davalillo and Colonel Sanders in Chicago is worth the price of the book!) Best of all is his in depth recreation of the 1971 World Series between Pittsburgh and Baltimore in which he pitched two, complete game victories.
Of course, Steve’s career as a Pirates color broadcaster was far longer than his playing years, and several chapters cover it. His stories of hijinks in the broadcast booth may not feel as relevant to Pirates fans, but they are just as funny.
Steve Blass was one of my first baseball heroes as a kid, and I’m a lifelong Pirates fan, so maybe this book earned an extra star from me for that. But any baseball fan should enjoy this book, and any Pirates fan should consider it essential reading.
Blass is best remembered in baseball for the malady that bears his name — Steve Blass Disease — an inexplicable, career ending case of the yips. This took Steve down at the height of his career, just a year after his best season, and only two years removed from being a World Series hero. Acknowledging this, Blass opens his book with his sudden, mysterious loss of pitching ability. It’s fascinating to get his first hand account, especially to hear his debunking some of the many rumors that circulated about its possible cause.
Blass then moves on to the meat of his book — describing his storied career with the Pirates as they ascended toward being one of the great, powerhouse teams in baseball. Blass is a excellent storyteller. His tales of the famous teammates who help and inspired him in his early years — roommate Bob Friend and team leaders Bill Mazeroski and Roberto Clemente are priceless. Blass was famous as a jokester in a Pirates clubhouse that was renowned as the loosest in baseball, and his stories of teammate’s shenanigans are hilarious. (His story of Vic Davalillo and Colonel Sanders in Chicago is worth the price of the book!) Best of all is his in depth recreation of the 1971 World Series between Pittsburgh and Baltimore in which he pitched two, complete game victories.
Of course, Steve’s career as a Pirates color broadcaster was far longer than his playing years, and several chapters cover it. His stories of hijinks in the broadcast booth may not feel as relevant to Pirates fans, but they are just as funny.
Steve Blass was one of my first baseball heroes as a kid, and I’m a lifelong Pirates fan, so maybe this book earned an extra star from me for that. But any baseball fan should enjoy this book, and any Pirates fan should consider it essential reading.
May 15, 2013
A Pirate for Life, by Steve Blass with Erik Sherman, is a very interesting sports autobiography. Steve Blass made it to Major League Baseball in 1964 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and had an outstanding pitching career with them. In the 1971 World Series, Blass won game three and game seven to help the Pirates become the World Champions. I was attending the University of Pittsburgh during that time and, although I could not attend any of those WS games, I certainly participated in the celebration after the Bucs won game seven. Unfortunately, during the 1973 season, Blass suddenly lost his ability to throw strikes, and he had to give up what he had dreamed of doing since he was a youngster. Since then, Steve Blass Disease has become the name of the condition when other pitchers have suddenly lost their control. Although Steve Blass was forced to quit playing baseball in 1974, he has managed to maintain a lifelong relationship with the Pirates organization and team. He has been working as a sportscaster for Pirates games since 1983, and I enjoy seeing (and hearing) him when I watch their games on TV. For me, a lifelong Pirates fan, this was a fantastic book because Blass writes about his relationships and experiences with many of the Pirates’ players and managers during and after he was player. It was a wonderful experience for me to read about the players’ backgrounds, careers, and personalities. It was even better to read Blass’ personal reminiscences about players, including Roberto Clemente, Dick Groat, Bill Mazeroski, Bill Virdon, Gene Alley, Richie Hebner, Doc Ellis, Manny Sanguillen, Al Oliver, Willie Stargell, Bob Moose, and many more. Likewise, it was great to learn more about Pirates’ managers Danny Murtaugh, Harry Walker, and Jim Leyland and about the longtime Pirates’ radio and TV sportscaster, Bob Prince (The gunner). It was also great to read about the Pirates organization and to learn more about the current broadcast cadre, whose work I enjoy very much. Of course, this is an autobiography and Blass is very candid about the ups and downs of his life. However, overall he communicates to the reader that he realizes how lucky he has been and how grateful he is for the life he has lived. If you have been a longtime fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, you must read this book. If you are a fan of baseball, you ought to read this book. If you enjoy reading well-written autobiographies by people (especially sports people) who reveal their struggles and successes through an informative and positive narrative, you ought to read this one. I thought it was great!
January 25, 2021
It isn't often a baseball player can have a "disease" named after him, but that is what happened to former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Steve Blass. In 1973, he inexplicably lost his ability to throw a pitch in the strike zone. This occurred after his two most productive seasons with the Pirates and he was a rising star on one of the better teams in the National League. His complete story – his rise, his fall and his life after the fall forced him to leave the game – is told in this very entertaining memoir written with Erik Sherman.
It should be noted that while the book follows the traditional path a sports memoir takes, this isn't the most polished memoir written as Blass skips around without a tangential connection between the two topics. There is also a lot of colorful language and unless one is an avid Pirates fan, some of the nicknames may make it difficult to follow a story. That is the worst of the book, which otherwise is very entertaining and is a true reflection of Blass's personality as his broadcasting style – he has done broadcasting work for the Pirates – is exactly like how this book reads.
Blass is honest about the "Steve Blass disease" – or also called "the yips" - that afflicted him and mentions other prominent baseball players that had similar issues such as Mackey Sasser, Chuck Knoblach and Rick Ankiel. The latter one made for one of the better stories not on the diamond as Blass shared that he was watching the playoff game in which Ankiel threw many wild pitches and his "Steve Blass disease" was on full display. He turned to his wife and said that he figured within five minutes, he was going to get a call from a reporter – it took only three.
Readers will enjoy hearing Blass tell about his rise to the major leagues as he not only talks about his pitching, the games and his teammates but also some legendary stories about his nights out with friends and teammates – both during and after his baseball career – in which alcoholic beverages played an important part. It is easy to tell that he enjoyed his adult beverages and some may wonder if he had issues about it but just from the reading, it didn't seem to be that way.
The other wonderful part of the book for a reader is when Blass finally is able to address his trouble with throwing a baseball properly, even though it didn't happen until long after his career was over as he used psychology to overcome his issues. He was so happy about it that he threw out the first pitch at a Pirates game many years after last pitching to show that he could do it. The joy he had doing that is shown both in the text and on the cover as that was where that photo was taken.
Pirates fans will especially love to read this account of a pitcher who seemed to have everything going for him when his baseball world came crashing down but was able to still enjoy all that the game gave to him.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
It should be noted that while the book follows the traditional path a sports memoir takes, this isn't the most polished memoir written as Blass skips around without a tangential connection between the two topics. There is also a lot of colorful language and unless one is an avid Pirates fan, some of the nicknames may make it difficult to follow a story. That is the worst of the book, which otherwise is very entertaining and is a true reflection of Blass's personality as his broadcasting style – he has done broadcasting work for the Pirates – is exactly like how this book reads.
Blass is honest about the "Steve Blass disease" – or also called "the yips" - that afflicted him and mentions other prominent baseball players that had similar issues such as Mackey Sasser, Chuck Knoblach and Rick Ankiel. The latter one made for one of the better stories not on the diamond as Blass shared that he was watching the playoff game in which Ankiel threw many wild pitches and his "Steve Blass disease" was on full display. He turned to his wife and said that he figured within five minutes, he was going to get a call from a reporter – it took only three.
Readers will enjoy hearing Blass tell about his rise to the major leagues as he not only talks about his pitching, the games and his teammates but also some legendary stories about his nights out with friends and teammates – both during and after his baseball career – in which alcoholic beverages played an important part. It is easy to tell that he enjoyed his adult beverages and some may wonder if he had issues about it but just from the reading, it didn't seem to be that way.
The other wonderful part of the book for a reader is when Blass finally is able to address his trouble with throwing a baseball properly, even though it didn't happen until long after his career was over as he used psychology to overcome his issues. He was so happy about it that he threw out the first pitch at a Pirates game many years after last pitching to show that he could do it. The joy he had doing that is shown both in the text and on the cover as that was where that photo was taken.
Pirates fans will especially love to read this account of a pitcher who seemed to have everything going for him when his baseball world came crashing down but was able to still enjoy all that the game gave to him.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
June 12, 2012
Um. Steve Blass is a nice guy but wow, he used to drink a lot. And a lot of the time, he would get behind the wheel despite being really drunk. That was my main takeaway from this book. I guess you would call me a casual baseball fan. And since I live in Pittsburgh, the Pirates are my team by default. I know that they have been terrible for the last 20 years but that they were really good in the 60s and 70s. I can rattle off a few important player names from that time period (Mazeroski, Clemente, Stargell), but that's about it. Oh, and Honus Wagner, who played for them at around the turn of the century.
Anyway, aside from being the color guy on Pirates home game radio broadcasts (which he is very good at), Steve Blass is probably most famous for being the namesake of Steve Blass Disease. This is not an actual disease, but it's a name for when a pitcher inexplicably loses the ability to throw strikes and can no longer pitch. Steve Blass was, so far as I know, the first guy this happened to. (Rick Ankiel is probably the most prominent recent example.) So I was hoping that there would be some interesting discussion of how this happened and how Blass got over having to retire from baseball. And there was some space devoted to this, but the narrative was basically "It happened, no one knows why, I retired and got non-baseball jobs and later moved into being a commentator. And eventually I worked with a sports psychologist and figured out how to pitch again, long after I retired."
I do like the cover. A couple years ago, Blass was invited to throw out the first pitch, in conjunction with being honored by the Pirates for his long association with the team. The thing he is holding in his left hand is a giant tote bag full of baseballs — he was determined to throw as many pitches as it took to get one right. But he nailed it on the first try. (This story is not in the book, but I remember it from when Blass was interviewed at the time.)
I would describe this as a mildly interesting book to Pirates fans. It was interesting to read about the clubhouse dynamics in this time period.
Anyway, aside from being the color guy on Pirates home game radio broadcasts (which he is very good at), Steve Blass is probably most famous for being the namesake of Steve Blass Disease. This is not an actual disease, but it's a name for when a pitcher inexplicably loses the ability to throw strikes and can no longer pitch. Steve Blass was, so far as I know, the first guy this happened to. (Rick Ankiel is probably the most prominent recent example.) So I was hoping that there would be some interesting discussion of how this happened and how Blass got over having to retire from baseball. And there was some space devoted to this, but the narrative was basically "It happened, no one knows why, I retired and got non-baseball jobs and later moved into being a commentator. And eventually I worked with a sports psychologist and figured out how to pitch again, long after I retired."
I do like the cover. A couple years ago, Blass was invited to throw out the first pitch, in conjunction with being honored by the Pirates for his long association with the team. The thing he is holding in his left hand is a giant tote bag full of baseballs — he was determined to throw as many pitches as it took to get one right. But he nailed it on the first try. (This story is not in the book, but I remember it from when Blass was interviewed at the time.)
I would describe this as a mildly interesting book to Pirates fans. It was interesting to read about the clubhouse dynamics in this time period.
June 25, 2025
I would give it a 3.5.
I definitely found out a lot about Steve Blass! some of the stuff, well, it was interesting to say the least.
I definitely found out a lot about Steve Blass! some of the stuff, well, it was interesting to say the least.
July 18, 2023
Steve Blass was a star pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, contributing two complete game victories in the 1971 World Series, was an All-Star in 1972, and was out of baseball by 1975 after losing the ability to hit the strike zone. His struggles were so bad that “Steve Blass” disease became part of baseball’s lexicon. In this hilarious and often profane memoir, Blass recounts his career’s rise and fall, and his eventual return to the Pirates as a color commentator. All told, he spent 60 years as a Pirate before his retirement after the 2019 season.
It’s a solid baseball memoir and a real treat for any Pirate fan. As entertaining as the current color commentators are, nobody can match how much fun Blass had with the game.
It’s a solid baseball memoir and a real treat for any Pirate fan. As entertaining as the current color commentators are, nobody can match how much fun Blass had with the game.
May 17, 2020
I've been fortunate enough in life to make the acquaintance of Steve Blass. He is a natural born storyteller. Much of that comes through in his autobiography. He gives a complete story all the highs and lows of a big leaguer, on the way up and on the way out. Until last season, he remained with the Pirates as a home announcer. He was 60 years a Pirate and is a treasure for life, as anyone reading the book will see.
March 20, 2019
Fantastic read!
May 11, 2013
Steve Blass was one of my favorite baseball players when I was in my teens. I reveled in his 1971 World Series performance and his excellent 1972 season and I cringed watching his sudden inability to find home plate (now generally known as "Steve Blass Disease"). Since then, he has become a successful and beloved broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Pirates, known for his passion for baseball and the Pirates and for his warm personality (I met Mr. Blass a few years ago and was amazed at how gracious he was to a middle-aged fan going "ga-ga" over meeting his hero).
Mr. Blass has now finally decided to tell his story. And it's a good one: small-town boy lives his dream, has to face the reality of having to prematurely leave that world, and then finds a way to be successful around the sport he so loves in a new role.
The two things that struck me was 1) how much Mr. Blass rambles and diverts from the story line with so many asides and 2) how "earthy" some of his language is.
The first issue was easily resolved: Mr. Blass wrote the book in the same manner that he talks during his broadcasts — i.e., jumping from topic to topic and telling stories that are interrupted by asides — and in many ways that style of writing is a perfect representation of how Mr. Blass' brain appears to be wired.
The second issue was more a matter of my faulty perception. I did not expect to see this side of Mr. Blass because I only knew him from interviews, broadcasts, and a brief meeting. But why in the world would I not have realized that Mr. Blass is very much a representation of a major league baseball player (think Ball Four here)? And he lets us see that side of him; personally, I'm glad that he did.
In the end, this was a worthwhile read, not so much for its style, but for the humorous and honest way in which Mr. Blass tells of his rise and fall and rise again. Most true fans of baseball will love this book. And for most Pirates fans, it's a "must-read".
Mr. Blass has now finally decided to tell his story. And it's a good one: small-town boy lives his dream, has to face the reality of having to prematurely leave that world, and then finds a way to be successful around the sport he so loves in a new role.
The two things that struck me was 1) how much Mr. Blass rambles and diverts from the story line with so many asides and 2) how "earthy" some of his language is.
The first issue was easily resolved: Mr. Blass wrote the book in the same manner that he talks during his broadcasts — i.e., jumping from topic to topic and telling stories that are interrupted by asides — and in many ways that style of writing is a perfect representation of how Mr. Blass' brain appears to be wired.
The second issue was more a matter of my faulty perception. I did not expect to see this side of Mr. Blass because I only knew him from interviews, broadcasts, and a brief meeting. But why in the world would I not have realized that Mr. Blass is very much a representation of a major league baseball player (think Ball Four here)? And he lets us see that side of him; personally, I'm glad that he did.
In the end, this was a worthwhile read, not so much for its style, but for the humorous and honest way in which Mr. Blass tells of his rise and fall and rise again. Most true fans of baseball will love this book. And for most Pirates fans, it's a "must-read".
April 2, 2014
I have been a baseball fan all my life and especially a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates. When I was in high school, I was enamored of Steve Blass and even made a scrapbook including his baseball card, photos, newspaper clippings, and my own drawing of him. I have always admired him, even more so when he became a Pirates broadcaster. He appears to be a genuinely humble, amiable, approachable guy with a great sense of humor.
When I heard that he had written a book about his baseball life, I wanted it immediately. I enjoyed reading the details of his early playing days and his phenomenal success in the majors although how can I say that I enjoyed reading of his debilitating struggles when his pitching skills inexplicably vanished? The detailed description of his personal trials did help me to understand his plight.
There were a few aspects of the book that did not appeal to me: Even as a baseball fan, I found some of the play-by-play details a little too tedious for me. Also, his use of inappropriate language surprised me because I had never heard him use it before. I was disappointed in the amount and frequency of his drinking, but at least he was honest and open about it in the book.
The best part of the book was the humor, which I so enjoy in his broadcasts, too. I am thrilled that Steve has found his new niche, and I hope that he sticks with Pirates broadcasting for a long time so that I can continue to reap the benefits of his humor and knowledge of the game just as I did when reading his book.
When I heard that he had written a book about his baseball life, I wanted it immediately. I enjoyed reading the details of his early playing days and his phenomenal success in the majors although how can I say that I enjoyed reading of his debilitating struggles when his pitching skills inexplicably vanished? The detailed description of his personal trials did help me to understand his plight.
There were a few aspects of the book that did not appeal to me: Even as a baseball fan, I found some of the play-by-play details a little too tedious for me. Also, his use of inappropriate language surprised me because I had never heard him use it before. I was disappointed in the amount and frequency of his drinking, but at least he was honest and open about it in the book.
The best part of the book was the humor, which I so enjoy in his broadcasts, too. I am thrilled that Steve has found his new niche, and I hope that he sticks with Pirates broadcasting for a long time so that I can continue to reap the benefits of his humor and knowledge of the game just as I did when reading his book.
July 8, 2013
I enjoyed this book. I have listened to Steve Blass on radio and tv and remember his playing days. The book was written (though with a co-writer) much like Blass talks, though often with more "colorful" language. To me that is not always a good thing, but it was more expected here and not as annoying to me. I loved the cover photo! Steve seems to be a guy who appreciates and enjoys his life. Dark times, even his pitching problems in his playing career, are dealt with lightly.
"I use the phrase 'living my dream and still living it,' every now and then." (229)
"The only downside is this Internet is killing us. Because of the embellishment used in some of the stories we tell, our actual stats are right at everyone's fingertips to cross-check claims of grandeur...What a cruel device the computer is. The technology is killing a lot of our great stories." (231)
"do I have advice for anybody? Yeah. Be kind. It'll make your life sweeter and you'll sleep better. All the rest is details." (244)
A funny story is in the Afterword, written for the paperback edition, that during a book signing, Blass was told his book had outsold Fifty Shades of Gray in her store. Blass said it was because his book has pictures!
"I use the phrase 'living my dream and still living it,' every now and then." (229)
"The only downside is this Internet is killing us. Because of the embellishment used in some of the stories we tell, our actual stats are right at everyone's fingertips to cross-check claims of grandeur...What a cruel device the computer is. The technology is killing a lot of our great stories." (231)
"do I have advice for anybody? Yeah. Be kind. It'll make your life sweeter and you'll sleep better. All the rest is details." (244)
A funny story is in the Afterword, written for the paperback edition, that during a book signing, Blass was told his book had outsold Fifty Shades of Gray in her store. Blass said it was because his book has pictures!
December 12, 2012
To be fair I am a lifelong Pittsburgh Pirates fan dating back to the mid-1960s, and Steve Blass was already on the Pirates roster when I began following the team. I was at Game 3 of the 1971 World Series when he pitched the first of his two masterpieces in that series. So I would certainly be positively inclined towards Steve Blass' "A Pirate for Life" simply because of the first-hand retelling of so much that I recall from my younger years as well as the behind-the-scenes accompaniment.
That said, I thought Mr. Blass' book was fantastic. The balance of the subjects he covered was perfect, and I thought it was interesting (and courageous) to start out Chapter 1 by discussing his sudden, famous control issues. I enjoyed the chapter on "The Year of the Pitcher" since it had both a Pirate-specific and baseball-wide perspective, very well interwoven. And of course his indepth tales from the 1971 World Series turned me into a 13-year old again.
A great book.
That said, I thought Mr. Blass' book was fantastic. The balance of the subjects he covered was perfect, and I thought it was interesting (and courageous) to start out Chapter 1 by discussing his sudden, famous control issues. I enjoyed the chapter on "The Year of the Pitcher" since it had both a Pirate-specific and baseball-wide perspective, very well interwoven. And of course his indepth tales from the 1971 World Series turned me into a 13-year old again.
A great book.
December 12, 2013
Blass was one of my childhood idols. I still remember him pitching Game 7 of the 1971 World Series nervously sitting on on the floor of my living room. Like the world I was baffled why after such a great 1972 season he couldn't pitch effectively any longer. Steve is honest about his human struggles in this book reminding us that heroes are really just flawed human beings just like us. But he faced his giants and turned out to be a great ambassador of baseball and the Pirates in particular. I listened to the audio book and it isn't very polished. (Doesn't anyone edit the audio version?) And Steve seems to rush through the reading. But enough nitpicking. A revealing look at a great guy and a great Pirate.
February 19, 2015
I have listened and watched Pirate games since I can remember. Steve Blass has always been one of my favorite Pirate broadcasters. I knew bits and pieces about his playing career, but enjoyed reading his story and about his friendships with other Pirate legends! To see a man truly love the game, Pittsburgh, and the Pirates as he does is truly inspiring! Let's go Bucs :)
September 25, 2012
Great book. Being from & living in Pittsburgh for 59 years I remember most of what is referenced in this book. Even if your not a baseball fan you will like this book. I just finished it & now my wife is reading it. Great stories & Steve has a great sense of humor. Give it a try!
April 27, 2013
You probably won't appreciate unless you are a Pirate or Steve Blass fan. I like him because he's a jokester. BUT, the most interesting part is how a psychologist helped him solve the problem that ended his major league pitching career by blocking out the negatives and focusing on the positive.
September 17, 2013
This is a fun book to read for any fan of baseball. It is particularly enjoyable for a Pittsburgher. Steve Blass has been an ambassador for out city for a half a century. I had a great time strolling gown memory lane with him.
July 10, 2012
Even if you don't follow baseball, it's a very interesting read....Blass can really tell a story.
August 4, 2012
Good read. Steve Blass tells a good story. Unfortunately, too much drinking talk. The stories on Clemente are great. He is truly proud to be a Bucco, something I hope the current team has.
September 14, 2012
It was like sitting down and chatting with Steve Blass about his career. Gotta love if you are a true Pirate fan
February 15, 2013
Decent - could have used more Bucco baseball stories and less in-depth analysis of his life. I do like Steve Blass though, so the book was an easy and entertaining read.
August 9, 2018
Not great writing, but a heartfelt look at "A Pirate for Life."
February 8, 2024
Always nice to remember players from the past. Reading about the great Pirate teams and especially Roberto Clemente brings back good memories.
August 2, 2012
If you are a Steve Blass fan or a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, this is a must read.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews