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One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story
Autobiography of Detroit Tiger great Ron Leflore
- GenresSportsBaseballNonfiction
207 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1978
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 10, 2018
More like 3.5 stars. This is the 2nd time I’ve read this book and the first time I probably would have given it 5 stars because I liked the story of his life but the writing is just not that good. It’s definitely still an amazing story, more so about his time as a baseball player than his time in prison. Worth reading for any baseball fan.
March 15, 2024
Outstanding book. A great example of overcoming difficult circumstances to reach the pinnacle. Ron LeFlore is a great inspiration to anyone. I enjoyed watching him play and have a ton of respect for what he overcame in his life. A must read for any baseball fan or anyone looking for a great human interest story.
March 18, 2023
I first read this short book in 1981 and recently found it in an old 'used books bin." I was at a baseball game in 1976 at old Comiskey Park in Chicago where the Detroit Tigers were playing the Chicago White Sox. I was intrigued by Ron LeFlore and his life. Five years later, I bought and read the paperback, "One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story."
I had forgotten the book but remembered LeFlore's story. So, I sat down to reread it. Truthfully, it is not a well-written book in that it uneasily mixes memories of regret and hope but is less about baseball. It is a book about a man with no purpose of value in life who found a venue in life and a father-figure. When nobody believed in him, he found hope and a chance. He discovered a talent he never knew he had - playing baseball.
LeFlore was one of those many Detroit urban area youth who was lost and got into stealing which continued into adulthood. The book covers his uneven home life with an alcoholic father and a hard-working mother. Sadly, Ron LeFlore continued his downward slide into heroin use and drug dealing while attending Detroit's Eastern High School. A high school dropout, Leflore had no interest in any sport when he was arrested at 22 and sent to the State Prison of Southern Michigan (usually called Jackson State Penitentiary) for armed robbery of a local bar in January 1970. In prison, LeFlore played baseball and caught the interest of a fellow inmate with connections. In time, Leflore caught the attention of a mutual acquaintance, Billy Martin, the then-manager of the Detroit Tigers who came to watch LeFlore play. Martin visited Jackson State Prison on May 23, 1973. Martin eventually helped LeFlore get permission for day-parole and a tryout. The book spends a lot of time on Leflore's rise with the Tigers after getting out of prison a short time later.
In 1974, LeFlore made his MLB debut after playing one year in the minors. The book covers his first five years in the MLB. LeFlore started well as a platoon outfielder with veteran Tiger Mickey Stanley before taking over as the starting outfielder in 1975. Leflore's hope, talent and confidence helped him as he blossomed in 1975 and 1976. In 1977, he LeFlore had his best season with 16 home runs and batted .325. He was better in 1978 and was considered the best player on the Detroit Tigers.
The book ends here but LeFlore went on to play for the Montreal Expos and the Chicago White Sox before retiring in 1983 at age 35. This is a readable tale of a man who found baseball and a purpose..
I had forgotten the book but remembered LeFlore's story. So, I sat down to reread it. Truthfully, it is not a well-written book in that it uneasily mixes memories of regret and hope but is less about baseball. It is a book about a man with no purpose of value in life who found a venue in life and a father-figure. When nobody believed in him, he found hope and a chance. He discovered a talent he never knew he had - playing baseball.
LeFlore was one of those many Detroit urban area youth who was lost and got into stealing which continued into adulthood. The book covers his uneven home life with an alcoholic father and a hard-working mother. Sadly, Ron LeFlore continued his downward slide into heroin use and drug dealing while attending Detroit's Eastern High School. A high school dropout, Leflore had no interest in any sport when he was arrested at 22 and sent to the State Prison of Southern Michigan (usually called Jackson State Penitentiary) for armed robbery of a local bar in January 1970. In prison, LeFlore played baseball and caught the interest of a fellow inmate with connections. In time, Leflore caught the attention of a mutual acquaintance, Billy Martin, the then-manager of the Detroit Tigers who came to watch LeFlore play. Martin visited Jackson State Prison on May 23, 1973. Martin eventually helped LeFlore get permission for day-parole and a tryout. The book spends a lot of time on Leflore's rise with the Tigers after getting out of prison a short time later.
In 1974, LeFlore made his MLB debut after playing one year in the minors. The book covers his first five years in the MLB. LeFlore started well as a platoon outfielder with veteran Tiger Mickey Stanley before taking over as the starting outfielder in 1975. Leflore's hope, talent and confidence helped him as he blossomed in 1975 and 1976. In 1977, he LeFlore had his best season with 16 home runs and batted .325. He was better in 1978 and was considered the best player on the Detroit Tigers.
The book ends here but LeFlore went on to play for the Montreal Expos and the Chicago White Sox before retiring in 1983 at age 35. This is a readable tale of a man who found baseball and a purpose..
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews