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The Dad Report: Fathers, Sons, and Baseball Families
An unforgettable look at how baseball families share our national pastime. Baseball honors legacies―from cheering the home team to breaking in an old glove handed down from father to son. In The Dad Report , award-winning sportswriter Kevin Cook weaves a tapestry of uplifting stories in which fathers and sons―from the sport's superstars to Cook and his own ball-playing father―share the game. Almost two hundred father-son pairs have played in the big leagues. Cook takes us inside the clubhouses, homes, and lives of many of the greats. Aaron Boone follows grandfather Bob, father Ray, and brother Bret to the majors―three generations of All-Stars. Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey Jr. strive to outdo their famous dads. Michael Jordan walks away from basketball to play minor-league baseball―to fulfill his father's dream. In visiting these legendary families, Cook discovers that ball-playing families are a lot like our own. Dan Haren regrets the long road trips that keep him from his kids. Ike Davis and his father, a former Yankee, debate whether Ike should pitch or play first base. Buddy Bell leads a generation of big-leaguers determined to open their workplace―the clubhouse―to their kids. Framing The Dad Report is the story of Kevin Cook's own father, Art Cook, a minor-league pitcher, a loveable rogue with a wicked screwball. In Art's later years, Kevin phoned him almost every night to talk baseball. They called those nightly conversations "the Dad Report." In time, Kevin came to see that these conversations were about much more than the game. That's what this book is about: the way fathers and sons talk baseball as a way of talking about everything ―courage, fear, fun, family, morality, mortality, and how it's not whether you win or lose that counts, it's how you share the game. 8 pages of photographs
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2015
2 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Cook
56 books124 followersKevin Cook, the award-winning author of Titanic Thompson and Tommy’s Honor, has written for the New York Times, the Daily News, GQ, Men’s Journal, Vogue, and many other publications, and has appeared on CNN and Fox TV. He lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 3, 2020
“Dad, do you want to have a catch,” begins the moving scene at the close of baseball movie Field of Dreams (1988). The images of a father and son divided by dimensions and time coming together to throw a baseball sums up most people’s pull on the game. Each year on Father’s Day my dad would take my grandfather to the horse races. While I am not one who obsesses over any holiday, I know my dad does, so when I could, I would take him to a ball game. Note, I would take him; he had taken me plenty of times before. Never knowing what to get my parents for these summer holidays besides a video call with the kids, I turned to one of my preferred baseball authors Kevin Cook. Kevin is a favorite author and member of the baseball book club on Goodreads. We have read and discussed his Electric October and Ten Innings at Wrigley, and both were excellent. When I saw The Dad Report, I knew this had Father’s Day gift written all over it, but I had to read it first before sending it off to my dad.
Arthur Bruce Cook was the pride of his Indiana town. His parents named him such so that his initials would lead off the alphabet, providing a strong foundation for his life. As a baseball and basketball standout at Butler University, Art caught the attention of the Cincinnati Reds and was assigned to their double a Birmingham club. Although a standout, Art did not last long because the Reds assigned teenaged phenom Joe Nuxhall to Birmingham in 1944. Another left handed pitcher would need to be cut: Art. Art quickly caught on with the Kingston Ponies of the Border League and earned the reputation as an Iron Man pitcher, twice pitching both ends of a double header. In 1948, Cook went 21-9, even earning an Art Cook Appreciation Night by season’s end. Never making it to the big leagues, Art turned to teaching and coaching in rural Indiana school districts, passing on his love of both baseball and basketball to his students and to his son Kevin and his friends. Art Cook’s exploits as a coach were legendary, telling Kevin to “put it in here,” when clearly Kevin had more acumen as a writer than a ball player. The little league memories were priceless, however, leading Kevin to call his dad every night as an adult and discuss their personal nightly news: the Dad Report, a rundown of each day’s baseball highlights.
In the his first year after his father’s death, Kevin worked as a Sports Illustrated reporter in New York. To cope with the void left by his dad, Kevin interviewed baseball fathers and sons over the course of a year, originating as columns and leading to this book. As of publication in 2014, there had been 197 father-son combinations to play in the major leagues. Some were fortunate to have two generations of players who stood out like Ron and Ike Davis. Ron gained notoriety as closer for the Twins, and Ike hit thirty home runs one year as first baseman for the Mets. Although Ike’s career did not enjoy the trajectory that Ron would have liked, he still cheered his son every step of the way and lauded him for making it to the big leagues. Cook applauds the best of the best father-son duos, the Griffey’s and the Bondses and notes that sons in the 1970s until the 2002 World Series enjoyed being able to hangout in the clubhouse and on the field before games, soaking up baseball expertise from twenty five experts. It is little wonder that baseball has produced more second generation players than any other major team sport.
When speaking of baseball royalty, however, two families stand out: the Boones and the Bells. Both are three generation major league families- Gus, Buddy, and David Bell all played; David is now manager of the Cincinnati Reds. The first three generation family is the Boones, descendants of American hero Daniel. Ray Boone attended the same San Diego high school as Ted Williams and followed him to the big leagues. He played shortstop for the Indians until his knees gave out and won a World Series title along the way. Son Bob caught in a career spanning over twenty years, also winning a World Series and becoming a second generation all star. In 2002, the Boone could boast becoming the first three generation All Star family as Ray could proudly tell his buddies that his two grandsons Brett and Aaron were playing in that year’s game. Brett’s son Jake could make the majors in the next few years, making the Boones the first four generation baseball family, and Aaron, taking advantage of decades of his family’s baseball acumen, is the manager of the New York Yankees. Gus Bell and Ray Boone would be proud to know that their grandsons are keeping the family tradition going well into the new century.
Kevin Cook’s son Cal inherited some of his grandfather’s baseball prowess and played through high school. The two continue the Dad Report by discussing sabermetrics and fantasy baseball leagues. Art Cook would have been proud to know both Cal and his sister Lily, both big baseball fans. While not baseball royalty like the Boones and Bells, the Cooks have kept baseball traditions alive through each successive generation. I would have loved to be at a ball game this Father’s Day or at least watched one, but anything Kevin Cook writes more than suffices. I am sure Art Cook would have loved to hear Cal say “grandpa, how about a catch,” and relish in their shared time. In essence, this is what baseball is about, and I’m sure any fathers and grandfathers who have ever enjoyed baseball will enjoy this book as a gift this year.
4 stars
Arthur Bruce Cook was the pride of his Indiana town. His parents named him such so that his initials would lead off the alphabet, providing a strong foundation for his life. As a baseball and basketball standout at Butler University, Art caught the attention of the Cincinnati Reds and was assigned to their double a Birmingham club. Although a standout, Art did not last long because the Reds assigned teenaged phenom Joe Nuxhall to Birmingham in 1944. Another left handed pitcher would need to be cut: Art. Art quickly caught on with the Kingston Ponies of the Border League and earned the reputation as an Iron Man pitcher, twice pitching both ends of a double header. In 1948, Cook went 21-9, even earning an Art Cook Appreciation Night by season’s end. Never making it to the big leagues, Art turned to teaching and coaching in rural Indiana school districts, passing on his love of both baseball and basketball to his students and to his son Kevin and his friends. Art Cook’s exploits as a coach were legendary, telling Kevin to “put it in here,” when clearly Kevin had more acumen as a writer than a ball player. The little league memories were priceless, however, leading Kevin to call his dad every night as an adult and discuss their personal nightly news: the Dad Report, a rundown of each day’s baseball highlights.
In the his first year after his father’s death, Kevin worked as a Sports Illustrated reporter in New York. To cope with the void left by his dad, Kevin interviewed baseball fathers and sons over the course of a year, originating as columns and leading to this book. As of publication in 2014, there had been 197 father-son combinations to play in the major leagues. Some were fortunate to have two generations of players who stood out like Ron and Ike Davis. Ron gained notoriety as closer for the Twins, and Ike hit thirty home runs one year as first baseman for the Mets. Although Ike’s career did not enjoy the trajectory that Ron would have liked, he still cheered his son every step of the way and lauded him for making it to the big leagues. Cook applauds the best of the best father-son duos, the Griffey’s and the Bondses and notes that sons in the 1970s until the 2002 World Series enjoyed being able to hangout in the clubhouse and on the field before games, soaking up baseball expertise from twenty five experts. It is little wonder that baseball has produced more second generation players than any other major team sport.
When speaking of baseball royalty, however, two families stand out: the Boones and the Bells. Both are three generation major league families- Gus, Buddy, and David Bell all played; David is now manager of the Cincinnati Reds. The first three generation family is the Boones, descendants of American hero Daniel. Ray Boone attended the same San Diego high school as Ted Williams and followed him to the big leagues. He played shortstop for the Indians until his knees gave out and won a World Series title along the way. Son Bob caught in a career spanning over twenty years, also winning a World Series and becoming a second generation all star. In 2002, the Boone could boast becoming the first three generation All Star family as Ray could proudly tell his buddies that his two grandsons Brett and Aaron were playing in that year’s game. Brett’s son Jake could make the majors in the next few years, making the Boones the first four generation baseball family, and Aaron, taking advantage of decades of his family’s baseball acumen, is the manager of the New York Yankees. Gus Bell and Ray Boone would be proud to know that their grandsons are keeping the family tradition going well into the new century.
Kevin Cook’s son Cal inherited some of his grandfather’s baseball prowess and played through high school. The two continue the Dad Report by discussing sabermetrics and fantasy baseball leagues. Art Cook would have been proud to know both Cal and his sister Lily, both big baseball fans. While not baseball royalty like the Boones and Bells, the Cooks have kept baseball traditions alive through each successive generation. I would have loved to be at a ball game this Father’s Day or at least watched one, but anything Kevin Cook writes more than suffices. I am sure Art Cook would have loved to hear Cal say “grandpa, how about a catch,” and relish in their shared time. In essence, this is what baseball is about, and I’m sure any fathers and grandfathers who have ever enjoyed baseball will enjoy this book as a gift this year.
4 stars
March 1, 2023
2.5 stars. Had a few bright spots and a sweet through-line about his dad.
October 29, 2015
This is a very good non-fiction sports books.....but to me, a baseball nut.....it's a terrific book. I played and coached baseball and softball and my father played baseball in high school and his first year of college. After that he had to concentrate on his studies, in order to get into Dental school It was just after the height of the 'Depression'and just going to college and graduate school was difficult.
Kevin Cook grew up closer to the Majors than I ever dreamed of and he got to know some of the game's greatest players. He covers many of the players who made the Majors but whose fathers also played in the Big Leagues. I never thought about how many father and son combinations there were and there was the Boone family, where father Ray who made it, son, Bob and grandsons,Bret and Aaron. WOW !!
Kevin Cook grew up closer to the Majors than I ever dreamed of and he got to know some of the game's greatest players. He covers many of the players who made the Majors but whose fathers also played in the Big Leagues. I never thought about how many father and son combinations there were and there was the Boone family, where father Ray who made it, son, Bob and grandsons,Bret and Aaron. WOW !!
September 4, 2015
Sometimes the only thing my dad and I could talk about was baseball.
My earliest memory was my dad coming home from work, and telling me about the say hey kid, who had just joined the Giants.
In 2008, my dad and I had a short conversation about the upcoming all star game. Two hours later I got the call that he had died.
So baseball bound us from my beginning to his end...
My earliest memory was my dad coming home from work, and telling me about the say hey kid, who had just joined the Giants.
In 2008, my dad and I had a short conversation about the upcoming all star game. Two hours later I got the call that he had died.
So baseball bound us from my beginning to his end...
April 3, 2023
RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: “FATHERS… SONS… DAUGHTER… BASEBALL… THE “UNIVERSAL” COMMUNICATOR… WRAPPED AROUND A LOVE STORY”
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I have been reading baseball books non-stop for over fifty years. More and more baseball books nowadays are buried in (at least to old-school fans) too much meaningless new wave statistical mumbo jumbo… that takes away from what baseball is all about… true love of the game… bonding of families… and the true core statistics that have been… and always will be… passed down from generation to generation. Homeruns… RBI’s… Singles… Doubles… Triples… Stolen Bases… Batting Average… Wins… Losses… ERA’s…. Complete Games… etc. Not… the ever growing list of new age definitions… including… but not limited to… “Quality start is a statistic for a starting pitcher defined as a game in which the pitcher completes at least six innings and permits no more than three earned runs.”…
If that’s a “quality” worth making a statistic out of… you may as well give a trophy to every person that ever shows up for a game… whether they win or lose.
One thing will never change… and that’s the ease… beauty… and love… of Fathers and sons… (And daughters) being able to talk baseball. Though there is many more expertly discussed topics (which I’ll describe shortly) in this book… that is what’s at the core of this wonderfully emoted love story from the author… to his Father… and back… with baseball being the universal link… in good times and bad.
The author, Kevin Cook… starts off writing about his Dad… Art… who was a great college baseball and basketball player… and had some great success in minor-league baseball… but never made the big leagues. The son… though not a good ballplayer… absorbed an insider’s view and knowledge of the way baseball was truly played between the lines. Even as the author unflinchingly points out the digressions and disappointments… of his Father… on and off the field… he finds that… through it all… the tough times… and otherwise non-communicable times… Father and son… could always talk about baseball.
Inserted… and peppered… throughout the personal story… the author also examines in depth… many… multi-generational… Father/son/… and even grandson… baseball families… and how they succeeded. Some of the families are Ron and Ike Davis… Dan Haren Sr. and Jr…. three generations of Boones… and then literally out of left- field… or should I say “right-field”… and the pitcher’s mound… Babe Ruth and his adopted daughter Julia. A lot of Babe’s fans will see a side of the Sultan of Swat… they may not have seen in quite such depth before. Bobby and Barry Bonds and Michael Jordan are also covered.
One of the many traits in the author’s writing that I enjoyed… was that in the middle of emotional-poetic telling of the stories… he would still hit you with non-sugar coated analysis…such as in the Bonds section: “Barry went to Arizona State, where coach Jim Brock called him the best player in school history, a history that includes Sal Bando, Bob Horner, and Bobby’s second cousin Reggie Jackson. Brock also called him “THE WORST TEAMMATE.” Barry used to park his shiny black Trans-Am in Coach Brock’s parking space. He bragged about the bonus money he’d turned down, and popped off about his dad,” Brock said calling his best-ever player “rude, inconsiderate, and self-centered. I don’t think he ever figured out how to get people to like him.”
And… tenderly… it seemed… that the author was coming to certain life changing metamorphosing… self-awareness… regarding the true impact that his Dad had on his life…
“Knocking out freelance magazine stories, I checked in with Dad if I was writing about a ballplayer. “Is he a gamer?” he’d ask, and I realized that my heroes were people who never quit and never complained. That’s a gamer… someone who gets the job done. Someone who works hard with no fuss, without expecting a pat on the back. Someone who doesn’t care if anyone else knows how hard he works or how good he is at his job, because he knows. My editor friend Rob was a gamer. Pamela was too, and I tried to be one. ONLY NOW WHEN DAD WAS IN HIS SIXTIES, DID I REALIZE THAT MY IDEA OF WHO AND WHAT TO ADMIRE… AND WHY… CAME FROM HIM. EVEN IN HIS YEARS OF ECLIPSE, HE’D BEEN IN MY HEAD.”
I am a Grandfather now… still talking baseball with my son… and my Granddaughters… and our next “chat” will include some of the things I’ve read in this wonderful book about baseball “AND” life!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have been reading baseball books non-stop for over fifty years. More and more baseball books nowadays are buried in (at least to old-school fans) too much meaningless new wave statistical mumbo jumbo… that takes away from what baseball is all about… true love of the game… bonding of families… and the true core statistics that have been… and always will be… passed down from generation to generation. Homeruns… RBI’s… Singles… Doubles… Triples… Stolen Bases… Batting Average… Wins… Losses… ERA’s…. Complete Games… etc. Not… the ever growing list of new age definitions… including… but not limited to… “Quality start is a statistic for a starting pitcher defined as a game in which the pitcher completes at least six innings and permits no more than three earned runs.”…
If that’s a “quality” worth making a statistic out of… you may as well give a trophy to every person that ever shows up for a game… whether they win or lose.
One thing will never change… and that’s the ease… beauty… and love… of Fathers and sons… (And daughters) being able to talk baseball. Though there is many more expertly discussed topics (which I’ll describe shortly) in this book… that is what’s at the core of this wonderfully emoted love story from the author… to his Father… and back… with baseball being the universal link… in good times and bad.
The author, Kevin Cook… starts off writing about his Dad… Art… who was a great college baseball and basketball player… and had some great success in minor-league baseball… but never made the big leagues. The son… though not a good ballplayer… absorbed an insider’s view and knowledge of the way baseball was truly played between the lines. Even as the author unflinchingly points out the digressions and disappointments… of his Father… on and off the field… he finds that… through it all… the tough times… and otherwise non-communicable times… Father and son… could always talk about baseball.
Inserted… and peppered… throughout the personal story… the author also examines in depth… many… multi-generational… Father/son/… and even grandson… baseball families… and how they succeeded. Some of the families are Ron and Ike Davis… Dan Haren Sr. and Jr…. three generations of Boones… and then literally out of left- field… or should I say “right-field”… and the pitcher’s mound… Babe Ruth and his adopted daughter Julia. A lot of Babe’s fans will see a side of the Sultan of Swat… they may not have seen in quite such depth before. Bobby and Barry Bonds and Michael Jordan are also covered.
One of the many traits in the author’s writing that I enjoyed… was that in the middle of emotional-poetic telling of the stories… he would still hit you with non-sugar coated analysis…such as in the Bonds section: “Barry went to Arizona State, where coach Jim Brock called him the best player in school history, a history that includes Sal Bando, Bob Horner, and Bobby’s second cousin Reggie Jackson. Brock also called him “THE WORST TEAMMATE.” Barry used to park his shiny black Trans-Am in Coach Brock’s parking space. He bragged about the bonus money he’d turned down, and popped off about his dad,” Brock said calling his best-ever player “rude, inconsiderate, and self-centered. I don’t think he ever figured out how to get people to like him.”
And… tenderly… it seemed… that the author was coming to certain life changing metamorphosing… self-awareness… regarding the true impact that his Dad had on his life…
“Knocking out freelance magazine stories, I checked in with Dad if I was writing about a ballplayer. “Is he a gamer?” he’d ask, and I realized that my heroes were people who never quit and never complained. That’s a gamer… someone who gets the job done. Someone who works hard with no fuss, without expecting a pat on the back. Someone who doesn’t care if anyone else knows how hard he works or how good he is at his job, because he knows. My editor friend Rob was a gamer. Pamela was too, and I tried to be one. ONLY NOW WHEN DAD WAS IN HIS SIXTIES, DID I REALIZE THAT MY IDEA OF WHO AND WHAT TO ADMIRE… AND WHY… CAME FROM HIM. EVEN IN HIS YEARS OF ECLIPSE, HE’D BEEN IN MY HEAD.”
I am a Grandfather now… still talking baseball with my son… and my Granddaughters… and our next “chat” will include some of the things I’ve read in this wonderful book about baseball “AND” life!
February 25, 2017
The love of baseball is often passed down from a father to his son (or daughter). A bit more rare, however, is the family that has multiple members actually make it to the big leagues. "The Dad Report" chronicles a number of those familial baseball stories, and does so in a way that will really stir the emotions of the reader.
Some of the baseball family pairings in the book include...
-Ron & Ike Davis
-Bobby & Barry Bonds
-The entire Boone family
-Ken Griffey Sr/Jr
-The daughter of Babe Ruth
While telling the stories of some of baseball's most famous families, author Kevin Cook also interweaves a story of his own baseball player/loving father, an emotional tale that turns "Dad Report" from investigative to fully emotional.
I started this book not really knowing what to think/expect from it, but I came away happily satisfied. While I enjoyed Cook's coverage of the various baseball families, I think what made the entire experience such an enjoyable one was Cook's personal stories, as they are a bit more relatable and emotional.
Overall, "The Dad Report" is a great read for baseball fans of any kind. You'll learn a bit about the backstory of baseball father/son pairings, while also getting an emotional journey of one man's quest to come to terms with his own father.
Some of the baseball family pairings in the book include...
-Ron & Ike Davis
-Bobby & Barry Bonds
-The entire Boone family
-Ken Griffey Sr/Jr
-The daughter of Babe Ruth
While telling the stories of some of baseball's most famous families, author Kevin Cook also interweaves a story of his own baseball player/loving father, an emotional tale that turns "Dad Report" from investigative to fully emotional.
I started this book not really knowing what to think/expect from it, but I came away happily satisfied. While I enjoyed Cook's coverage of the various baseball families, I think what made the entire experience such an enjoyable one was Cook's personal stories, as they are a bit more relatable and emotional.
Overall, "The Dad Report" is a great read for baseball fans of any kind. You'll learn a bit about the backstory of baseball father/son pairings, while also getting an emotional journey of one man's quest to come to terms with his own father.
September 24, 2021
This book was filled with all sorts of interesting stories and stats, and reading it came at a good time for me. That is because, like the author, I have loved baseball since I was a little boy. But like a lot of over the hill old timers, I am concerned for the game. I worry about some of the newest rules, and am appalled at a few of them. What are they doing to the game I love? Simplifying a game to make it zippier and easier to fit into a tv timeslot does not do good things for the subtle nuances, the things that make the game great. I think it's time for another letter to the commissioner...
But back to the family aspect. I believe this quote from the final chapter pretty much says it all:
"Driving west to Kingston, I asked myself why baseball mattered. Maybe it didn't. Or maybe it stitched us together, giving us something to share, if only to pass the time on the phone, another way to say, "I love you." And maybe baseball serves to stop time in our memories. As every fan with a philosophic bent will tell you, the game exists outside time, clockless."
Clockless, do you hear that, Commissioner? No need to speed it up!!! (Good book.)
But back to the family aspect. I believe this quote from the final chapter pretty much says it all:
"Driving west to Kingston, I asked myself why baseball mattered. Maybe it didn't. Or maybe it stitched us together, giving us something to share, if only to pass the time on the phone, another way to say, "I love you." And maybe baseball serves to stop time in our memories. As every fan with a philosophic bent will tell you, the game exists outside time, clockless."
Clockless, do you hear that, Commissioner? No need to speed it up!!! (Good book.)
April 28, 2019
I found the book to be somewhat interesting. There were good stats that I enjoyed. The author shared a lot about his dad.
Want to Read
April 8, 2023to-read
June 1, 2024
Great read. Even better than I thought it would be.
January 3, 2025
A lot of good baseball information about how families and communities can bring the game together.
August 10, 2016
I was worried it would be too Field of Dreams, but thankfully there was enough Bull Durham thrown in. Particularly enjoyed the sections on the Bonds family and Michael Jordan. And the speculative reason by itself about why Babe Ruth was never allowed to be a player-manager made reading the book worthwhile.
August 28, 2015
Quite simply, if you and your dad ever bonded over baseball in any way, this is a wonderful book that you're going to want to read. On a strictly personal level, I gave it a 5, because of all the good memories it stirred up.
October 27, 2015
I like reading about baseball almost more than I like watching it. The title of this book really grabbed me but there were too many stats and not enough stories about families in the game. It was a good idea but poorly executed.
June 19, 2015
Well written, entertaining and now I know why Barry Bonds did what he did
July 6, 2015
Just a fantastic book. Kevin Cook is a great story teller who weaves in the story of his Dad though out the book. Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews