Lou: Fifty Years of Kicking Dirt, Playing Hard, and Winning Big in the Sweet Spot of Baseball

by Lou Piniella, Bill Madden

In this candid, revealing, and entertaining memoir, the beloved New York Yankee legend looks back over his nearly fifty-year career as a player and a manager, sharing insights and stories about some of his most memorable moments and some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball.

For nearly five decades, Lou Piniella has been a fixture in Major League Baseball, as an outfielder with the legendary New York Yankees of the 1970s, and as a manager for five teams in both the American and National leagues. With respected veteran sportswriter Bill Madden, Piniella now reflects on his storied career, offering fans a glimpse of life on the field, in the dugout, and inside the clubhouse.

Piniella speaks from the heart about his teams and his players, offering a detailed, up-close portrait of the Bronx Zoo’s raucous personalities such as Reggie Jackson and Catfish Hunter, as well as his close friendship with Thurman Munson and his unusual relationship with George Steinbrenner. He also delves deep into his post-Yankee experiences, from winning a World Series for the controversial owner of the Cincinnati Reds, Marge Schott, to transforming the perennial cellar-dwelling Seattle Mariners into one of the league’s best teams. Some of the game’s brightest stars are here: Ken Griffey Jr, Randy Johnson, and Alex Rodriguez, Piniella’s supremely talented and controversial protégé.

Genres: Sports, Baseball, Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir

352 pages, Hardcover

Published May 16, 2017

Reviews

[Tim Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may have been about the fastest I have ever read a book. I could not put it down as I loved reading about the progression of Lou Pinella's life in MLB as a player, coach, Manager, General Manager,broadcaster, and finally advisor. He has so many great stories to tell, especially being a part of the Yankees during the Stienbrenner years along with all the happenings that came with that. So many great stories, many funny, many interesting, some sad, and some just plain unbelievable.
I loved how Lou was so honest and open and how he gave ample time to putting quotes in from other players who were connected to him, telling their side about Lou and a particular incident.
Here is a snipet from when Lou became manager of the Yankees in 1986. " I was in a bad mood to begin with and looking to take my frustrations out on somebody when I remembered something that Mr. Steinbrenner had told me when he hired me as manager: " Remember baseball is entertainment, and if you get kicked out of a game, put on a nice show!" I knew he'd be watching the game, and when a close call at first base went against us in the 6th inning, I charged out of the dugout, hollering and kicking dirt and quickly getting ejected, at which point I then flung my hat to the ground and began kicking it as well. As my tirade continued , our bat boy picked up my cap, which was one of my props, and handed it to me. "Put that cap down!" I screamed at him. "You're ruining my show!" Terrified, he dropped the cap and scampered back to the dugout. After the game, which we lost, 6-5, in 10 innings, I happened to mention that it was Anita's birthday(Lou's wife) and when the writers got back upstairs to the press box, they called her to ask if she'd seen my performance on national TV. "All I can say," she said, sighing, "Is that I'm forty-three years old today and I feel like I'm married to a four-year old."
His insight into Billy Martin, the Boss, Marge Schott, Alex Rodriquez, Ken Griffey jr., Bobby Murcer, Thurman Munson, Earl Weaver, etc, is all a treat.
As a huge Baseball fan and a Cincinnati Reds fan I love what Mr. Pinella has done and is doing for Baseball. I will never forget the 1990 year with the Reds. I knew when he was hired that good things will happen, and it did very quickly. Thank you Lou!
I loved how Mr. Pinella finished up his book. ".. And while I would be honored to someday join so many of my contemporaries in Cooperstown, I am comforted by the fact that in my family's eyes, I am already in the Hall of Fame as a husband, father, and grandfather. I also realize that, approaching my midseventies, I am in the ninth inning of life, winning the game because of my faith- and that is the greatest comfort of all to me."

[Carrie Rolph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointingly bland, especially coming from someone known for spectacular outbursts. He hits all the main points of his career, but every time he comes up against something controversial, it's quickly acknowledged, and then immediately followed up with "but they're a great guy and I really respect them as a person/player/manager."

I mean, Steinbrenner sounds like an absolute nightmare to work for. He flat out admits he was miserable working for him half the time. But then he's all oh, I really respect him. No. Stop. Don't do that.

I think my favorite part was when he was like, I really needed to take a break from baseball, because I was in some pretty serious financial trouble. Then I developed a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Then I started managing the Devil Rays. Um, wait, can we go back a little here? How about a couple more sentences about that serious financial trouble? That sounds interesting.

Also, the audiobook narration? Not into it. I know Johnny Heller's an Audie-award winner and all, but I will actively avoid anything else he narrates because I disliked this one so much.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

For baseball fans, particularly Yankee fans, a Home Run by the former Mariners, Yankees, Cubs, Reds and Rays manager. Great story telling and wonderful insights from Lou's 50 year career in baseball. Not the greatest piece of literature, but the stories read as if the Man himself is sitting with you, regaling you with his experiences with the Game. A must read for baseball fans!

[Mark Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lou Piniella spent fifty years in Major League Baseball: sixteen as a player, and many more as a coach and manager. To say that Piniella has seen a lot of baseball would be a colossal understatement. His book reviews his career from his days as a youth baseball player in Tampa through the end of his managing career.

Piniella spends a lot of the book reviewing particular seasons, with considerable detail about who had what ERA at the All-Star break, or how many games back his team was in August. But, the on-field baseball aspects of the book are not particularly interesting or illuminating, despite the occasional amusing anecdote. Much more interesting are Piniella’s personal reflections and the ways in which his personal and professional lives were intertwined: his marriage (50 years and counting), the ways that life on the road was a strain when he had family that needed him at home, financial follies that lead to him feeling it necessary to take a job that he might not have otherwise desired, his love/hate relationship with the infamous George Steinbrenner, and his deep affection for — and frustration with — Alex Rodriguez.

Piniella’s reputation as a “red-ass” (his own term for himself) comes through in his writing. He does not pull punches when being critical of players, managers, umpires, owners, or himself. He seems to feel a modicum of shame over some of the antics resulting from his legendary temper — but also pride in the fact that he played the game with passion. At the very end of the book, he the strength of his personality shines through when he offers some “Loupinions” (also his term) about the modern game includng the impact of steroids, instant replay, and defensive shifts.

Piniella’s autobiography will be enjoyed by dedicated baseball fans who recall significant portions of his career — but probably few others.

[Tim Blackburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent baseball autobiography, one of the best I've read. I am not particularly a fan of Lou's nor the teams he has been associated with but I thoroughly enjoyed his account of his life and baseball career. Lou spends the appropriate amount of time describing each of his baseball stops but not too much time so as to become monotonous. A really nice blend of his personal life and baseball life. I purchased the book at a library book sale and was very pleasantly surprised by how well written this book was.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book about one of the favorites of mine. Recounts his playing career, and career as a manager it spans over 50 yrs of his life. Baseball fans of the 1970's through the 2000's will enjoy the stories and the event that this book chronicles.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I great autobiography of Lou Piniella's time in baseball, from this days playing at school, to his days managing World Series winners.

He wasn't the greatest player the Yankees had ever seen, but managed to hang on to his position for a long time. He tells what it was like to play for Billy Martin during his feud with Reggie Jackson. What it was like to manage under Steinbrenner, what it was like to manage under him AGAIN, and what managing somewhere was like.

Really good, it's a wonder the Yankees did as well as they did.

[Chris Jaffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfunctory. If I had to describe this book in one word - that's the one. Perfunctory.

Piniella covers all the points you'd expect: his days as a player with the Bronx Zoo Yankees, his dealings with Steinbrenner, his championship victory as Reds manager, that time he threw a base, the fight with Rob Dibble, etc. All the stuff you'd expect to be in here is in here.

But it never really comes to life. It all feels ... perfunctory. "OK, I've gotta hit these marks, so here's a few seconds reflection on them." Several times in the book, he'll quote a player by saying, "in an interview done for this book, ex-jock so-and-so says...." and then have a two paragraph extended quote. Yeah, it's nice to get someone's thoughts, but I don't recall other autobios so blatantly telegraph other peoples quotes like that, and then so extensively. Normally they focus on telling their own tales. At least the good bios do.

Wanna know how perfunctory this book can get? When he gets to his years as Cubs manager, Piniella consistently refers to the team's Japanese outfielder as "Kosuke Fukodome." Er, Lou? It's spelled Fukudome. Two "u"s, not two "o"s.

Yeah, it's that sort of book.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

A winningly written book but a little bland and tame, considering that Lou Piniella was a man famous for profane outbursts and ejections in his managerial career. Call me old fashioned, but reading a grown up book, I chafe when I come upon the abbreviation "F-n." Does anyone imagine Steinbrenner or Piniella or Billy Martin actually talk that way? F-n? Fuck no.

[RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN · Rating 4 out of 5]

RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: LOU SAYS STEINBRENNER HAD A MORE PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON HIS LIFE THAN HIS PARENTS
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You get… what you hoped you would get… from Lou Piniella… in this no holds barred… autobiography. In the same freewheeling manner… that Lou would heave bases out of their holdings into the outfield… and freely kick dirt on umpires… Lou shares his roads traveled on the field and behind the scenes in his long winding career. From his youth in Tampa… to Kansas City… New York… Seattle… Cincinnati… Tampa (as an adult)… Chicago… and everywhere in between. What is so enjoyable for the reader… is Piniella is honest enough to compliment a famous name on one page… and then rip him with his true feeling a few pages later. Everyone from George Steinbrenner… whom in one breathe Piniella states that Steinbrenner had “the most profound influence of anyone, even my parents, on my life.” And then not hesitate to state over and over how impossible he was to work for… all the mistakes he made hiring and firing managers… and how… despite… Lou feeling so strongly about him… never got any compliments from him… even in his biggest moments… such as when he won the World Series with the Cincinnati Reds.

Another crystal clear example of Lou brazenly showing both complete sides of a coin… is in his discussions regarding Billy Martin. Early on he describes Martin: “Billy, who was sharp, knew how to maneuver his players, and was the master of the unexpected. In only the second game of the season, Billy shocked us with his genius when he was able to get what appeared to be a ninth-inning, game-winning grand slam home run by the Brewers’ Don Money nullified in Milwaukee.” And then fifty pages later he writes: “The one thing I didn’t like about him (Martin) was that he either liked you or he didn’t, and there was no gray area.”

It doesn’t matter what team… what position… whether a player… or executive of the team… Lou lays it out with no restrictions for the world to see. One area I do feel strongly about… that I don’t believe Lou was open enough about was Alex Rodriguez and the indelible steroid stain on baseball. Piniella openly shares that he felt like a Father figure to Rodriguez… but for a hardcore… old-school… baseball guy… I am very disappointed on Piniella’s stated (weak) position on that.

A delightful “icing-on-the-cake” ending of the book is a section entitled *LOU-PINIONS*… in which Lou gives his views on everything from Pitch Counts (I love it)… to Steroids (I hate it)… Instant Replay… Shifts… and more. And then for the “cherry-on-top… Lou’s All-Time-Teammates Team... All Opponents Team…All-Time Managed Team… Lou’s All-Red-Tush-Team… and Lou’s Top Five Red-Tush-Umpires.

[Marty Monforte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lou Piniella's autobiography "Lou: Fifty Years of Kicking Dirt, Playing Hard, and Winning Big in the Sweet Spot of Baseball" chronicles his career in baseball. He writes about his playing career, managerial jobs and his time in the front office of the Yankees. He played for the Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees. The majority of his career as a player was with the Yankees.

Lou Piniella is someone who is dedicated to his family and has been a true friend to many people. He is a person of strong character who has respected the owners, managers, coaches and players he has worked with. He is well respected in the game of baseball.

The book contains information about his time with the Yankees as a player, manager and general manager. It was interesting to read about what was going on with the Yankees during those years. Piniella and Bill Madden, who asssited Piniella with the book, did a good job of writing about the ups and downs that the Yankees had from 1974 to 1984, the years that Piniella was there as a player. It was also interesting to read about his time as a hitting coach. Don Mattingly was one of the players who he helped to become a good hitter.

It was interesting to read about the championship years for the Yankees in 1977 and 1978. It was also interesting to read about the 1976 season in which the Yankees made it to the World Series, but lost to the Cincinnati Reds.

Piniella’s tenure with the Cincinnati Reds as manager was also successful. He managed in Cincinnati for three seasons. In 1991, the Reds won the World Series.

After he left Cincinnati, he went to Seattle to manage the Mariners. This was a difficult challenge for him. The Mariners were not a good baseball team. However, he helped them to improve. Eventually, the Mariners won 116 games. Ironically, the Mariners lost to the Yankees in the post season that year. They lost because the Yankees had better pitching than the Mariners.

He also managed the Tampa Bay Rays and the Chicago Cubs. In each job, he faced challenges and he did his best to make each team better.

Piniella also includes a list of his all time teammates; all time opponents; all time managed team; and other lists as well.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in baseball.

[Tom Stamper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate that Lou doesn't mind telling who he dislikes in baseball. You get the impression the list is shorter now than it would have been 10 or 15 years ago. He even tells you about fights that have since healed. He chronicles his sporting life from minor league days in the 1960s through his playing and managing days with a synopsis of moments and anecdotes throughout. He and Bill Madden also interviewed others for the recollections of those moments and those quotes are sprinkled about here and there.

It's not a classic like Durocher's Nice Guys Finish Last or Whitey Herzog's You're Missing a Great Game, but it's solid throughout and I spent the better part of a Sunday starting and finishing it. Those books were part memoir and part baseball strategy. Lou does mostly memoir here except for the chapter near the end where he shares opinions on the game.

I read Lou's first book when I was a kid in the 1980s. It was mostly about his playing career. The one thing that stuck with me is what good friends he was with Thurman Munson and Bobby Murcer. Growing up watching the Yankees I always assumed they were all great pals. I didn't know that baseball had it cliques and personalities and head cases. Now I'm surprised to hear that any GM is on good terms with his field manager.

There is a great section about his time in Cincinnati working for Marge Schott. She was like no baseball owner I have ever heard chronicled. She didn't interfere like George and neither did she spend any money to win, but she was an eccentric. She was so cheap she served vodka that tasted something like paint thinner so when Lou brought a bottle of Absolute she wanted to save it for a special occasion. Those Cincy teams had some fun players. Eric Davis, Barry Larken, and Chris Sabo would have been interesting enough but then you also have the Nasty Boys bullpen characters.

The Seattle portion wasn't quite as interesting for me despite the great players he had there. I just hated that 1995 team that beat the Yankees in the playoffs and kept Don Mattingly out of the World Series. Still you get his take on Junior, Arod, Big Unit, Edgar, Buhner etc.

The book finishes with his time in Tampa and Chicago followed by his musings and opinions on the game. It was an altogether enjoyable book that is worth reading if you are fans of any of his teams.

[Chuck Neumann · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Lou" by Lou Piniella and Bill Madden is an excellent look at the life and career of Lou Piniella. From 1969, when he won the AL Rookie of the Year award, to 2010, when he retired as manager of the Cubs, Lou was a key figure in major league baseball. The book tells Lou's story from his childhood in Tampa, his high school years (where one of his opponents was Tony LaRussa), his marriage to Anita, and his efforts to control his temper and learn to hit the breaking ball in the minor leagues. Making the majors for good in 1969 with the new Kansas City Royals, Lou became the oldest player to win the Rookie of the year award. After more solid seasons with the Royals, he was traded to the New York Yankees. While never a big star for the Yankees, he was a solid outfielder and hitter who played a key role on Championship teams and saw first hand the George Steinbrenner/Billy Martin saga. Lou got even more involved with the Yankee owner when he became hitting coach for the Yankees under Yogi Berra and later one of the Yankee revolving managers and General Managers. To save his sanity, he left New York to manage the Cincinnati Reds. In 1990, he lead the Reds to the World Series title, beating Tony LaRussa's A's. The hot tempered Lou made headlines with his antics protesting umpire calls and even fights with players as well as his wins. He would move on to Seattle and managed them to 116 wins in 2001. He would later manage his home town Devil Rays and the Chicago Cubs before retiring. "Lou" gives readers an entertaining and honest look behind the scenes of all these interesting events. The book gives us a look at famous figures like Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Thurman Munson and many others, but also gives us a look at less well known figures in his career such as Johnny Lipon, Cedric Tallis, Bob Quinn and Woody Woodward. I really enjoyed this book and I am sure all baseball fans will as well.

[Tom Gase · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but it doesn't really seem to have a flow to it. The book is about Lou Piniella, a manager of some great teams, and some bad ones but he does have a lot of stories. This book also talks about his playing days with the Yankees in the mid to late 1970's/early 1980's. It also talks about him managing the Yankees, Reds, Mariners, Rays and Cubs. These are the best parts of the book in my opinion, as his days with the late 1970's Yankees have been discussed in books so much I feel I know what happened even more than the players. But it was refreshing to hear about the 1990 Reds (which I hated, but, heh, they were good) and the 2001 Mariners to name a few of his teams he managed. I had a pre-edited book, so maybe the edited one flows a little better? I don't know. A fun read, but nothing mind-blowing. At times it felt rushed even. Still, makes me think that maybe he should be a Hall-of-Famer as a manager? I think he's borderline, one more World Series title would have clinched it. Bill Madden also helped with this book, and he's written some good ones on Don Zimmer and the 1954 season.

[Mike Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of the book. Lou Piniella has had a long and interesting life in baseball where he crossed past with many of the games greats. In this book he retells all of it. Parts of this book are really good. When Lou goes into this thoughts or details behind the events this book is a five star. Unfortunately too many times he is just recounting what happened or is making excuses as to why he or his teams failed. Despite the fact that he spends too much The on the last sentence, this is still a fascinating book. It was great to get Lou’s insight on people he dealt with such as George Steinbrenner, Billy Martin, Ken Griffey Jr, Marge Schotts, and Alex Rodriquez. If you are a fan of baseball from the 70’s to today, you will enjoy this book. It was a good book, but it had a chance to be a great one. Too bad.

[Lisa Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lou deserves to be in the HOF

Lou and Bill did a great job this book is very detailed. I was at his last game as a player the Yankees gave out these cool white sweet Lou tee shirts. I was a kid. My family loved his blue collar work ethic and Lou could hit. I wish the Boss kept him as the manager and did not let him go. I loved his ability as a leader to get the best out of his players. Rookie of the Year, 3 rings and 3 manager of the year, what are the writers waiting for ? Growing up I loved Bill Maddens articles in the News. He was a great baseball guy and always was fair to the players. I read all his books. This is a great read

[R J M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lou's MLB career started in with the doomed but lovable Seattle Pilots. He was traded before playing in a single game, a major blunder that foreshadowed the inept Mariners organization a decade later.

Then Lou returned as the Mariners' manager in the 90's and the organization became a winner. Having Ken Griffey Jr, Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner, etc. obviously didn't hurt, but let's be honest ... Lou was the catalyst.

After Lou left a decade later, it's been almost 20 years since the Mariners made the playoffs, despite having sizable payrolls.

Lou's always been a rebel ... and a winner. A fun read for baseball fans.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a kid, I remember when Lou Piniella was managing the Cincinnati Reds to the World Series in 1990. Years later, I was excited when he took over as manager of my Chicago Cubs in 2007. I knew the Cubs were getting a winner, and someone who wasn’t afraid to rock the boat in an effort to put the “lovable loser” image in the past.

The book is full of funny stories, and Piniella isn’t afraid to be self-deprecating. The man definitely has a sense of humor about himself! He admits his shortcomings and mistakes, which is refreshing to hear from a former pro athlete and manager.

It’s a very entertaining baseball book and worth the read.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this auto-biography of Lou Piniella. Lou tells the story of his life in baseball and it does not disappoint. We see a side of Lou that you wouldn't have guessed he had if you only watched him on TV. I've been a die-hard Cubs fan for as long as I can remember, but any fan of baseball history should read Lou's book. He's been in the game for 50 years and has won three world series! As Lou once said of a opponent that was chiding him, "I've forgotten more about baseball than he knows!"

[Don Gorman · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2 1/2). For Baseball and major sports enthusiasts only. There is a little bit of wisdom and life's learnings here but this is mostly a play by play of a storied baseball career. Sweet Lou covered all the bases (sorry about that) as a player, manager and more. He starred on the big stage in New York and turned things around in places like Seattle. The presentation gets pretty dry with all the details on occasion, but there is enough color in here to make it readable. Lou is quite the character. I always liked him.

[Bryan Watt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book written by one the hardest playing Yankee outfielders of all time. I feel Lou does a great job of capturing his career in a little over 300 pages. It was great to read about how he helped so many players grow in their careers and his endless battles with George Steinbrenner. All in all it shows how hard Lou Piniella worked to get to where he got to in his career as a player and a manager.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting retelling of Lou's life with humorous anecdotes aplenty. Lou has an interesting take on his numerous tirades. He plays them off somewhat as giving everyone a show. If you're a fan of baseball, you will enjoy this book.

Received an advance copy from HarperCollins and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I didn't appreciate the narrator of the audio version very much, I really enjoyed Lou's stories and reflections on his career. The book inspired more research for me as I was reminded of past players and managers in the MLB and curious about where they were before and after they worked with Lou. I recommend the book for anyone who loves Lou and is curious about his life and career.

[Frank DiPrimo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Interesting read for any baseball fan, especially Yankees fans but also the other teams he managed. Great stories of his early life, the minors, and his interactions with many players and coaches. Interesting back stories and unknown quirks of Marge Schott, George Steinbrenner, the night before Thurman Munson's death, etc.
funny, heartbreaking, etc.

[Chaim Wachtel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good look back at Sweet Lou

A typical all players autobiography... an enjoyable one as Sweet Lous career starts in KC in the late 60’s and ends in Chicago more than 40 years later... as a Yankee fan who grew up I the 80’s it was a pleasure reading about Lou’s time in pinstripes...

[Vinny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been watching Lou since he started playing for the Yankees. One of my all time favorite ball players and managers. To hear the other side of what really happened on different events was very interesting. Always loved his desire to win. There was nobody else you wanted up in the 9th with the game on the line!

[Ben Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brought back a lot of memories...

As a lifelong baseball fan, I enjoyed watching Lou play as a Royal and even as a dreaded New York Yankee. This book highlights a very long MLB career as an All-Star player and as a manager who won over 1500 games. Very good read.

[Brian Bratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy books with a behind-the-scenes look at MLB, and that's what this book provided. Piniella's stories were interesting and provided, among other things, an insider's look at life with George Steinbrenner and the Yankees.

[Mister Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great winter weekend read on one of the best and most fascinating managers in baseball history. I especially enjoyed the stories from his playing days.

Recommend to anyone who enjoyed baseball during his playing and especially managerial career.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a copy in a Goodreads giveaway. All baseball fans should read this book. Interesting stories about life as a big league manager.