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Kiss It Goodbye: The Mystery, the Mormon, and the Moral of the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates
In 1960, an upstart Pittsburgh Pirates team beat the highly favored New York Yankee in the World Series. Given the power of a Yankee roster that included Micky Mantle, Whitey Ford, and Yogi Berra, that improbable victory did more that give long-suffering Pirates fans something to cheer about; it put Pittsburgh on the map.
Through John Moody was only six years old during that magical baseball season, he was a devoted fan of the Pittsburgh team. The star pitcher for the Pirates and John's first hero was Vernon Law-- and unsophisticated Idaho country boy, widely know as The Deacon, a friendly nickname derived from his strict Mormon upbringing.
Law was a relatively young man at the time and should have enjoyed several more seasons of fame and success, yet his career went into decline following that phenomenal Series. In this insightful book, John Moody explore a compelling mystery that has persisted now for nearly fifty years, revealing at last why Vernon Law was unable to continue his dominance of Major League batters.
But the book is more than just another expose. Recalling a distant time in American sports, Kiss It Good-bye, contains a universal theme: a son's affection for his father and the bond that was forged between them because of their love of baseball, It is a book that will be treasured by fathers, sons, and baseball fans of every age.
Through John Moody was only six years old during that magical baseball season, he was a devoted fan of the Pittsburgh team. The star pitcher for the Pirates and John's first hero was Vernon Law-- and unsophisticated Idaho country boy, widely know as The Deacon, a friendly nickname derived from his strict Mormon upbringing.
Law was a relatively young man at the time and should have enjoyed several more seasons of fame and success, yet his career went into decline following that phenomenal Series. In this insightful book, John Moody explore a compelling mystery that has persisted now for nearly fifty years, revealing at last why Vernon Law was unable to continue his dominance of Major League batters.
But the book is more than just another expose. Recalling a distant time in American sports, Kiss It Good-bye, contains a universal theme: a son's affection for his father and the bond that was forged between them because of their love of baseball, It is a book that will be treasured by fathers, sons, and baseball fans of every age.
372 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2010
9 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
John Moody
8 booksJohn Moody is a journalist. He helped start the Fox News Channel, and served as its executive editor and its executive vice president, until his departure in 2018 after publicly criticizing the racial diversity of the U.S. Olympics team. He went on to help form the digital news startup LaCorte News.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
March 14, 2023
Damn! This book disappointed me. It contains a few good stories that Pirates fans will appreciate, but it’s not a baseball book. Not really. Instead, it’s a loaded cultural riff from one of the “keep off my grass!” brigade. The book is a cacophony of "golly gee wiz, wasn't the world a better place back when everything cost a nickle, men were real men, and the world hadn't yet gone to hell?" The author fondly reminisces of a time when parents regularly whipped their kids and social activists kept their mouths shut and accepted and knew their place. Baseball, Vern Law, and the 1960 Pirates are just the structure the author builds his personal rants around. I gave it two stars thanks to a couple of good stories about Vern Law and the Pirates that I’d never heard before, but I can’t recommend this dreck even to lifelong Pirates fans like myself.
October 31, 2022
It's hard to determine if this is a season recap of 1960 and Pittsburgh's World Series run or a memoir of Moody's life and how things were so much better when players didn't demand more money. It seems Moody was stuck in the past, scowling at players who earned over a million a year.
Parts of the book were about the players, especially his hero, Pirates' ace pitcher Vern Law. Other parts were about his growing up in south Pittsburgh during that era, waxing on about playing baseball and wearing Law's 32 number on his jersey. Either way he went, I thought, would have made a better book. Either focus on the Pirates season more, how they came from behind in a lot of games and overtook favorites Milwaukee and St. Louis, or write more about his growing up and the meaning of the Pirates in his life.
I was a bit biased by this book. I was born in Pittsburgh in the summer of 1960 and my dad used to joke that the Pirates celebrated my birth by beating the Yankees that fall. I was just four months old. I probably pooped my pants in celebration, but I was too young to enjoy the victory.
There were some interesting tales. Law hurt his ankle during hijinks on the bus after clinching the pennant that, Moody suggests, ruined his career. He said that had that not happened, Law would be a lock for the Hall of Fame. Fandom runs rampant. He was also very disparaging about Roberto Clemente, who may have been one of the greatest right fielders (at least with his rocket arm) of all time. He constantly degraded Clemente's "arrogant basket catches" which, by the way, made it easier for him to throw his laser beams to catch those trying to score from third. Willie Mays made the basket catch popular after his 1954 World Series snag against the Cleveland Indians. Mays wasn't arrogant, but Clemente was? He also wrote that Clemente had attitude and feigned injuries and complained all the time. I don't know where the dislike came from, but Moody waved the flag against Clemente whenever he could.
The ending seemed disjointed, too. I enjoyed reading about the Series games. Moody did a great job of writing those. But then, he ended the book with his own career of traveling with his journalism job. He tried to tie that all in when he was held by police in the Soviet Union after he wrote a story about how Olympic officials there opened gates in a stadium to let the wind come in and aid Soviet runners and then closed them when athletes from other countries competed. He said while held, he calmed himself by thinking of the 1960 Pirates roster. Maybe?
Moody writes well, I thought. I just wish he would have focused that talent more on either that season or his own memoir and not tried to smash the two together.
Parts of the book were about the players, especially his hero, Pirates' ace pitcher Vern Law. Other parts were about his growing up in south Pittsburgh during that era, waxing on about playing baseball and wearing Law's 32 number on his jersey. Either way he went, I thought, would have made a better book. Either focus on the Pirates season more, how they came from behind in a lot of games and overtook favorites Milwaukee and St. Louis, or write more about his growing up and the meaning of the Pirates in his life.
I was a bit biased by this book. I was born in Pittsburgh in the summer of 1960 and my dad used to joke that the Pirates celebrated my birth by beating the Yankees that fall. I was just four months old. I probably pooped my pants in celebration, but I was too young to enjoy the victory.
There were some interesting tales. Law hurt his ankle during hijinks on the bus after clinching the pennant that, Moody suggests, ruined his career. He said that had that not happened, Law would be a lock for the Hall of Fame. Fandom runs rampant. He was also very disparaging about Roberto Clemente, who may have been one of the greatest right fielders (at least with his rocket arm) of all time. He constantly degraded Clemente's "arrogant basket catches" which, by the way, made it easier for him to throw his laser beams to catch those trying to score from third. Willie Mays made the basket catch popular after his 1954 World Series snag against the Cleveland Indians. Mays wasn't arrogant, but Clemente was? He also wrote that Clemente had attitude and feigned injuries and complained all the time. I don't know where the dislike came from, but Moody waved the flag against Clemente whenever he could.
The ending seemed disjointed, too. I enjoyed reading about the Series games. Moody did a great job of writing those. But then, he ended the book with his own career of traveling with his journalism job. He tried to tie that all in when he was held by police in the Soviet Union after he wrote a story about how Olympic officials there opened gates in a stadium to let the wind come in and aid Soviet runners and then closed them when athletes from other countries competed. He said while held, he calmed himself by thinking of the 1960 Pirates roster. Maybe?
Moody writes well, I thought. I just wish he would have focused that talent more on either that season or his own memoir and not tried to smash the two together.
August 12, 2021
I love baseball! But I loved hearing about the good ole days and how people played because of the love of the game and not money. I really enjoyed hearing about how good and honest Law was which you don't usually hear the good about people much these days.
July 30, 2022
Family, community, baseball - the author approaches each of these through the lens of his own family, community and the baseball team of his youth, the Pittsburgh Pirates, specifically the 1960 World Series winning team, with it's pitcher Vern Law, who he idolized and interviewed for the book. It's a wonderful picture of a very different time, place and people.
April 20, 2019
I recently finishing reading John Moody’s book entitled, “Kiss It Good-bye. The Mystery, the Mormon, and the Moral of the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates” written about Moody’s boyhood-hero Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Vernon Law. Two overriding themes jumped out at me as I read the book.
The first was Mr. Moody’s devotion to Law is such that he suggests the ridiculous notion that if Law would have not been hurt on the bus celebrating the Pirates clinching the National League pennant in 1960 (the Mystery) and that had Law went on to win 20-games for the next seven seasons (1961-1967) that he would be in Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame. If that were true, he most certainly would be as that would have given Law eight consecutive 20-win seasons including the 1960 season.
Moody wrote on page 227: “Lets assume that Law had been healthy after the 1960 season and that he had won 20 games in each of his seven remaining seasons with the Pirates….Instead of the 60 games that Law won from 1960 through 1967, let’s assume he won 140 more, for a total of 242, and that he lost the same number as he really did 147….Those kinds of numbers would have put him in the realm of Juan Marichal….” Talk about a stretch by Moody!
To put that preposterous notion in perspective, the great Sandy Koufax had only three 20-win seasons in his entire career. Tom Seaver had only five 20-win seasons in his Hall-of-Fame career never having more than two consecutive 20-win seasons. Marichal had six 20-win seasons in his entire career winning 20 games four consecutive times.
Roger Clemens had six 20-win seasons in his career, never more than two consecutively. Randy Johnson had three 20-win seasons in his career. Pedro Martinez had two 20-win seasons in his career. Bob Gibson, a contemporary of Law’s had five 20-win seasons in his career, three of which were in consecutive seasons. Jim Palmer had eight 20-win seasons, four of which were consecutive. One can see how Moody’s devotion to Law impairs his thinking and judgment.
Secondly, what jumped out at me, is Moody’s contempt and dislike for the Pirates Hall-of-Fame right fielder Roberto Clemente. Multiple times Moody goes out of his way to express his disdain for Clemente, in of all places an autobiography of his boyhood hero Law.
Moody wrote things I have never read written about Clemente in any previous book. For example:
On page 289: “The book on Clemente was that he was a coward. Buzz him up by the skull and he had the manner of a pup who’d just been whipped.”
Throughout the book, Moody cannot help himself in hiding his dislike for Clemente. On page 253: “Clemente got beneath the drive, gloved it with his infuriatingly casual, palm-up basket catch, and the game was over.” Would Moody call Willie Mays’ same-style of palm-up basket catch infuriating as well? Has anyone else ever done so of either Clemente or Mays? Evidently, it was infuriating only to Moody.
Even when praising Clemente’s undeniable talents and athletic ability, Moody injects his subjective negativity. On page 151: “The club also had a cocky and super-talented new right fielder named Roberto Clemente.” Clemente’s talent was recognized by everyone that ever watched him play, but cocky is strictly Moody’s opinion and he must have felt compelled to interject his negativity towards Clemente. Was it truly necessary?
On page 165 and 166: “When he was fit and motivated, Clemente answered criticism with accomplishment.” When was Clemente non-motivated? I have never encountered any writer ever claiming that Clemente was ever non-motivated.
Moody continued: “He challenged pitchers with an arrogant wave of his head, as if daring them to throw the ball past him.” Again, note Moody’s use of the negative adjective arrogant. I recall no one ever stating Clemente waved his head arrogantly.
On page 241, Moody wrote: “Watching Clemente on tape now – the arrogant way he made himself at home in the batter’s box…..”
On page 283, Moody wrote: “Shantz made Face go to a full count, then lifted a high fly ball to right, which Clemente put away with his arrogant basket catch.”
By my count, Moody used the following negative adjectives and terms regarding Clemente: cowardly, infuriating, arrogant (3x), cocky, and unmotivated, in a book not about Clemente, but he felt it necessary to write those things about Clemente in a book about his idol Vernon Law?
No other player in the book is subjected to as many, if any, negatives in Moody’s book. For me, this detracted a great deal from Kiss It Goodbye.
The first was Mr. Moody’s devotion to Law is such that he suggests the ridiculous notion that if Law would have not been hurt on the bus celebrating the Pirates clinching the National League pennant in 1960 (the Mystery) and that had Law went on to win 20-games for the next seven seasons (1961-1967) that he would be in Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame. If that were true, he most certainly would be as that would have given Law eight consecutive 20-win seasons including the 1960 season.
Moody wrote on page 227: “Lets assume that Law had been healthy after the 1960 season and that he had won 20 games in each of his seven remaining seasons with the Pirates….Instead of the 60 games that Law won from 1960 through 1967, let’s assume he won 140 more, for a total of 242, and that he lost the same number as he really did 147….Those kinds of numbers would have put him in the realm of Juan Marichal….” Talk about a stretch by Moody!
To put that preposterous notion in perspective, the great Sandy Koufax had only three 20-win seasons in his entire career. Tom Seaver had only five 20-win seasons in his Hall-of-Fame career never having more than two consecutive 20-win seasons. Marichal had six 20-win seasons in his entire career winning 20 games four consecutive times.
Roger Clemens had six 20-win seasons in his career, never more than two consecutively. Randy Johnson had three 20-win seasons in his career. Pedro Martinez had two 20-win seasons in his career. Bob Gibson, a contemporary of Law’s had five 20-win seasons in his career, three of which were in consecutive seasons. Jim Palmer had eight 20-win seasons, four of which were consecutive. One can see how Moody’s devotion to Law impairs his thinking and judgment.
Secondly, what jumped out at me, is Moody’s contempt and dislike for the Pirates Hall-of-Fame right fielder Roberto Clemente. Multiple times Moody goes out of his way to express his disdain for Clemente, in of all places an autobiography of his boyhood hero Law.
Moody wrote things I have never read written about Clemente in any previous book. For example:
On page 289: “The book on Clemente was that he was a coward. Buzz him up by the skull and he had the manner of a pup who’d just been whipped.”
Throughout the book, Moody cannot help himself in hiding his dislike for Clemente. On page 253: “Clemente got beneath the drive, gloved it with his infuriatingly casual, palm-up basket catch, and the game was over.” Would Moody call Willie Mays’ same-style of palm-up basket catch infuriating as well? Has anyone else ever done so of either Clemente or Mays? Evidently, it was infuriating only to Moody.
Even when praising Clemente’s undeniable talents and athletic ability, Moody injects his subjective negativity. On page 151: “The club also had a cocky and super-talented new right fielder named Roberto Clemente.” Clemente’s talent was recognized by everyone that ever watched him play, but cocky is strictly Moody’s opinion and he must have felt compelled to interject his negativity towards Clemente. Was it truly necessary?
On page 165 and 166: “When he was fit and motivated, Clemente answered criticism with accomplishment.” When was Clemente non-motivated? I have never encountered any writer ever claiming that Clemente was ever non-motivated.
Moody continued: “He challenged pitchers with an arrogant wave of his head, as if daring them to throw the ball past him.” Again, note Moody’s use of the negative adjective arrogant. I recall no one ever stating Clemente waved his head arrogantly.
On page 241, Moody wrote: “Watching Clemente on tape now – the arrogant way he made himself at home in the batter’s box…..”
On page 283, Moody wrote: “Shantz made Face go to a full count, then lifted a high fly ball to right, which Clemente put away with his arrogant basket catch.”
By my count, Moody used the following negative adjectives and terms regarding Clemente: cowardly, infuriating, arrogant (3x), cocky, and unmotivated, in a book not about Clemente, but he felt it necessary to write those things about Clemente in a book about his idol Vernon Law?
No other player in the book is subjected to as many, if any, negatives in Moody’s book. For me, this detracted a great deal from Kiss It Goodbye.
August 2, 2013
The Pittsburgh Pirates hadn't been a winning team until they won the World Series in 1960, beating the Yankees, and a significant part of their success that season was due to a pitcher named Vernon Law. Law was a Mormon from Idaho whose fastball and clean living set a great example - especially for a boy like Moody - and the hard-working "ironman" once pitched 18 innings in a single game. But in the revelry following winning the National League pennant, some drunken and rough-housing teammates injured Law's ankle. In spite of the painful injury he won Games 1 and 4, but by Game 7 it became apparent that it was affecting his pitching. Because he had to adjust his delivery, it also caused him a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder, and his career never really recovered.
First let me clarify that Moody is *not* a Mormon; he is simply a great admirer of Vernon Law. He explains a lot about the Mormon Church, and not only does he get it right, he is also very admiring of Law's religious beliefs. But in spite of his hero-worship, the book is about more than just Law; it's about a team that pulled together and did something unexpected, as well as a story about the smoky town of Pittsburgh which didn't get a lot of respect back then. It's also his own story of growing up in Steel-town, and it all comes together in a book that anyone who's ever had a sports hero can relate to. At first, his condescending comparisons of players and kids then and now was a little annoying, but I had to admit he had some valid points. And the chapter where he chronicles the Series was told with such excitement that I could barely put the book down. I'm not sure how important or well-known of a "mystery" it was over who caused the injury to Law, but I found the book to be a fun, easy, and nostalgic read (loaded with pictures). Even though 1960 was way before my time, I could easily relate to the worship of a sports hero, and the way a favorite team gave a small city something to cheer for.
First let me clarify that Moody is *not* a Mormon; he is simply a great admirer of Vernon Law. He explains a lot about the Mormon Church, and not only does he get it right, he is also very admiring of Law's religious beliefs. But in spite of his hero-worship, the book is about more than just Law; it's about a team that pulled together and did something unexpected, as well as a story about the smoky town of Pittsburgh which didn't get a lot of respect back then. It's also his own story of growing up in Steel-town, and it all comes together in a book that anyone who's ever had a sports hero can relate to. At first, his condescending comparisons of players and kids then and now was a little annoying, but I had to admit he had some valid points. And the chapter where he chronicles the Series was told with such excitement that I could barely put the book down. I'm not sure how important or well-known of a "mystery" it was over who caused the injury to Law, but I found the book to be a fun, easy, and nostalgic read (loaded with pictures). Even though 1960 was way before my time, I could easily relate to the worship of a sports hero, and the way a favorite team gave a small city something to cheer for.
April 11, 2015
My husband and I listened to this book on audio tape, and we loved it!! We are big sports fans, and were especially fans of Vernon Law, the subject of this book. The author, John Moody, read the book which made it more interesting. My husband remembers watching the World Series game where Vernon Law and the Pittsburg Pirates defeat the mighty NY Yankees in the World Series of 1960. We were at BYU at the time, and my husban watched the game at the Cannon Center. He remembers the home run that won the game that sailed over Yogi Berra's head. It was an historic game and series. Vernon Law was the MVP of the major leagues that year; in those days they named only one MVP for all of baseball, not one for each league. John Moody tells the story of Vernon Law from his childhood to his retirement days. He extols his virtues, his talent, his moral character and portrays him as an honorable man. He explains a lot about his religion and his model behavior in living that religion, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The descriptions of the ball games was exciting and held us breathless even though we knew the outcome. I appreciated John Moody's evaluation and admiration of Vernon Law. It was fascinating to discover the "mystery" of how Vernon Law's career ended before it should have due to the thoughtless actions of a teammate. If you like sports and a good story, you will enjoy this book.
October 11, 2012
The subject of this book, baseball player Vern Law, was one of my husband's childhood heroes, so he picked this book up off a 99-cent stack. I think it was just barely worth the 99 cents. Vern Law is certainly an inspirational kind of guy and his story is a good one. But the author didn't seem to know what he really wanted to do--tell Vern Law's story? Justify Vern Law's moral character by explaining his religion? Write his own memoir touching on his relationship with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Vern Law? Explain the Pirates and their town? All of this was jumbled together with little smooth transitioning. It was like reading a series of essays that were related, but not necessary to each other. I noticed in reading other reviews that a lot of people did what I did: skipped around and a lot of skimming. It could have been handled somewhat the way Laura Hillenbrand does with Louis Zamperini's story: flashbacks and exposition neatly interwoven with the main story--had the author had a better editor or just planned it himself a little better, he could have had a great book here.
March 12, 2014
This author took a pretty exciting sports story (the Pirates 1960 comeback and World Series win) and managed to focus on the least interesting part of it (who was responsible for a particular injury to one player) in the least interesting way possible (mostly by complaining about who things aren't as good as they once were--I kept expecting the author to yell at me to get off his lawn).
Want to read
March 10, 2010My Mom read an excerpt of the book to me. Really sounds like something inspirational I would enjoy.
September 7, 2010
Brought back many fond memories of Vernon Law, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the 1960 World Series win.
July 30, 2021
I both agree and disagree with many of the previous reviews.
Like many others have pointed out it felt as if the author wasn't exactly sure what book he was writing. Is this about Vernon Law? Is it about the 1960s world series? Is it a memoir of his childhood? Is it a story about the city of Pittsburgh? Or is it a story about the Pittsburgh Pirates? I felt at this book it focused on maybe a few of those things it could have tied together extremely well. Mostly I walked away with a deep appreciation and admiration for Vernon Law.
On the other hand a lot of people dislike this book because they felt it was glorifying a time past. I think that perspective is credited somewhat, But I believe the author touches on some very key points. The world was definitely a harder place to live in, in almost every regard. Yet the people did not complain near as much. And I believe the author was trying to focus hard on the sport itself. Unlike superstars today the players back then definitely complained less and endured more.
There are moments of great writing, But mostly it was obvious that the author is no great muse. But I don't think that deters from this book nor do I feel he wrote it thinking he is a wondrous writer.
Mostly I would recommend this book because I believe the rider wrote because he wanted the message to be shared. His passion for all the subjects mentioned is evident.
A great book for some light summer weekend reading.
Like many others have pointed out it felt as if the author wasn't exactly sure what book he was writing. Is this about Vernon Law? Is it about the 1960s world series? Is it a memoir of his childhood? Is it a story about the city of Pittsburgh? Or is it a story about the Pittsburgh Pirates? I felt at this book it focused on maybe a few of those things it could have tied together extremely well. Mostly I walked away with a deep appreciation and admiration for Vernon Law.
On the other hand a lot of people dislike this book because they felt it was glorifying a time past. I think that perspective is credited somewhat, But I believe the author touches on some very key points. The world was definitely a harder place to live in, in almost every regard. Yet the people did not complain near as much. And I believe the author was trying to focus hard on the sport itself. Unlike superstars today the players back then definitely complained less and endured more.
There are moments of great writing, But mostly it was obvious that the author is no great muse. But I don't think that deters from this book nor do I feel he wrote it thinking he is a wondrous writer.
Mostly I would recommend this book because I believe the rider wrote because he wanted the message to be shared. His passion for all the subjects mentioned is evident.
A great book for some light summer weekend reading.
May 30, 2022
This is excellent sports journalism! It's a love letter written to America's Greatest Pastime in a time before moneyball analytics when pitchers went the distance, kids could still sneak into ballparks to catch the local game. It's also a love letter written to Pittsburg, blue collar America, and especially to childhood idols as he writes about—and finally meets—his boyhood idol, Vernon Law. It was also an interesting analysis of Law's beliefs as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, written by someone who isn't of the same faith. There's also interesting history here, as the backstory of the 1960 World Series was about a mysterious injury to the ace pitcher, caused by his drunk teammates celebrating their divisional championship, and how he exemplified courage, and forgiveness, in the aftermath.
Just an overall great story, and a great one for boys!
Just an overall great story, and a great one for boys!
October 13, 2017
Moody does a great job of representing Law and the 1960 Pirates, while making the reader cheer for the team just as he had done. But I do have a few gripes with the book.
My biggest is tha Moody should not have disclosed who he thought was responsible for Law's injury. While he may have wanted that known to exorcise demons from his own past, it does not do anybody any good having that published.
My biggest is tha Moody should not have disclosed who he thought was responsible for Law's injury. While he may have wanted that known to exorcise demons from his own past, it does not do anybody any good having that published.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2019
This was a great read paralleling the story of pitcher Vern Law with author John Moody over the backdrop of the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates World Series Championship season. Full of interesting stories of both Law and Moody, this is a must read for any fan of baseball or Americana.
March 15, 2021
The book was not only a great read for the history of the Pirates and the 1960 season, but also to learn more about the author and his boyhood hero. The book transported me back to the late 1950's (through 1960) and showed just how different the game of baseball is today 60 years later.
February 13, 2020
Not a bad story. I certainly learned more about the Pirates and their championship season.
February 27, 2024
Just a great book. Many memories of that era were brought back to me. A wonderful time to be a kid and a baseball fan. Well done Mr. Moody!
December 3, 2018
I really Liked this book because I can relate because I am Mormon and I love baseball. I would definalty recommend this book to all mormon ball players, or just baseball players in general. I really liked this book and I hope others will too.
May 24, 2024
This book is a must read for Pittsburgh Pirates baseball fans. Portrays what a wonderful man Vernon Law is.
July 9, 2010
When I heard that Deseret was publishing Kiss It Good-Bye, I had to read and review this book, as I've been a huge baseball fan since my Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series in 1958.
John Moody was a 6 year old in Pittsburgh when the Pirates won the World Series, especially winning against the usually unbeatable Bronx Bombers, the New York Yankees, but 1960 was the year for the Bucks. They scrapped their way to their first Series win since 1927. and not last. The unlikely Pirate to help earn the Pirates their first World Series was pitcher Vernon Law, a very down to earth Mormon farm boy from Meridian, Idaho. Vernon had the nickname of The Deacon from his teammates for his strict Mormon upbringing.
In the early days of major league baseball, players were close to their fans, knew how to really play the game, unlike how they play today. There were no free agents, million dollar salaries, high performance enhancing drugs or egos.
Pittsburgh was the Steel City because of the steel mills that caused a gray cloud over the city for many years. It took some years to clean up Pittsburgh so that the citizens could breathe. They built skyscrapers, cleaned up the rivers. In the 40's, they were using electric lights, as the Steel City was in the dark during the day, and people had to cover their mouths and noses because of the contaminants around them. Some well known people couldn't wait to get out of Pittsburgh, like Gene Kelly and Edison. John Moody couldn't wait to move to Chicago.
The Bucks in 1952 had the worst ever record of any Major League Team with a record of 42-112. They finished 54 1/2 games out of first place. They were constantly the cellar kings.
In the 50's, segregation was rampant, so the black athletes couldn't be in the same restaurants with the other players, which was the norm in those days, but so unfair. The blacks would have separate restrooms, drinking fountains and have to sit at the back of the bus. This segregation was felt at the stadium. Vernon had been raised to treat everyone with respect and he did everywhere he went.
Vernon married his high school sweetheart VaNita, who gave him children with V names: Veldon, Varlin, Vaughn, Veryl and Vance, who also was a Major League player.
Vern won the Cy Young award and was the most valuable player in that momentous World Series, but he never regained his pitching arm after an injury to his ankle after they won the pennant. When all the team were on the bus celebrating with champagne, a member of the Pirate contingency got carried away and injured his ankle. Even while pitching his two games in the Series, he played with excruciating pain and in the next few seasons, because of that ankle injury, overcompensated and c aused his pitching arm to change. He never complained once. After retiring, he became a Baseball Coach at BYU.
One nice thing I enjoyed about this delightful book is that each chapter is called an inning and the last chapter is entitled Extra Innings. John Moody brings the last game of that Series to a very exciting climax. I think the 7th game of that 1960 World Series was one oof the most exciting series of all time. An unlikely team, if ever, beat those great Bronx Bombers that had the best Yankee players ever to play the game: Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Moose Skowron, Whitey Ford, and Roger Maris. The team that beat these guys were scrappy guys, such as: Vernon Law, Bill Mazeroski, Dick Groat, Bill Virdon, Joe Gibbon, Dick (Ducky) Schofield, Bob Friend, ElRoy Face, Bob Skinner, Joe Christopher, Hal Smith, Gino Cimoli, George Witt, Bob Oldis and the late great Roberto Clemente.
Forever Friends Rating 5 Stars by Teri
Until Next Time, See You Around The Book Nook.
I received my review copy from Deseret.
John Moody was a 6 year old in Pittsburgh when the Pirates won the World Series, especially winning against the usually unbeatable Bronx Bombers, the New York Yankees, but 1960 was the year for the Bucks. They scrapped their way to their first Series win since 1927. and not last. The unlikely Pirate to help earn the Pirates their first World Series was pitcher Vernon Law, a very down to earth Mormon farm boy from Meridian, Idaho. Vernon had the nickname of The Deacon from his teammates for his strict Mormon upbringing.
In the early days of major league baseball, players were close to their fans, knew how to really play the game, unlike how they play today. There were no free agents, million dollar salaries, high performance enhancing drugs or egos.
Pittsburgh was the Steel City because of the steel mills that caused a gray cloud over the city for many years. It took some years to clean up Pittsburgh so that the citizens could breathe. They built skyscrapers, cleaned up the rivers. In the 40's, they were using electric lights, as the Steel City was in the dark during the day, and people had to cover their mouths and noses because of the contaminants around them. Some well known people couldn't wait to get out of Pittsburgh, like Gene Kelly and Edison. John Moody couldn't wait to move to Chicago.
The Bucks in 1952 had the worst ever record of any Major League Team with a record of 42-112. They finished 54 1/2 games out of first place. They were constantly the cellar kings.
In the 50's, segregation was rampant, so the black athletes couldn't be in the same restaurants with the other players, which was the norm in those days, but so unfair. The blacks would have separate restrooms, drinking fountains and have to sit at the back of the bus. This segregation was felt at the stadium. Vernon had been raised to treat everyone with respect and he did everywhere he went.
Vernon married his high school sweetheart VaNita, who gave him children with V names: Veldon, Varlin, Vaughn, Veryl and Vance, who also was a Major League player.
Vern won the Cy Young award and was the most valuable player in that momentous World Series, but he never regained his pitching arm after an injury to his ankle after they won the pennant. When all the team were on the bus celebrating with champagne, a member of the Pirate contingency got carried away and injured his ankle. Even while pitching his two games in the Series, he played with excruciating pain and in the next few seasons, because of that ankle injury, overcompensated and c aused his pitching arm to change. He never complained once. After retiring, he became a Baseball Coach at BYU.
One nice thing I enjoyed about this delightful book is that each chapter is called an inning and the last chapter is entitled Extra Innings. John Moody brings the last game of that Series to a very exciting climax. I think the 7th game of that 1960 World Series was one oof the most exciting series of all time. An unlikely team, if ever, beat those great Bronx Bombers that had the best Yankee players ever to play the game: Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Moose Skowron, Whitey Ford, and Roger Maris. The team that beat these guys were scrappy guys, such as: Vernon Law, Bill Mazeroski, Dick Groat, Bill Virdon, Joe Gibbon, Dick (Ducky) Schofield, Bob Friend, ElRoy Face, Bob Skinner, Joe Christopher, Hal Smith, Gino Cimoli, George Witt, Bob Oldis and the late great Roberto Clemente.
Forever Friends Rating 5 Stars by Teri
Until Next Time, See You Around The Book Nook.
I received my review copy from Deseret.
June 2, 2024
Baseball is not my thing, still I had hopes that this might make a good story. Nope. Could not finish this and deliberately left it behind on a trip.
March 4, 2015
I had wanted to read this book for about five years now and it was a major letdown.
I hadn't really read anything on the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates team yet. Sure, I've read the biography on Roberto Clemente and sure I knew all about Bill Mazeroski's homer to win the series. But never really a good book on this exact team.
This book by John Moody seems to go all over the place and talk about everything...except the 1960 Pirates. Early in the book it talks about the history of the mormom faith for about 10 pages of a book that is only 350 pages with tons of pictures. That's fine...in a religion book, not a baseball book. Then the next 40 pages or so were about Vern Law and the author growing up. I got to page 80 and was wondering if I was ever going to read about the team.
It didn't get much better. Halfway through I was already sick of the repeated, "Days were different back in 1960 and people are wussies now and we didn't have the technology in 1960 that we do now" type writing. Yes I know times were different back in 1960. No, I don't want to hear about it 150 times in the first 150 pages.
Also, Vern Law was a good pitcher. He is NOT a Hall of Famer. About midway through the book, possibly a little further, the author says if not for an injury to Law in the 1960 celebration, he would have possibly been a Hall of Famer. Really? He had 160 wins career. The author then makes the case that if he had won 20 games a year for his last seven years he would have 240 for his career, good but not great. Also, how many times does someone win 20 games, even then, seven years in a row? Also, do we get to subtract the number of wins he actually did have during those seven years? One of those years Vern Law won 17 games and was comeback player of the year. The argument was so silly that I thought it was written by a child.
Moody finally wrote well near the end of the book describing the seven game series against the Yankees. I was thinking, finally, worth the wait some good, detailed, well researched writing. But it also felt rushed. I was going to give this author a break, thinking maybe it was his first book and the whole Matrix "Nobody ever makes the jump the first time" way of thinking. But then I learn through the next 25 pages or so that the author has written for a long time in many different areas. Then after that he goes on to talk about his life and his Dad and stuff that had absolutely nothing to do with the 1960 Pirates team, like the 1980 Olympics.
In summary, just a major letdown. Still looking for a good book on this team.
I hadn't really read anything on the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates team yet. Sure, I've read the biography on Roberto Clemente and sure I knew all about Bill Mazeroski's homer to win the series. But never really a good book on this exact team.
This book by John Moody seems to go all over the place and talk about everything...except the 1960 Pirates. Early in the book it talks about the history of the mormom faith for about 10 pages of a book that is only 350 pages with tons of pictures. That's fine...in a religion book, not a baseball book. Then the next 40 pages or so were about Vern Law and the author growing up. I got to page 80 and was wondering if I was ever going to read about the team.
It didn't get much better. Halfway through I was already sick of the repeated, "Days were different back in 1960 and people are wussies now and we didn't have the technology in 1960 that we do now" type writing. Yes I know times were different back in 1960. No, I don't want to hear about it 150 times in the first 150 pages.
Also, Vern Law was a good pitcher. He is NOT a Hall of Famer. About midway through the book, possibly a little further, the author says if not for an injury to Law in the 1960 celebration, he would have possibly been a Hall of Famer. Really? He had 160 wins career. The author then makes the case that if he had won 20 games a year for his last seven years he would have 240 for his career, good but not great. Also, how many times does someone win 20 games, even then, seven years in a row? Also, do we get to subtract the number of wins he actually did have during those seven years? One of those years Vern Law won 17 games and was comeback player of the year. The argument was so silly that I thought it was written by a child.
Moody finally wrote well near the end of the book describing the seven game series against the Yankees. I was thinking, finally, worth the wait some good, detailed, well researched writing. But it also felt rushed. I was going to give this author a break, thinking maybe it was his first book and the whole Matrix "Nobody ever makes the jump the first time" way of thinking. But then I learn through the next 25 pages or so that the author has written for a long time in many different areas. Then after that he goes on to talk about his life and his Dad and stuff that had absolutely nothing to do with the 1960 Pirates team, like the 1980 Olympics.
In summary, just a major letdown. Still looking for a good book on this team.
January 22, 2015
Ugh. In the first 50 pages, Moody has argued that a homogeonized society is better, that nobody born after 1930 is worth a damn, and that beating children with belts produces better adults. What else do we have here... Lamenting on today's "moral relativism" - check. Writing about why Mitt Romney would make a fine president because he's Mormon and they are "the best examples of clean-cut, family oriented citizens in the United States and around the world" - check. Complaints about people who mention hardships they have faced because of their ethnicity or sexuality... In the 1930s, if your family pet bit you, you rubbed dirt on it and moved on, but today we all apparently get counseling instead. Huh? Somehow PETA, the ACLU and No Child Left Behind are also brought up. Today's children are growing up rotten because parents are selfish and not, apparently, because of the overwhelming data which shows the post-Reagan dollar doesn't get working class families as much as it used to. Seriously, what the fuck is this guy writing about? This is 50 pages of half-brained tangents thus far. I'm honestly not even sure the author knows where he is or what he's writing about. Did I mention an earlier page in which he refers to himslf in both the first AND third person?
I think Moody's next book is about North Carolina furniture makers. In it, he will segue into a three page rant against the evils of gay marriage, apropos of nothing.
Go fuck yourself, John Moody. This is the work of a hack.
Folks interested in the actual story would be better suited checking out the SABR biography project.
AVOID THIS BOOK. You have been warned.
Chapter 2
More complaining from Moody on page 49 - an out-of-place, contributing nothing to the story, jab at teacher's unions.
On page 53, a revelation that he was "scared of everything" as a child. As an adult, he still appears to be scared of anything that isn't a white heterosexual conservative Catholic male. So not much changed for him. Sad when you're given 60-plus years to develop and never do.
Chapter 4
page 92 - Moody says he played in a "pee wee" league as a child, a term he says would never be used today because modern children have fragile egos. (A) Stupid baseless comment. (B) The term "pee wee" IS used today, most notably in youth football leagues, hardly the stuff of fragile childhood. If Moody didn't live in his own version of reality, he might have known that.
I think Moody's next book is about North Carolina furniture makers. In it, he will segue into a three page rant against the evils of gay marriage, apropos of nothing.
Go fuck yourself, John Moody. This is the work of a hack.
Folks interested in the actual story would be better suited checking out the SABR biography project.
AVOID THIS BOOK. You have been warned.
Chapter 2
More complaining from Moody on page 49 - an out-of-place, contributing nothing to the story, jab at teacher's unions.
On page 53, a revelation that he was "scared of everything" as a child. As an adult, he still appears to be scared of anything that isn't a white heterosexual conservative Catholic male. So not much changed for him. Sad when you're given 60-plus years to develop and never do.
Chapter 4
page 92 - Moody says he played in a "pee wee" league as a child, a term he says would never be used today because modern children have fragile egos. (A) Stupid baseless comment. (B) The term "pee wee" IS used today, most notably in youth football leagues, hardly the stuff of fragile childhood. If Moody didn't live in his own version of reality, he might have known that.
September 3, 2013
The reason that I gave this book four stars is because it is the first Non-Fiction book that I have read in quite a while, and it was rather refreshing. While I thought it would be SOLELY on Vernon Law and the Pittsburgh Pirates winning the 1960 World Series - it was also a Memoir of the author (John Moody) incorporating his love for baseball, and why he chose to write this book in the first place. At times it was very interesting to learn the history and backgrounds of things, but other times it seemed to go on... and on...and on... and on about information that wasn't necessarily pertinent to the pittsburgh pirates. So keeping that in mind, if you are looking for a book that kinda throws things up a little and isn't a strict biography - than you will love this book. If not, this book will frustrate you as it isn't singly a biography of Vernon Law, a story of the Pirates, a history of Pittsburgh, or a memoir of the author - it combines all four.
One reason in particular that I really liked how the author was NOT a member of the Mormon faith, yet he accurately depicted Mormon's beliefs, lifestyle, and nuances extremely well, professionally, and tactfully. I think I enjoyed it more knowing that the author wasn't Mormon because it showed how much he respects those of the Mormon faith and it made it interesting to read from another's perspective.
I also appreciated the book because it showed the integrity of the sport of baseball before athletes felt "entitled" and made millions and weren't really good role models. It showed how sports was something that you did IN ADDITION to your job - and how it relied on pure talent and hard work... which I think too many young athletes today (while they may have a combination of both of these things) expect the grand prize, instead of accepting it and working as a team... too often now its about ME ME ME, instead of a team effort and I liked how back them everyone worked together as a team.
Overall, I liked it and I think that the person who would most like this book is my dad as he grew up in the era of watching MIckey Mantle and Willie Mays play baseball and he can "relate" more to the stories that are shared within Moody's book.
One reason in particular that I really liked how the author was NOT a member of the Mormon faith, yet he accurately depicted Mormon's beliefs, lifestyle, and nuances extremely well, professionally, and tactfully. I think I enjoyed it more knowing that the author wasn't Mormon because it showed how much he respects those of the Mormon faith and it made it interesting to read from another's perspective.
I also appreciated the book because it showed the integrity of the sport of baseball before athletes felt "entitled" and made millions and weren't really good role models. It showed how sports was something that you did IN ADDITION to your job - and how it relied on pure talent and hard work... which I think too many young athletes today (while they may have a combination of both of these things) expect the grand prize, instead of accepting it and working as a team... too often now its about ME ME ME, instead of a team effort and I liked how back them everyone worked together as a team.
Overall, I liked it and I think that the person who would most like this book is my dad as he grew up in the era of watching MIckey Mantle and Willie Mays play baseball and he can "relate" more to the stories that are shared within Moody's book.
May 2, 2010
I enjoyed reading this book as it relates the life in baseball of the only Mormon playing baseball in 1960, Vernon Law of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates were the Cinderella team that year by beating the notorious New York Yankees in the World Series.
The author, a long-time fan of Law's talks of how the Pirates were of ultimate importance to him as a six-year old boy living in Pittsburgh. Other readers have discounted the author's detours into his personal life as a fan of Law and the Pirates. But I really related since the other is roughly one month older than me. I paints a great picture of what baseball meant to us Baby Boomers in the 50s and 60s. I too, as a Mormon, was excited to see Vernon Law on the mound the few chances we got to see a Pirates game on TV in California. In those days before 24/7 sports channels and cable TV, we were lucky to see the Game of the Week on TV. Growing up a San Francisco Giants fan, I always hoped to see the Pirates on TV with the hopes that Law would be pitching that day.
In the last chapter of the book, the author has members of the 1960 World Series winning Pittsburgh Pirates share short recollections of that season. Several of them state that they aren't mad that today's players are negotiating multi-million dollar contracts. One player said me got just a little over $6,000 bonus for being a member of the World Series winning team that year. Many of these same players argue that many of today's players wouldn't have been playing major league baseball back in the 50s and 60s since there were only twelve teams then. With three times as many teams today, many of today's players would only be able to play minor league baseball during the 50s and 60s.
If you enjoy the Golden Age of baseball, if you enjoy learning about a true gentleman and a hero, with you enjoy a Cinderella story, then this book is for you.
The author, a long-time fan of Law's talks of how the Pirates were of ultimate importance to him as a six-year old boy living in Pittsburgh. Other readers have discounted the author's detours into his personal life as a fan of Law and the Pirates. But I really related since the other is roughly one month older than me. I paints a great picture of what baseball meant to us Baby Boomers in the 50s and 60s. I too, as a Mormon, was excited to see Vernon Law on the mound the few chances we got to see a Pirates game on TV in California. In those days before 24/7 sports channels and cable TV, we were lucky to see the Game of the Week on TV. Growing up a San Francisco Giants fan, I always hoped to see the Pirates on TV with the hopes that Law would be pitching that day.
In the last chapter of the book, the author has members of the 1960 World Series winning Pittsburgh Pirates share short recollections of that season. Several of them state that they aren't mad that today's players are negotiating multi-million dollar contracts. One player said me got just a little over $6,000 bonus for being a member of the World Series winning team that year. Many of these same players argue that many of today's players wouldn't have been playing major league baseball back in the 50s and 60s since there were only twelve teams then. With three times as many teams today, many of today's players would only be able to play minor league baseball during the 50s and 60s.
If you enjoy the Golden Age of baseball, if you enjoy learning about a true gentleman and a hero, with you enjoy a Cinderella story, then this book is for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2010
Being a life long Pittsburgh Pirates fan I found this book interesting in the fact that it described in detail the 1960's World Series and how the city of Pittsburgh rallied around its team. The book followed Pirates pitcher Vern Law from childhood through his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates especially highlighting the 1960 season. John Moody paints Vern as a good and moral man, which he was, but never really is able to grab the readers attention leaving a feeling that after finishing the book the reader was expected something more insightful.
I felt at times Moody loses objectivity and instead of informing the reader one gets the sense that he is trying to convince us of something. This is particularly apparent in his attempt to show Vern Law as a moral man (there is no doubt in my mind that he was an extremely moral and religious person, but Moody often makes it seem like he was sinless) and that his Pirates teammates party on the team bus after learning they won the National League Pennant where Law suffered a sprained ankle was the sole reason his career careened downward in future years.
Moody does do a great job describing in detail late 1950's and early 1960's Pittsburgh. The reader is able to get a sense of the blue collar nature of the town complete with steelmills and smog so thick it blotted out the noon sun. Neighborhoods are described so perfectly that it is easy to feel like you are a part of the time period commuting in a street car to Game 7 of the world series.
A hardcore Pittsburgh Pirates fan will find this book at least interesting, but it doesnt really illuminate any further details on the 1960 season that the fanatic fan can't find elsewhere.
I felt at times Moody loses objectivity and instead of informing the reader one gets the sense that he is trying to convince us of something. This is particularly apparent in his attempt to show Vern Law as a moral man (there is no doubt in my mind that he was an extremely moral and religious person, but Moody often makes it seem like he was sinless) and that his Pirates teammates party on the team bus after learning they won the National League Pennant where Law suffered a sprained ankle was the sole reason his career careened downward in future years.
Moody does do a great job describing in detail late 1950's and early 1960's Pittsburgh. The reader is able to get a sense of the blue collar nature of the town complete with steelmills and smog so thick it blotted out the noon sun. Neighborhoods are described so perfectly that it is easy to feel like you are a part of the time period commuting in a street car to Game 7 of the world series.
A hardcore Pittsburgh Pirates fan will find this book at least interesting, but it doesnt really illuminate any further details on the 1960 season that the fanatic fan can't find elsewhere.
May 11, 2011
A very positive tribute to and sports biography of a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints written by a Catholic who shares much of his own life story and how he became such a fan of Vernon Law. The author includes a review of the history and the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which is very good, and includes The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ in his list of "Sources." The life story of Vernon Law is told quite thoroughly, including the conversion of his high school sweetheart, their temple marriage, and the involvement of their family in Law's baseball career. Baseball details are extensive -- some swishing over my head. One main purpose of the book is to explain Law's unnecessary injury which took the near perfection out of his pitching. Law's heroic example shines most clearly in his forgiveness for the unnecessary injury. There are many great lessons throughout the book from the Catholic family as well as from Law's growing up in Idaho. Pittsburgh history is very enlightening with regard to the evolvement of our environment, culture, and economy. After many years of dismal failure and mediocrity, the very, very significant effect of a championship upon a city or a community is made plain. A most enjoyable read for anyone interested in any of these perspectives.
March 19, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I don’t even like baseball. I was uplifted by the values and courage and kindness of Vern Law. He really was an inspirational person. I’m tempted to go meet him the next time I’m in Provo. It was also fun to learn about what Pittsburgh was like in the 1960s. The author is pretty nostalgic about the past, and a little negative about the world we live in today, which might bother some people but it didn’t bother me. I also loved reading it by my husbands side and asking him things like “So what’s a 5,4,3 double play?” It created lots of fun and informative discussions about baseball with Jaron, so now I’m really excited to go see the Mariner’s play this spring and have a better idea of what is going on, on the field, instead of focusing on what that girl is wearing a few isles down that’s just coming back to her seat with her popcorn.
June 22, 2013
I don't usually read non-fiction but summary of the book on the dust jacket caught my interest. The idea of the mystery of what happened to this great baseball player. However, it didn't seem to be that mysterious once I started reading the book. The author spent too much time on tangents and asides while telling the story. Several times I would have to go back and reread a paragraph or two to recall what the original topic was before the author started giving me the background on somebody who was only mentioned briefly in the book. He would also throw in bigger vocabulary that seemed out of place with the overall feel of the book. I did enjoy the last chapter with the thoughts from the original team players and the author's explanation of what led him to write this book. The book would have been better if it was cut down and kept tighter to it's focus.
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