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Teammate: My Journey in Baseball and a World Series for the Ages
Packed with "compelling inside stories" (Chicago Tribune), Teammate is the inspiring memoir from "Grandpa Rossy," the veteran catcher who became the heart and soul of the 2016 Chicago Cubs championship team and was named manager in 2019.
In 2016 the Cubs snapped a 108-year curse, winning the World Series in a history-making, seven-game series against the Cleveland Indians. Of the many storylines to Chicago's fairytale season, one stood out: the late-career renaissance of David Ross, the 39-year-old catcher who had played back-up for 13 of his 15 pro seasons.
Beyond Ross's remarkably strong play, he became the ultimate positive force in the Cubs locker room, mentoring and motivating his fellow players, some of them nearly twenty years his junior. Thanks to Cubs Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, "Grandpa Rossy" became a social media sensation. No one, however, could have predicted that Ross's home run in his final career at bat would help seal the Cubs championship.
Now, in Teammate, Ross shares the inspiring story of his life in baseball, framed by the events of that unforgettable November night.
In 2016 the Cubs snapped a 108-year curse, winning the World Series in a history-making, seven-game series against the Cleveland Indians. Of the many storylines to Chicago's fairytale season, one stood out: the late-career renaissance of David Ross, the 39-year-old catcher who had played back-up for 13 of his 15 pro seasons.
Beyond Ross's remarkably strong play, he became the ultimate positive force in the Cubs locker room, mentoring and motivating his fellow players, some of them nearly twenty years his junior. Thanks to Cubs Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, "Grandpa Rossy" became a social media sensation. No one, however, could have predicted that Ross's home run in his final career at bat would help seal the Cubs championship.
Now, in Teammate, Ross shares the inspiring story of his life in baseball, framed by the events of that unforgettable November night.
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First published May 9, 2017
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About the author
David Ross
1 book1 followerThere is more than one author with this name
David Ross, manager for the Chicago Cubs, is a retired Major League Baseball catcher who won the World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2013 and the Chicago Cubs in 2016. In his fifteen-year career, he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Cincinatti Reds, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago Cubs.
David Ross, manager for the Chicago Cubs, is a retired Major League Baseball catcher who won the World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2013 and the Chicago Cubs in 2016. In his fifteen-year career, he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Cincinatti Reds, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago Cubs.
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May 3, 2019
In just a few short years, David Ross became beloved of many Cub fans. Grandpa Ross they nicknamed him, in the book one finds out which players started this. At 39, this favored catcher of John Lester, was playing his last season. Then they did the near impossible, well many Cub fans always thought whatever year it was, that it would be the one, but this year it was. Don't think I'll ever forget Ross being carried off the field by his teammates. I cried, and wished the man who was responsible for the love of this team, my grandfather, was still alive.
In this book one can certainly hear Rosses voice as he recounts his years playing with various teams. What the other Cubs, teammates came to mean to him, and the pranks they played on each other. Madden's coaching style, and entries in Rosses journal. His family life, and how he got ready for game day. What it takes to be a good teammate and how he applied his beliefs on this subject.
I enjoyed reading this, but it was repetitive in parts, and not terribly well written. Despite that though, Cubs fans who came to love this player will not be disappointed. I give the book three stars, but the man himself, five.
In this book one can certainly hear Rosses voice as he recounts his years playing with various teams. What the other Cubs, teammates came to mean to him, and the pranks they played on each other. Madden's coaching style, and entries in Rosses journal. His family life, and how he got ready for game day. What it takes to be a good teammate and how he applied his beliefs on this subject.
I enjoyed reading this, but it was repetitive in parts, and not terribly well written. Despite that though, Cubs fans who came to love this player will not be disappointed. I give the book three stars, but the man himself, five.
November 15, 2019
Newsflash. It is the year 2019. The Chicago Cubs won the World Series three years ago, and, contrary to popular belief at the time, the world did not come to an end on November 2, 2016 at 12:46 a.m. After the initial shock and tears and driving five hours in the middle of the night to get to the parade on time, life went on as usual. We fans from all over the world headed back to work and school, and, even though the next few weeks felt dreamlike, time marched on. Pundits thought the Cubs had a dynasty in the making; while it could still happen, at present, the current iteration of the Cubs have still only won one World Series title. That thought makes it bittersweet for me to watch videos from three years ago for like many I believed that once the curse had lifted, the Cubs would become the new Yankees and win every year. It still hasn’t happened but a team as talented as the Cubs should be able to win one more title during my parents’ lifetimes or I should only pray.
It is with mixed emotions that I welcomed the news that the Cubs had hired David Ross to become their new manager. For those hiding under a rock, Ross is the beloved backup catcher who played a vital role in helping the Cubs win the World Series three years ago and then retired, only to be named a special assistant in the organization and become an analyst on ESPN baseball as well as compete on Dancing With the Stars, to the delight of my daughters. After three years away from the dugout, Ross and Cubs management thought it was time for him to be named the team’s new manager when a vacancy came up. It seemed like a natural choice because catchers really do make the best managers, but, it will seem weird seeing Ross back in uniform. To ease the transition, I decided to read Ross’ memoir The Teammate, which he wrote with Don Yeager shortly after the 2016 season ended. The Teammate is part humorous, part emotional, and it had all the emotions from the 2016 season spilling out again.
Few people are lucky to enjoy a professional sports career lasting fifteen years or more. Those fortunate to compete at high levels into their late thirties or even early forties as usually the ones blessed with extraordinary talent that supersedes age. Backup catchers with 106 career home runs do not generally play until age thirty nine unless they have embraced their role as a backup and superior teammate. That is the role that David Ross carved out during his career that saw him win two World Series titles. He may not have been the best athlete on his team or even the best at his position, but he cared for everyone on his team from the parking attendants all the way to the owners. Playing in his first game in 2002, Ross earned the moniker as great teammate as a member of the Boston Red Sox in 2008. The management team was the same group that would come to run the Cubs starting in 2011, turning them from lovable losers to champions. The management team, lead by Theo Epstein, told Ross that he had the makings to one day become a manager, and Ross in turn would play for another eight years keeping that thought in mind and totally investing himself in every game that he played. It was with this reputation as a great teammate that the Cubs sought Ross’ services before the 2015 when they believed that they were on the threshold of greatness.
While the bulk of the book recaps the 2016 season from start to finish and brings back happy memories, Ross along with Yeager also takes readers on a journey for Ross’ entire career. The writing team provide anecdotes of what it takes to be a great as well as poor teammate, giving examples from every stage of Ross’ career. Fans, of course, will be most interested in what went on behind the scenes in the Cubs locker room, but Ross spares most of those details. Rather, he talks of his time in college at Auburn and Florida as well as career stops on the Dodgers, Reds, Braves, and Red Sox and his home team - his family. Ross cites advice he got from veteran teammates at each stop and notes that the advice has stayed with him for his entire career. The friendships he made during his playing career have lasted longer than his playing days because like Ross, the men cited were good teammates, and ones that every organization would want on their team.
Like most celebrity memoirs, this one was churned out quickly so that Cubs fans could relive the 2016 season in time for the holidays. Fans loved watching Grandpa Rossy so the Teammate probably warmed many hearts during the 2016 holidays season. As for Ross being a tough manager on many of his former teammates, I have a inkling that he will do just fine. Catchers really do make the best managers, having to keep their heads in the game at all times. Rossy invested himself in all of teammates during his entire baseball career and will be on the Cubs to succeed as their manager, even if it means irking some former teammates from time to time. With his humor and warm personality back on the Northside, opening day can not come soon enough.
3.5 stars
It is with mixed emotions that I welcomed the news that the Cubs had hired David Ross to become their new manager. For those hiding under a rock, Ross is the beloved backup catcher who played a vital role in helping the Cubs win the World Series three years ago and then retired, only to be named a special assistant in the organization and become an analyst on ESPN baseball as well as compete on Dancing With the Stars, to the delight of my daughters. After three years away from the dugout, Ross and Cubs management thought it was time for him to be named the team’s new manager when a vacancy came up. It seemed like a natural choice because catchers really do make the best managers, but, it will seem weird seeing Ross back in uniform. To ease the transition, I decided to read Ross’ memoir The Teammate, which he wrote with Don Yeager shortly after the 2016 season ended. The Teammate is part humorous, part emotional, and it had all the emotions from the 2016 season spilling out again.
Few people are lucky to enjoy a professional sports career lasting fifteen years or more. Those fortunate to compete at high levels into their late thirties or even early forties as usually the ones blessed with extraordinary talent that supersedes age. Backup catchers with 106 career home runs do not generally play until age thirty nine unless they have embraced their role as a backup and superior teammate. That is the role that David Ross carved out during his career that saw him win two World Series titles. He may not have been the best athlete on his team or even the best at his position, but he cared for everyone on his team from the parking attendants all the way to the owners. Playing in his first game in 2002, Ross earned the moniker as great teammate as a member of the Boston Red Sox in 2008. The management team was the same group that would come to run the Cubs starting in 2011, turning them from lovable losers to champions. The management team, lead by Theo Epstein, told Ross that he had the makings to one day become a manager, and Ross in turn would play for another eight years keeping that thought in mind and totally investing himself in every game that he played. It was with this reputation as a great teammate that the Cubs sought Ross’ services before the 2015 when they believed that they were on the threshold of greatness.
While the bulk of the book recaps the 2016 season from start to finish and brings back happy memories, Ross along with Yeager also takes readers on a journey for Ross’ entire career. The writing team provide anecdotes of what it takes to be a great as well as poor teammate, giving examples from every stage of Ross’ career. Fans, of course, will be most interested in what went on behind the scenes in the Cubs locker room, but Ross spares most of those details. Rather, he talks of his time in college at Auburn and Florida as well as career stops on the Dodgers, Reds, Braves, and Red Sox and his home team - his family. Ross cites advice he got from veteran teammates at each stop and notes that the advice has stayed with him for his entire career. The friendships he made during his playing career have lasted longer than his playing days because like Ross, the men cited were good teammates, and ones that every organization would want on their team.
Like most celebrity memoirs, this one was churned out quickly so that Cubs fans could relive the 2016 season in time for the holidays. Fans loved watching Grandpa Rossy so the Teammate probably warmed many hearts during the 2016 holidays season. As for Ross being a tough manager on many of his former teammates, I have a inkling that he will do just fine. Catchers really do make the best managers, having to keep their heads in the game at all times. Rossy invested himself in all of teammates during his entire baseball career and will be on the Cubs to succeed as their manager, even if it means irking some former teammates from time to time. With his humor and warm personality back on the Northside, opening day can not come soon enough.
3.5 stars
June 29, 2017
The Chicago Cubs won their first World Series in more than 100 years and everybody wants to celebrate (and cash in). What does David Ross (known as “Rossy”) offer that is worth buying his book and reading his almost 300 pages?
This book provides more than the usual post-Series biography. Take this week, for example. Those “World Champion” Cubs are struggling. On Tuesday, they lost, in part, because they gave up seven stolen bases. After the game, their catcher, Miggy Montero, went on a rant ascribing the blame to their award-winning pitcher. Miggy was gone before the next game. Here is what their general manager, Theo Epstein, said about it: "I just came to the conclusion that now more than ever we really need to be a team. This was an example of someone being a bad teammate publicly, and that we’d be better off moving on and not standing for it, because we do hold our players to a higher standard than that. In our role as the front office, we can’t always be in the clubhouse and push the right buttons to help everyone come together as a team. But we certainly are in a position – when we see something that could fracture the group – to try to fix the situation and remove that issue.”
This book explains that philosophy in detail. Rossy’s story is about: how he became a good teammate; how that affected his longevity as a major league baseball player; and, why it is important for star ballplayers as well as journeymen. It is interesting because he was never a star, just good enough (at times) to be the necessary factor in helping a team take their performance to the next level. Obviously, being a good teammate has plenty of application outside the world of sport.
Rossy remembers a lot from each year of his baseball career (highschool, college, minors, and with over half a dozen major league teams). It is not a surprise that he was advised to organize the book by shifting back and forth between the last day of last year’s World Series and the arc of his career. He deserves some credit for weaving it together with skill.
The elements are familiar. We get:
Important players and coaches that influenced his approach to baseball;
Famous players that he shared time and experiences with;
Lessons he learned at various stages of his career;
Injuries and other things that could have cut short his career;
How he attempted to blend his career with family life and where it didn’t work as well as it might; and,
Highlights of his career including being on the Red Sox and Cubs during their victorious seasons.
In addition, we get what seems like a lot of honest thought and emotion. He ponders how things could be better and what he could do to make them better. The book is satisfying both from a celebration of the team’s success and an exploration of the arc of a life (so far) devoted to baseball.
One of the things that I appreciated about this biography was where Ross left the story. “I’m closing a chapter in my life, but I am not closing the book. I want to be a great husband and a great dad, so how do I do that? What does that look like?” Ross has his head in the right place and I hope he makes a fine transition. If you read the book, you will learn (based on the anecdote at the start of this review) why the Cubs may well be regretting his retirement.
This book provides more than the usual post-Series biography. Take this week, for example. Those “World Champion” Cubs are struggling. On Tuesday, they lost, in part, because they gave up seven stolen bases. After the game, their catcher, Miggy Montero, went on a rant ascribing the blame to their award-winning pitcher. Miggy was gone before the next game. Here is what their general manager, Theo Epstein, said about it: "I just came to the conclusion that now more than ever we really need to be a team. This was an example of someone being a bad teammate publicly, and that we’d be better off moving on and not standing for it, because we do hold our players to a higher standard than that. In our role as the front office, we can’t always be in the clubhouse and push the right buttons to help everyone come together as a team. But we certainly are in a position – when we see something that could fracture the group – to try to fix the situation and remove that issue.”
This book explains that philosophy in detail. Rossy’s story is about: how he became a good teammate; how that affected his longevity as a major league baseball player; and, why it is important for star ballplayers as well as journeymen. It is interesting because he was never a star, just good enough (at times) to be the necessary factor in helping a team take their performance to the next level. Obviously, being a good teammate has plenty of application outside the world of sport.
Rossy remembers a lot from each year of his baseball career (highschool, college, minors, and with over half a dozen major league teams). It is not a surprise that he was advised to organize the book by shifting back and forth between the last day of last year’s World Series and the arc of his career. He deserves some credit for weaving it together with skill.
The elements are familiar. We get:
Important players and coaches that influenced his approach to baseball;
Famous players that he shared time and experiences with;
Lessons he learned at various stages of his career;
Injuries and other things that could have cut short his career;
How he attempted to blend his career with family life and where it didn’t work as well as it might; and,
Highlights of his career including being on the Red Sox and Cubs during their victorious seasons.
In addition, we get what seems like a lot of honest thought and emotion. He ponders how things could be better and what he could do to make them better. The book is satisfying both from a celebration of the team’s success and an exploration of the arc of a life (so far) devoted to baseball.
One of the things that I appreciated about this biography was where Ross left the story. “I’m closing a chapter in my life, but I am not closing the book. I want to be a great husband and a great dad, so how do I do that? What does that look like?” Ross has his head in the right place and I hope he makes a fine transition. If you read the book, you will learn (based on the anecdote at the start of this review) why the Cubs may well be regretting his retirement.
May 23, 2017
David Ross is a journeyman back-up catcher with respectable but unspectacular career statistics. He’s not the kind of guy who usually finds himself authoring a baseball autobiography. But he’s also indelibly etched in the hearts and minds of Cubs fans as Grandpa Rossy after the role he played in his final year as a member of the 2016 World Champion Chicago Cubs.
Teammate weaves its story from three threads: Ross’s re-telling of the dramatic seventh game of the 2016 World Series, the notes he took on his cell phone throughout the 2016 season, and his own life story. Throughout the book, Ross provides insider info on his time with the Cubs, Braves, Red Sox, Padres, Dodgers, Pirates, and Reds as he looks at himself honestly, sometimes with self-deprecation but also accepting the accolades he garnered along the way.
Superstars tell a certain kind of story, but David Ross was never a superstar, so his journey in baseball was different. He learned to be excellent in a supporting role on the teams he joined. One of the themes of Teammate is … how to be a great teammate. These are lessons that apply beyond baseball. Ross also discusses his experiences with concussions, an important sports-related concern that gains more attention each year.
As I write this, David Ross is twenty-four hours away from learning his fate on “Dancing with the Stars.” Those who discovered him on that show might find this book interesting, but for baseball fans—especially those who fly the W—Teammate will reveal a guy with just enough talent to have a fifteen-year major league career but more than enough character and charm to make him a fan favorite.
Teammate weaves its story from three threads: Ross’s re-telling of the dramatic seventh game of the 2016 World Series, the notes he took on his cell phone throughout the 2016 season, and his own life story. Throughout the book, Ross provides insider info on his time with the Cubs, Braves, Red Sox, Padres, Dodgers, Pirates, and Reds as he looks at himself honestly, sometimes with self-deprecation but also accepting the accolades he garnered along the way.
Superstars tell a certain kind of story, but David Ross was never a superstar, so his journey in baseball was different. He learned to be excellent in a supporting role on the teams he joined. One of the themes of Teammate is … how to be a great teammate. These are lessons that apply beyond baseball. Ross also discusses his experiences with concussions, an important sports-related concern that gains more attention each year.
As I write this, David Ross is twenty-four hours away from learning his fate on “Dancing with the Stars.” Those who discovered him on that show might find this book interesting, but for baseball fans—especially those who fly the W—Teammate will reveal a guy with just enough talent to have a fifteen-year major league career but more than enough character and charm to make him a fan favorite.
July 22, 2019
I'm a huge Cub fan and baseball fan in general. The writing style made it hard for me to stay interested. Each chapter started talking about a player or time in Ross's career, but after a page or so it would jump to unrelated notes Ross made on his iphone during the 2016 season. Then it would jump into diatribes about being a great teammate. These sections especially bored me to tears. I read a lot of books about baseball and I want to hear stories, not lectures on being a teammate. It felt like Ross didn't really have a lot to say about his career and needed to pad the book.
June 12, 2017
Actual rating: 3.5/5
I'm torn about how to review this. On one hand, I liked it. I went into it knowing nothing about David Ross except watching him in the World Series and in Dancing With the Stars. This is an informative read. I learned a lot about "Grandpa Rossy" by reading this book. This book was humorous at times. He was also very honest in this book.
Now on to what I didn't like about it. The main thing was the format. I found it very confusing at times. I wound up mainly skipping David's "iPhone journal" sections. They were inserted in at the wrong times. For example, he talked about his career in Cincinnati for a little bit, inserted a journal entry that had absolutely nothing to do with what he was just talking about, then went back to what he was just talking about. Another thing that I didn't like was how each chapter started with a highlight of Game 7 of the World Series, then he would go back and talk about his childhood or early career. It would have been much better if he would have just talked about everything, then talking about Game 7 in the last chapter or two.
Overall, this was a good read. I learned a lot about David Ross. I think any die-hard Cubs fan will love this. Any sports fan will probably like this, as well.
I'm torn about how to review this. On one hand, I liked it. I went into it knowing nothing about David Ross except watching him in the World Series and in Dancing With the Stars. This is an informative read. I learned a lot about "Grandpa Rossy" by reading this book. This book was humorous at times. He was also very honest in this book.
Now on to what I didn't like about it. The main thing was the format. I found it very confusing at times. I wound up mainly skipping David's "iPhone journal" sections. They were inserted in at the wrong times. For example, he talked about his career in Cincinnati for a little bit, inserted a journal entry that had absolutely nothing to do with what he was just talking about, then went back to what he was just talking about. Another thing that I didn't like was how each chapter started with a highlight of Game 7 of the World Series, then he would go back and talk about his childhood or early career. It would have been much better if he would have just talked about everything, then talking about Game 7 in the last chapter or two.
Overall, this was a good read. I learned a lot about David Ross. I think any die-hard Cubs fan will love this. Any sports fan will probably like this, as well.
July 21, 2018
This is an unbelievable, almost scripted, true life story that was really rushed to print to capitalize on the momentum of a World Series win and David's overnight celebrity. It was optioned as a movie immediately, before it was printed, because it's a cinematic dream to tell. The thing about all that noise though, it's only that - noise. David Ross is really a genuinely good guy. He really did provide some of the magic mojo for the 2016 Chicago Cubs that brought in their first World Series trophy in 108 years. He really is respected and beloved by his peers.
This book has been my evening read for a while now, when i want to shut out the rest of the nonsense that has been 2018 so far. This is a very conversational book that I imagine would be great as an audio book read by the author. It is not high art. It is not classical literature. It could probably have been more polished if given more time, but that's not what this is. It is a book about what it means to one guy who is first described as a great teammate to be a great teammate.
You'll learned about David's career in baseball, his journey to the Cubs and alllllll about the day of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series. It's a fun book for Cubs fans, baseball fans, fans of underdog stories, etc. It may not be polished enough to convert anyone who wasn't a baseball fan, but it's a quick, light read for anyone in the fold.
This book has been my evening read for a while now, when i want to shut out the rest of the nonsense that has been 2018 so far. This is a very conversational book that I imagine would be great as an audio book read by the author. It is not high art. It is not classical literature. It could probably have been more polished if given more time, but that's not what this is. It is a book about what it means to one guy who is first described as a great teammate to be a great teammate.
You'll learned about David's career in baseball, his journey to the Cubs and alllllll about the day of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series. It's a fun book for Cubs fans, baseball fans, fans of underdog stories, etc. It may not be polished enough to convert anyone who wasn't a baseball fan, but it's a quick, light read for anyone in the fold.
May 26, 2017
I love baseball. While I'm not a Cubs fan, I admit I followed them on their quest in 2016 to win the world series. David Ross (AKA Grandpa Rossy) was the backup catcher for the cubs that year, mostly catching Jon Lester. This is his story, from his early days in the big leagues to his final year in baseball with the Cubs in 2016. What a way to retire! Lots of life lessons. What it takes to be a good teammate and play the game the way it should be played. It was interesting to read about concussion -- there's more than one type. Well done Rossy, and it was fun to watch you on Dancing With The Stars!
May 17, 2017
Non-biased review: 4 stars.
As someone who does not often read books about self-improvement, I liked that this book makes valid points on how to become a "teammate." The practices described can be applied to any workplace, like creating a consistent routine, putting the goals of the team before yourself, and pushing people around you to strive for improvement. I also enjoyed the format of the book, cutting between Ross' history in baseball, snippets of his iPhone journal, and the day of Game 7 in the World Series.
Fully biased review by a Cubs fan: 5 stars.
I listened to the audiobook while driving to and from work. When Ross got to the end of Game 7 and what it meant to him, the team, and the city of Chicago, I teared up. I loved learning more about Ross' last season and the iPhone notes he included. I loved that he gave a glimpse into his relationships with different players over the years and it was scary to hear, in his own words, his experience with concussions. I got emotional a bunch of times, but I feel like this is required reading for all Cubs fans.
As someone who does not often read books about self-improvement, I liked that this book makes valid points on how to become a "teammate." The practices described can be applied to any workplace, like creating a consistent routine, putting the goals of the team before yourself, and pushing people around you to strive for improvement. I also enjoyed the format of the book, cutting between Ross' history in baseball, snippets of his iPhone journal, and the day of Game 7 in the World Series.
Fully biased review by a Cubs fan: 5 stars.
I listened to the audiobook while driving to and from work. When Ross got to the end of Game 7 and what it meant to him, the team, and the city of Chicago, I teared up. I loved learning more about Ross' last season and the iPhone notes he included. I loved that he gave a glimpse into his relationships with different players over the years and it was scary to hear, in his own words, his experience with concussions. I got emotional a bunch of times, but I feel like this is required reading for all Cubs fans.
June 21, 2017
I don't know why I read sport biographies. They are so cut and paste. You know how some people try to convince you that they are funny and the more they tell the less you think they are funny? With Ross, he goes on and on and on about what a great teammate he was, and I'm sure he was, but you wouldn't know it from this book. However, to relive that glorious season one more time was still more fun than I expected.
January 5, 2020
I'm a diehard Red Sox fan, so this was a cool book to read. Lots of insights into how a player thinks, and David is brutally honest with his strengths and weaknesses. he doesn't try to build himself up as anything but a backup catcher with great teammates, and his contribution isn't just on the field.
July 19, 2017
As a big David Ross (and Cubs) fan, this book was a huge disappointment. It was rather a mash-up, mixing his online diary, history and the World Series. So, flitting from topic to topic produced a very lackluster book and really didn't do more than scratch the surface. I honestly felt Mr Ross was writing this for those baseball executives who might want him as a coach or in another management position.
September 13, 2017
I read this because I'm a Cubs fan. The 2016 season was amazing. This book would have benefitted from better editing. But, strike while the interest in David Ross is high. There were a few good stories, but the book didn't flow. Stories were interrupted with random tangents and then jumped back as if the tangent hadn't been there. I'll leave it at that.
December 4, 2017
Go Cubs. But...meh. Fascinating inside view on the 2016 season and postseason, but painful to read at times (it reads like it was written by a back-up catcher), repetitive, offensive in spots (both language and subject matter), repetitive, and repetitive. And it was a little repetitive.
June 25, 2017
I'm a huge lifelong Cubs fan and a big fan of Ross and the leadership role he played in the Cubs 2016 championship season. But I didn't enjoy the writing style.
June 2, 2020
Some good lessons and confirmation Grandpa Ross is good people, can’t wait to see him manage the Cubbies...2021🙏🏻
June 23, 2019
I really enjoyed this book and think it has broad applicability beyond baseball. It was inspirational for being a positive contributor to any work environment.
July 10, 2017
I'm a Cubs fan, and David Ross endeared himself to me and everyone else during his 2 seasons w/the club, so that's why I read and finished this book. It was obviously a rush job, and perhaps if it went through an additional draft or two and a good editor it would be improved somewhat, and while I didn't expect a great work of literature, I thought perhaps it being ghostwritten would elevate the verbal content. That said, I really did read it in Ross's voice. Which could be repetitive (sometimes in one sentence) to an annoying degree.
So many of the "hilarious" anecdotes came off to me like "I guess you just had to be there."
Baseball seems to be one of those things I definitely like watching, rather than read about.
So many of the "hilarious" anecdotes came off to me like "I guess you just had to be there."
Baseball seems to be one of those things I definitely like watching, rather than read about.
June 4, 2018
This story was told from David Ross’s point a view, a retired backup catcher for the Chicago Cubs. It was a very interesting read because David writes in a very human way. By that I mean he tells things as they are, he doesn’t avoid the fact he didn’t play in Cincinnati. He doesn’t avoid the fact that he was very old and that effected his playing time. I liked reading this book because you can see that even star major league stars have issues. They are human just like us and they have their own special ways for dealing with them
February 5, 2019
This book was more than an autobiography of David Ross’s career. It was a book about the qualities of leadership and being a good team player. At the same time it was a book about his career and the people he met and learned from. It was about knowing when to retire / to go out on your own terms. It was a book about enjoying the journey and being grateful for the experience and it was a blow by blow description of the 2016 World Series . The details of game 7 and how the players were feeling and thinking was priceless to this Cubs fan.
June 8, 2017
What a thoroughly delightful read. I am a huge baseball fan, and getting a Cubs player's view into some of the events of the incredible Game 7 of the 2016 World Series is a treasure. Ross has so many valuable insights on how to be a team player both in baseball and in life.
I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the game. And I'd say it is a must read for any Cubs fan who loves "Grandpa Rossy".
I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the game. And I'd say it is a must read for any Cubs fan who loves "Grandpa Rossy".
August 19, 2017
Enjoyable. I'm not a baseball fan, but was given tickets to a couple of Cubs games early in the season last year and met David Ross at the first game. This book read and sounded exactly like my impression of him at the time, so I felt as though it was a genuine reflection of the guy. A likeable guy, family man, humble, self-aware, and willing to admit his faults and mistakes while also knowing his strengths.
July 11, 2017
The organization of this book was terrible. This book jumps around from iphone journals, family stories and game play. The stories don't match up and make the book very confusing. Each chapter also begins with a story from the World series which adds to the mess. David Ross is an interesting guy, but his memoir falls flat on many levels.
September 25, 2017
I am a huge Cubs fan, so I am biased, but I think this book does a great job capturing David Ross's voice and why he was an essential part of the 2016 World Series champion Chicago Cubs. Ross highlights each big inning in game 7 and captures the excitement of that memorable night. He also discussses his long baseball career in an honest and heartfelt way. Essential reading for a Cubs fan.
October 12, 2017
DANG you know I just want to read books about baseball because I like it a lot, and I wish I could turn off the part of my brain that notices how much lower the quality of writing and editing is in this kind of book.
Also, for a vanity autobiography, I feel like I came out of this liking the subject... slightly less? Has that ever happened before?
Also, for a vanity autobiography, I feel like I came out of this liking the subject... slightly less? Has that ever happened before?
November 9, 2018
3.5 stars. Not exactly a typical baseball memoir, but David Ross doesnt appear to have been a typical baseball player. Tons of interesting nuggets here, but the best part is his take on bring a good teammate, and what he did to change the perception that he wasnt one. Best for baseball fans, of course—especially for Cubs fans—but worth the read for luce lessons.
December 30, 2019
Love you, Rossy!
Great read and a manual on being a good person! Many life lessons here. Cub fan since '88! Thank you!!!
Great read and a manual on being a good person! Many life lessons here. Cub fan since '88! Thank you!!!
July 22, 2017
I heart David Ross but man it's hard for me to read sports biographies!
January 9, 2019
4 1/2 stars. A thoughtful, well-written biography with useful and practical information on the qualities of a good teammate.
July 24, 2018
I’m gonna say it right out: This is a man book, and it’s excellent. It’s written by men for men about man topics. That is not to say that women cannot benefit from hearing the charismatic “Grandpa Rossy” reminiscence about the amazing Chicago Cubs 2016 season or share wisdom developed over his career in Major League Baseball, but this text speaks in the language of men – and is more likely to hit the heart of men.
The main question the book wrestles with is, “how to be a valuable teammate when you aren’t the most talented guy on the team?” Themes of respect, honesty, encouragement, happiness, camaraderie, and steadiness abound.
Ross’ story of a second/ third string catcher in Major League Baseball who got to play on two World Series champions and finished his career as a beloved rising star of the Chicago Cubs is a unique one, and Ross himself almost can’t believe it. In a business where the minutia of performance is measured, Ross was exceptional in lower levels of competition, but not MLB superstar calibre. Though the book bleeds with stats, and dates, and historical tie-ins typical of baseball, it’s not about Ross dominating in any category. Instead, Ross opens with a touching essay by Theo Epstein about the value Ross brought to the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox in 2013, and a conversation they had when Ross was cut from their team. It seems that Ross was a bit of an ass that got beyond his talent in Cincinnati and that made Boston hesitant to pick him up – but they were glad they did. This revelation lit a fire under Ross, causing him to realize he should focus on being a good teammate. But what does that look like?
Ross shares what he learned about being a teammate throughout his career, culminating in a meaty chapter of principles. Rossy’s resume sections include citations of men of strong character that impacted him and helped him grow. Growing as a man is the focus here – not batting stances. These lessons give the book a welcome deeper undercurrent than I expected when I picked it up. Discussions of his failures/ struggles/ feelings of inferiority compared to more talented players, family, experience with concussions and the times he thought his career was over are particularly poignant. Meanwhile, there was a noticeable silence about the difficult birth of Ross’ youngest child, Harper (during which both mother and baby were in jeopardy), while he was with the Cubs in 2015.
As is typical with people of elite fame, he copiously credits his friends and mentors, while cautiously sticking to stories that are already in the public arena. Readers should not anticipate Ross using the opportunity to call out enemies or air any grievances. For example, discussion of superstars Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant is noticably circumspect “In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Rizzo said…” while one assumes Jason Heyward and Jon Lester apparently were more comfortable with some additional details. Surely everything said here has been reviewed by the primary subjects. Aside from small insights into his own feelings about events at the time, Rossy doesn’t go beyond what is publicly known, though he does pull the information together into his experience effectively. The only information that was a revelation to me was that Rossy seems to be aspiring to coaching/ managing/ running a Major League Team and that Theo Epstein and company are optimistic about the prospect-- but that’s probably because I’m not ‘inside baseball.’ Readers should expect a polished view, given by someone who has learned to handle the media.
I encountered three challenges I think may be unique to listening to the work as an audiobook.
My first audiobook, “Seeking Jesus, Finding Allah,” also a memoir (though decidedly more personal), was powerfully voiced by it’s author, Nabeel Qureshi for the audiobook. I felt like Nabeel was there, speaking soul to soul, telling me his own story. Upon completion, I not only knew his background and vocabulary, but his VOICE. Qureshi’s journey was written and read by him as a solo project, whereas “Teammate” was a cooperative media savvy project with an established author, and the audiobook a reading by a professional voice actor. I realize Nabeel Qureshi’s compelling product is the exception that may have ruined me, but nonetheless, I found myself missing Grandpa Rossy’s voice in both the exaltation of victory and the accounting of challenges along the way. As the book is peppered with a journal that Rossy kept through the 2016 season, it would have been nice to have him at least read the journal sections.
The timeline of the book was a bit incommodious (in this case, I assume the decision would have been Don Yeager and/ or an editor). The narrative skips between the day of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, Ross’ 2016 journal, and a look back to his previous experiences in baseball. It’s a bit more orderly than stream of consciousness and it works for someone looking back on their life, but I found it wonky to follow. As most of the book is fluffy, entertaining listening, this was a minor annoyance that most likely would be eliminated by the formatting (style, font, etc) of a paper book.
Finally, I’m sure this last point is limited to the format of the audiobook. The chapter where Ross lays out his principles on being a good teammate contains quite a bit of depth that is given context by the biography shared prior. I listened to it, thinking about myself, my loved ones, etc several times. Analysis and incorporation of these principles would certainly be easier with a written text, and as such this might make a fun read/listen for a corporate team, or a high school/ college baseball team to read and discuss. If not purchasing a physical book, a typed copy of the principles would be helpful for those who are open to being impacted on a heart level.
Conclusion on the audiobook: I was content with the audiobook as a fun listen while my hands were occupied with working out or cooking; the voice actor is proficient and the production values are good (volume moderation, etc). However, if you want to go beyond reliving the Cubs magic, to analyzing Ross’ principles for being a good teammate, the paper copy, or having someone type the principles chapter, is a better way to go.
I should also note as pertains to the text: As is typical of a man book, some language (F-bombs and *hit) and crudity (I’m not sure I want my kid emulating Rizzo dancing around the locker room naked singing Rocky songs, bursting out in swear sown anger, and or even contemplating Ross’ “cock bump”, etc) made me hesitate to give this book to my kids – which was a shame. I’d love for them to hear from an older man about team success.
This is a book where I wish half star ratings were available. The Chicago Cubs 2016 storyline and all of it’s ephemeral glory is about 2 star enjoyable ovation for those who lived it and loved it. Ross’ ideas of how to contribute to a team when you aren’t the superstar is 3+ star material.
Audiobook/ Biography recommendation:
Seeking Jesus, Finding Allah, Qureshi, 2014
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Want more Cubs baseball? See…
The Cubs Way, Verducci, 2017
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Want more baseball biography? See...
Ty Cobb: A Terrible Beauty, Leerhsen, 2016
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The main question the book wrestles with is, “how to be a valuable teammate when you aren’t the most talented guy on the team?” Themes of respect, honesty, encouragement, happiness, camaraderie, and steadiness abound.
Ross’ story of a second/ third string catcher in Major League Baseball who got to play on two World Series champions and finished his career as a beloved rising star of the Chicago Cubs is a unique one, and Ross himself almost can’t believe it. In a business where the minutia of performance is measured, Ross was exceptional in lower levels of competition, but not MLB superstar calibre. Though the book bleeds with stats, and dates, and historical tie-ins typical of baseball, it’s not about Ross dominating in any category. Instead, Ross opens with a touching essay by Theo Epstein about the value Ross brought to the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox in 2013, and a conversation they had when Ross was cut from their team. It seems that Ross was a bit of an ass that got beyond his talent in Cincinnati and that made Boston hesitant to pick him up – but they were glad they did. This revelation lit a fire under Ross, causing him to realize he should focus on being a good teammate. But what does that look like?
Ross shares what he learned about being a teammate throughout his career, culminating in a meaty chapter of principles. Rossy’s resume sections include citations of men of strong character that impacted him and helped him grow. Growing as a man is the focus here – not batting stances. These lessons give the book a welcome deeper undercurrent than I expected when I picked it up. Discussions of his failures/ struggles/ feelings of inferiority compared to more talented players, family, experience with concussions and the times he thought his career was over are particularly poignant. Meanwhile, there was a noticeable silence about the difficult birth of Ross’ youngest child, Harper (during which both mother and baby were in jeopardy), while he was with the Cubs in 2015.
As is typical with people of elite fame, he copiously credits his friends and mentors, while cautiously sticking to stories that are already in the public arena. Readers should not anticipate Ross using the opportunity to call out enemies or air any grievances. For example, discussion of superstars Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant is noticably circumspect “In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Rizzo said…” while one assumes Jason Heyward and Jon Lester apparently were more comfortable with some additional details. Surely everything said here has been reviewed by the primary subjects. Aside from small insights into his own feelings about events at the time, Rossy doesn’t go beyond what is publicly known, though he does pull the information together into his experience effectively. The only information that was a revelation to me was that Rossy seems to be aspiring to coaching/ managing/ running a Major League Team and that Theo Epstein and company are optimistic about the prospect-- but that’s probably because I’m not ‘inside baseball.’ Readers should expect a polished view, given by someone who has learned to handle the media.
I encountered three challenges I think may be unique to listening to the work as an audiobook.
My first audiobook, “Seeking Jesus, Finding Allah,” also a memoir (though decidedly more personal), was powerfully voiced by it’s author, Nabeel Qureshi for the audiobook. I felt like Nabeel was there, speaking soul to soul, telling me his own story. Upon completion, I not only knew his background and vocabulary, but his VOICE. Qureshi’s journey was written and read by him as a solo project, whereas “Teammate” was a cooperative media savvy project with an established author, and the audiobook a reading by a professional voice actor. I realize Nabeel Qureshi’s compelling product is the exception that may have ruined me, but nonetheless, I found myself missing Grandpa Rossy’s voice in both the exaltation of victory and the accounting of challenges along the way. As the book is peppered with a journal that Rossy kept through the 2016 season, it would have been nice to have him at least read the journal sections.
The timeline of the book was a bit incommodious (in this case, I assume the decision would have been Don Yeager and/ or an editor). The narrative skips between the day of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, Ross’ 2016 journal, and a look back to his previous experiences in baseball. It’s a bit more orderly than stream of consciousness and it works for someone looking back on their life, but I found it wonky to follow. As most of the book is fluffy, entertaining listening, this was a minor annoyance that most likely would be eliminated by the formatting (style, font, etc) of a paper book.
Finally, I’m sure this last point is limited to the format of the audiobook. The chapter where Ross lays out his principles on being a good teammate contains quite a bit of depth that is given context by the biography shared prior. I listened to it, thinking about myself, my loved ones, etc several times. Analysis and incorporation of these principles would certainly be easier with a written text, and as such this might make a fun read/listen for a corporate team, or a high school/ college baseball team to read and discuss. If not purchasing a physical book, a typed copy of the principles would be helpful for those who are open to being impacted on a heart level.
Conclusion on the audiobook: I was content with the audiobook as a fun listen while my hands were occupied with working out or cooking; the voice actor is proficient and the production values are good (volume moderation, etc). However, if you want to go beyond reliving the Cubs magic, to analyzing Ross’ principles for being a good teammate, the paper copy, or having someone type the principles chapter, is a better way to go.
I should also note as pertains to the text: As is typical of a man book, some language (F-bombs and *hit) and crudity (I’m not sure I want my kid emulating Rizzo dancing around the locker room naked singing Rocky songs, bursting out in swear sown anger, and or even contemplating Ross’ “cock bump”, etc) made me hesitate to give this book to my kids – which was a shame. I’d love for them to hear from an older man about team success.
This is a book where I wish half star ratings were available. The Chicago Cubs 2016 storyline and all of it’s ephemeral glory is about 2 star enjoyable ovation for those who lived it and loved it. Ross’ ideas of how to contribute to a team when you aren’t the superstar is 3+ star material.
Audiobook/ Biography recommendation:
Seeking Jesus, Finding Allah, Qureshi, 2014
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Want more Cubs baseball? See…
The Cubs Way, Verducci, 2017
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Want more baseball biography? See...
Ty Cobb: A Terrible Beauty, Leerhsen, 2016
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews