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Ninety Percent Mental: An All-Star Player Turned Mental Skills Coach Reveals the Hidden Game of Baseball
Former Major League pitcher and mental skills coach for two of baseball's legendary franchises (the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants) Bob Tewksbury takes fans inside the psychology of baseball.
In Ninety Percent Mental, Bob Tewksbury shows readers a side of the game only he can provide, given his singular background as both a longtime MLB pitcher and a mental skills coach for two of the sport's most fabled franchises, the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants. Fans watching the game on television or even at the stadium don't have access to the mind games a pitcher must play in order to get through an at-bat, an inning, a game. Tewksbury explores the fascinating psychology behind baseball, such as how players use techniques of imagery, self-awareness, and strategic thinking to maximize performance, and how a pitcher's strategy changes throughout a game. He also offers an in-depth look into some of baseball's most monumental moments and intimate anecdotes from a "who's who" of the game, including legendary players who Tewksbury played with and against (such as Mark McGwire, Craig Biggio, and Greg Maddux), game-changing managers and executives (Joe Torre, Bruce Bochy, Brian Sabean), and current star players (Jon Lester, Anthony Rizzo, Andrew Miller, Rich Hill).
With Tewksbury's esoteric knowledge as a thinking-fan's player and his expertise as a "baseball whisperer", this entertaining book is perfect for any fan who wants to see the game in a way he or she has never seen it before. Ninety Percent Mental will deliver an unprecedented look at the mound games and mind games of Major League Baseball.
"Tewks and I were teammates when Tewks was ending his career with the Twins. I saw him use his mind to be successful on the mound. Years later, we were once again on the same team with the 2013 World Series champion Red Sox, and I again saw him use his mind--this time to help others. I know he helped us win, and I know this book can help anyone who reads it."―David Ortiz, 10-time All-Star, 3-time World Series champion, and New York Times bestselling author of Big Papi: My Story of Big Dreams and Big Hits; called "the most important player in Boston Red Sox history."
"I've known Bob Tewksbury for more than a quarter of a century, dating back to our five seasons together in St. Louis. He was one of the most thoughtful players I ever managed, approaching the craft of pitching like an artist. Bob became an All-Star not through physical gifts, but because he excelled on the mental side of a game that constantly challenges its players and their resilience. I have no doubt that Bob's readers will benefit from his insights on the importance of focus and preparation."―Joe Torre, Hall of Fame and Four-Time World Series Champion Manager, and Chief Baseball Officer, Major League Baseball
"Nobody I've come across in my almost 30 years in the game did more with his God-given talent than Tewks. His ability to control a baseball was freakish and he was tough. But more than that, he was always different. Not just an athlete, but a deep thinker, a good teammate and an even better friend. The Red Sox now get all of that as a resource for their entire roster, which in my mind is a distinct competitive advantage."―Joe Buck, lead play-by-play broadcaster, Fox Sports
"Tewksbury relied on control and guile, a testament to his ability to think and adjust. His intellect and devotion to helping others came with the credibility of knowing what it is like to stand on a major-league mound with three tiers of stands staring down on him. Few better understand that baseball is a human game, and humans are fragile beings."―Peter Gammons, Hall of Fame and J.G. Taylor Spink Award-winning baseball writer and MLB Network on-air analyst
In Ninety Percent Mental, Bob Tewksbury shows readers a side of the game only he can provide, given his singular background as both a longtime MLB pitcher and a mental skills coach for two of the sport's most fabled franchises, the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants. Fans watching the game on television or even at the stadium don't have access to the mind games a pitcher must play in order to get through an at-bat, an inning, a game. Tewksbury explores the fascinating psychology behind baseball, such as how players use techniques of imagery, self-awareness, and strategic thinking to maximize performance, and how a pitcher's strategy changes throughout a game. He also offers an in-depth look into some of baseball's most monumental moments and intimate anecdotes from a "who's who" of the game, including legendary players who Tewksbury played with and against (such as Mark McGwire, Craig Biggio, and Greg Maddux), game-changing managers and executives (Joe Torre, Bruce Bochy, Brian Sabean), and current star players (Jon Lester, Anthony Rizzo, Andrew Miller, Rich Hill).
With Tewksbury's esoteric knowledge as a thinking-fan's player and his expertise as a "baseball whisperer", this entertaining book is perfect for any fan who wants to see the game in a way he or she has never seen it before. Ninety Percent Mental will deliver an unprecedented look at the mound games and mind games of Major League Baseball.
"Tewks and I were teammates when Tewks was ending his career with the Twins. I saw him use his mind to be successful on the mound. Years later, we were once again on the same team with the 2013 World Series champion Red Sox, and I again saw him use his mind--this time to help others. I know he helped us win, and I know this book can help anyone who reads it."―David Ortiz, 10-time All-Star, 3-time World Series champion, and New York Times bestselling author of Big Papi: My Story of Big Dreams and Big Hits; called "the most important player in Boston Red Sox history."
"I've known Bob Tewksbury for more than a quarter of a century, dating back to our five seasons together in St. Louis. He was one of the most thoughtful players I ever managed, approaching the craft of pitching like an artist. Bob became an All-Star not through physical gifts, but because he excelled on the mental side of a game that constantly challenges its players and their resilience. I have no doubt that Bob's readers will benefit from his insights on the importance of focus and preparation."―Joe Torre, Hall of Fame and Four-Time World Series Champion Manager, and Chief Baseball Officer, Major League Baseball
"Nobody I've come across in my almost 30 years in the game did more with his God-given talent than Tewks. His ability to control a baseball was freakish and he was tough. But more than that, he was always different. Not just an athlete, but a deep thinker, a good teammate and an even better friend. The Red Sox now get all of that as a resource for their entire roster, which in my mind is a distinct competitive advantage."―Joe Buck, lead play-by-play broadcaster, Fox Sports
"Tewksbury relied on control and guile, a testament to his ability to think and adjust. His intellect and devotion to helping others came with the credibility of knowing what it is like to stand on a major-league mound with three tiers of stands staring down on him. Few better understand that baseball is a human game, and humans are fragile beings."―Peter Gammons, Hall of Fame and J.G. Taylor Spink Award-winning baseball writer and MLB Network on-air analyst
256 pages, Hardcover
Published March 20, 2018
128 people are currently reading
499 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
April 3, 2023
4 star rounded up to 5
'Baseball is 90 per cent mental. The other half is physical' according to Yogi
if that is so--I can give this 4 star book 5 stars for all it got me thinking about, as well as all it said about the mental side of a game I love.
I thought this book and The Arm by Jeff Passan are two of the best books about pitching in the majors that I have read.
Tewksbury knows of what he speaks having been in the majors and back and forth to the minors many times. While I was unfamiliar with his career I did enjoy hearing about the many ways his own mental skills impacted how he saw himself and how he played when on the mound. This former player knows a lot about how to build skills that could help in any difficult situations. To focus at the task at hand, slow down, breath and focus. So much of what can defeat us is more internal than external. Learning how to work around the difficult situations is within reach but takes work.
I loved what he had to say and did feel it had real value especially for pitchers who Tewksbury labeled, "the loneliest man in baseball". Being out on the mound when things are going wrong, especially with the game on the line, is something all pitchers have to learn to handle. The tools discussed in this book can be a help and a way to work toward a solution rather feel a victim.
This book is great for young players and the mental skills are valuable to anyone who finds their internal voice usually spouting negative thoughts and wish to find a way to a more positive approach.
'Baseball is 90 per cent mental. The other half is physical' according to Yogi
if that is so--I can give this 4 star book 5 stars for all it got me thinking about, as well as all it said about the mental side of a game I love.
I thought this book and The Arm by Jeff Passan are two of the best books about pitching in the majors that I have read.
Tewksbury knows of what he speaks having been in the majors and back and forth to the minors many times. While I was unfamiliar with his career I did enjoy hearing about the many ways his own mental skills impacted how he saw himself and how he played when on the mound. This former player knows a lot about how to build skills that could help in any difficult situations. To focus at the task at hand, slow down, breath and focus. So much of what can defeat us is more internal than external. Learning how to work around the difficult situations is within reach but takes work.
I loved what he had to say and did feel it had real value especially for pitchers who Tewksbury labeled, "the loneliest man in baseball". Being out on the mound when things are going wrong, especially with the game on the line, is something all pitchers have to learn to handle. The tools discussed in this book can be a help and a way to work toward a solution rather feel a victim.
This book is great for young players and the mental skills are valuable to anyone who finds their internal voice usually spouting negative thoughts and wish to find a way to a more positive approach.
August 23, 2018
One of the more popular quotes about baseball attributed to Yogi Berra was “Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical.” Today, many teams are paying attention to the first part of that statement as 22 of the 30 major league teams have a mental skills coach. Former All-Star pitcher Bob Tewksbury is one of those mental skills coaches, having held the position for the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants. This memoir, co-written with Scott Miller and narrated by Tewksbury, tells about not only his journey from pitcher to mental skills coach, but also some of the secrets he shares to players who come to him for help.
While he obtained the necessary education for holding a position in which he aids other people develop the proper mental attitudes and self-awareness needed to succeed, Tewksbury also shares stories from his own major league career. He was an all-star pitcher in 1993 and his description of his performance and his mental state during that performance was one of the best baseball stories shared in the book. He pitched for several teams, including the Cardinals, Yankess, Padres and Twins. He shares anecdotes about his time with each team, but not in strict chronological order. Instead, the baseball stories are those that are pertinent to the subject discussed in the chapter.
These subjects all cover various aspects that cover the mental game that players, especially pitchers, will encounter in every game, every road trip, and every season. Tewksbury even breaks down what goes through a pitcher’s head – his own experiences and those of pitchers he has coached such as Jon Lester, Andrew Miller and Rich Hill. He delves into what may cause negative thoughts to creep into a player’s mind such as fear. He uses the acronym “False Evidence As Reality” to describe when that player is fearing failure. Overcoming negative self-talk, using anchor statements to motivate one’s self and concentrating on one pitch at a time are all skills he uses. While these sound simple and basic, these have been overlooked so long that the game is finally catching up to Yogi’s observation.
This book is one that general baseball fans will enjoy, especially with the easy-to-understand language and the down-to-earth narration Tewksbury employs. It isn’t too technical for casual fans, nor is it too simple for more dedicated baseball lovers. If the reader is interested in the mental aspect of the game this book is for them.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
While he obtained the necessary education for holding a position in which he aids other people develop the proper mental attitudes and self-awareness needed to succeed, Tewksbury also shares stories from his own major league career. He was an all-star pitcher in 1993 and his description of his performance and his mental state during that performance was one of the best baseball stories shared in the book. He pitched for several teams, including the Cardinals, Yankess, Padres and Twins. He shares anecdotes about his time with each team, but not in strict chronological order. Instead, the baseball stories are those that are pertinent to the subject discussed in the chapter.
These subjects all cover various aspects that cover the mental game that players, especially pitchers, will encounter in every game, every road trip, and every season. Tewksbury even breaks down what goes through a pitcher’s head – his own experiences and those of pitchers he has coached such as Jon Lester, Andrew Miller and Rich Hill. He delves into what may cause negative thoughts to creep into a player’s mind such as fear. He uses the acronym “False Evidence As Reality” to describe when that player is fearing failure. Overcoming negative self-talk, using anchor statements to motivate one’s self and concentrating on one pitch at a time are all skills he uses. While these sound simple and basic, these have been overlooked so long that the game is finally catching up to Yogi’s observation.
This book is one that general baseball fans will enjoy, especially with the easy-to-understand language and the down-to-earth narration Tewksbury employs. It isn’t too technical for casual fans, nor is it too simple for more dedicated baseball lovers. If the reader is interested in the mental aspect of the game this book is for them.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
January 8, 2023
Scott Miller is a genius
March 19, 2019
While I love baseball and find this subject fascinating, I found the book to read like a brochure for Tewksbury's business more than a deep look into the subject matter, which was disappointing. It was an OK read, but instead of just lots of quotes expressing gratitude toward's Tewksbury's help, I'd prefer reading a more in depth profile of a single player's ups and downs and constant struggles while working with the mental aspect along with physical aspect of athletic performance.
Instead, struggles are noted briefly and then after the player listens to a 30-minute audio, he then throws a shutout. I'm exaggerating, but just a bit. The profiles are all relatively brief anecdotes and don't feel like true detailed case studies. Maybe it was hard to get permission to discuss a specific player's confidential insecurities and weaknesses in-depth. Or maybe he felt it would be too much for the reader. So, we're left with a hefty subject matter but treated in a pretty light manner.
Again, not terrible for those interested in this topic, but not as gripping and informative as I'd hoped.
Instead, struggles are noted briefly and then after the player listens to a 30-minute audio, he then throws a shutout. I'm exaggerating, but just a bit. The profiles are all relatively brief anecdotes and don't feel like true detailed case studies. Maybe it was hard to get permission to discuss a specific player's confidential insecurities and weaknesses in-depth. Or maybe he felt it would be too much for the reader. So, we're left with a hefty subject matter but treated in a pretty light manner.
Again, not terrible for those interested in this topic, but not as gripping and informative as I'd hoped.
November 8, 2018
Make no mistakes. This book is far more autobiographical than it leads on. If you're not a baseball fan, it likely will not intrigue you.
That said, Bob Tewksbury is a fascinating mental coach. The guy had to master the craft as a major league junkballer who made it to the All-Star Game.
I found gem after gem in his passages. Absolutely amazing stuff if you compete for a living. Highly recommended. So enjoyable
That said, Bob Tewksbury is a fascinating mental coach. The guy had to master the craft as a major league junkballer who made it to the All-Star Game.
I found gem after gem in his passages. Absolutely amazing stuff if you compete for a living. Highly recommended. So enjoyable
March 17, 2019
As a mental skills challenged (who isn’t?) amateur golfer I was impressed with Tewksbury’s mental skills therapy. Players buy into his ideas because of his credibility as a former big leaguer. Bob was seriously tough minded. Thirteen years in the bigs, 110-102 with a 3.92 ERA and the All Star team, all while wielding a 84 MPH fastball. HE WAS SENT DOWN SEVEN TIMES. No, he didn’t give up easy. Great stories, impressive guy.
July 26, 2021
I’m a baseball nerd, so I loved this. If you don’t want to hear about specific pitching instances from the early 90s, you might want to pass. For me, hearing the details of the mental battle (and how to win it) was gold
January 16, 2019
"Ninety Percent Mental" takes its title from the old Yogi Berra quip “Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.” Tewksbury (with baseball writer Scott Miller) makes a convincing case that Berra was right. It’s hard to imagine a better account than this one of the mental skills required to be a pitcher in the major leagues.
Tewksbury isn’t necessarily the guy you would figure to become one of the best thinkers about developing and instilling the perfect baseball mindset. A 19th-round draft pick in 1981, Tewksbury climbed the New York Yankees’ minor league system “rung by rung” before surfacing in the MLB in 1986. In all, in fact, Tewksbury was sent from the major leagues to the minors a total of seven times.
By the time he retired from playing in 1998, Tewksbury had played for the Cubs, Cardinals, Rangers, Padres and Twins as well. He was with the Cardinals for seven straight years in the middle of his career. Faced with shoulder and arm problems off and on, Tewksbury became known as a control pitcher. In 1992, he went 16-5 on the season with a 2.16 ERA.
One stat really jumps out: In 1993, Tewksbury came very close to ending the season with more wins than bases on balls allowed. He ended the season with 17 wins and 20 walks. Twenty walks all season.
What does that kind of focus require? That’s what Ninety Percent Mental, in deliciously granular detail, is all about. Tewksbury, who was in the vanguard of those who realized that it might be a good idea to help young players develop mental skills alongside their physical ones, came to the mental skills issue organically through observation and self-analysis and a burning desire to survive. Part memoir, "Ninety Percent Mental" grounds us in Tewksbury’s modest New Hampshire upbringing in a tense household full of financial stress and marital tensions.
A chance encounter with Og Mandino (The Greatest Salesman in the World) led Tewksbury to devour Mandino’s books and then also absorb the positive-thinking world of Norman Vincent Peale. Tewksbury was—a reader. Go figure. “Always, in the down moments, something consistently led me into those self-help sections. I had a strong, natural interest in the subject but, really, no resources for learning.”
Early in his career, Tewksbury incorporated breathing exercises and self-affirmations into his daily routines. “Three decades late, I believe today what I began to believe while listening to that tape all of those minor league locker-room floors. That my improved performance on the field that month happened from the inside out. The change—real, productive change—occurs in a person from the inside out.”
You’ll know if you are a true baseball fan if you enjoy the chapter titled “Perfect Game.” (I did.) This is a blow-by-blow, moment-by-moment deconstruction of one of Tewksbury’s games as a Cardinal against the Houston Astros on August 17, 1990. Tewksbury came into the game on a hot streak and got hotter that night, not giving up his first hit until the eighth inning. In “Pitch Perfect,” Tewksbury goes through every batter—a nearly 20-page recap. The chapter includes some keen insights on the nature of perfection in baseball (or any sport). “Perfectionists tend to have low self-confidence, making it difficult for them to cope when things don’t go as expected. And in search of gaining confidence, they practice more and more, which increases the risk of burnout. The constant striving for perfection creates high levels of anxiety, they worry more about what others think of them and they focus more on their failures than on their successes.”
Modest throughout, Tewksbury pays credit to those who came before him. He devotes an entire chapter to Joe Torre and Torre’s natural ability to connect with, and inspire, athletes. Tewksbury has worked with Anthony Rizzo, Jon Lester, and Andrew Miller (among many others). The individual ups and downs of those three players, particularly Lester, make for convincing testimony that success in baseball requires a keen sense of self and a keener sense of self control.
Looking for a step-by-step “how to”? Well, it’s here, but it’s embedded throughout the entire narrative. It’s about controlling what Tewksbury calls the ‘Little Man’ who tries to thwart your performance with negative thoughts and dark vibes. (The book is co-written with award-winning baseball columnist Scott Miller, who no doubt played a key role in the dramatic shape of the book and its colorful style). More than anything, "Ninety Percent Mental" makes you realize these are real human beings out there on the mound and that, like anything else in life, how you go about your work is every bit as important as your talent. Yes, baseball is ninety percent mental. At least.
Tewksbury isn’t necessarily the guy you would figure to become one of the best thinkers about developing and instilling the perfect baseball mindset. A 19th-round draft pick in 1981, Tewksbury climbed the New York Yankees’ minor league system “rung by rung” before surfacing in the MLB in 1986. In all, in fact, Tewksbury was sent from the major leagues to the minors a total of seven times.
By the time he retired from playing in 1998, Tewksbury had played for the Cubs, Cardinals, Rangers, Padres and Twins as well. He was with the Cardinals for seven straight years in the middle of his career. Faced with shoulder and arm problems off and on, Tewksbury became known as a control pitcher. In 1992, he went 16-5 on the season with a 2.16 ERA.
One stat really jumps out: In 1993, Tewksbury came very close to ending the season with more wins than bases on balls allowed. He ended the season with 17 wins and 20 walks. Twenty walks all season.
What does that kind of focus require? That’s what Ninety Percent Mental, in deliciously granular detail, is all about. Tewksbury, who was in the vanguard of those who realized that it might be a good idea to help young players develop mental skills alongside their physical ones, came to the mental skills issue organically through observation and self-analysis and a burning desire to survive. Part memoir, "Ninety Percent Mental" grounds us in Tewksbury’s modest New Hampshire upbringing in a tense household full of financial stress and marital tensions.
A chance encounter with Og Mandino (The Greatest Salesman in the World) led Tewksbury to devour Mandino’s books and then also absorb the positive-thinking world of Norman Vincent Peale. Tewksbury was—a reader. Go figure. “Always, in the down moments, something consistently led me into those self-help sections. I had a strong, natural interest in the subject but, really, no resources for learning.”
Early in his career, Tewksbury incorporated breathing exercises and self-affirmations into his daily routines. “Three decades late, I believe today what I began to believe while listening to that tape all of those minor league locker-room floors. That my improved performance on the field that month happened from the inside out. The change—real, productive change—occurs in a person from the inside out.”
You’ll know if you are a true baseball fan if you enjoy the chapter titled “Perfect Game.” (I did.) This is a blow-by-blow, moment-by-moment deconstruction of one of Tewksbury’s games as a Cardinal against the Houston Astros on August 17, 1990. Tewksbury came into the game on a hot streak and got hotter that night, not giving up his first hit until the eighth inning. In “Pitch Perfect,” Tewksbury goes through every batter—a nearly 20-page recap. The chapter includes some keen insights on the nature of perfection in baseball (or any sport). “Perfectionists tend to have low self-confidence, making it difficult for them to cope when things don’t go as expected. And in search of gaining confidence, they practice more and more, which increases the risk of burnout. The constant striving for perfection creates high levels of anxiety, they worry more about what others think of them and they focus more on their failures than on their successes.”
Modest throughout, Tewksbury pays credit to those who came before him. He devotes an entire chapter to Joe Torre and Torre’s natural ability to connect with, and inspire, athletes. Tewksbury has worked with Anthony Rizzo, Jon Lester, and Andrew Miller (among many others). The individual ups and downs of those three players, particularly Lester, make for convincing testimony that success in baseball requires a keen sense of self and a keener sense of self control.
Looking for a step-by-step “how to”? Well, it’s here, but it’s embedded throughout the entire narrative. It’s about controlling what Tewksbury calls the ‘Little Man’ who tries to thwart your performance with negative thoughts and dark vibes. (The book is co-written with award-winning baseball columnist Scott Miller, who no doubt played a key role in the dramatic shape of the book and its colorful style). More than anything, "Ninety Percent Mental" makes you realize these are real human beings out there on the mound and that, like anything else in life, how you go about your work is every bit as important as your talent. Yes, baseball is ninety percent mental. At least.
February 28, 2025
This book opened up my eyes so much, using the grind and mental challenge of baseball to do so. Bob Tewksbury was a fine pitcher in the majors and his approach to the game and life was a major reason why. But reading this really highlighted the different ways that players approach the game and Tewksbury has been a driving force for many of them. His analogy of having “anchors” in place for the mind during turbulent times opened up my eyes to the importance of grounding yourself. As Tewksbury writes, you’re like a boat in the water when you don’t have those anchors, going where the wind takes you. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.
December 30, 2023
More like a biography than anything, which is pretty cool and interesting until he retires and then it’s just a bunch of quotes from famous baseball players and coaches about how he impacted their lives. Which is also kinda cool at first but then it gets so repetitive the book turns into almost like a CV for the author. To add insult to injury it is also very light on the actual “mental skills” part. Clunker for sure
July 11, 2018
I was excited about this book from the moment my friend Scott Miller was working on it with Bob Tewksbury, and it didn't disappoint.
Scott and Bob do a great job of mixing the history of coaching mental skills in baseball with Bob's own career and with stories of players he has helped along the way. You can tell how influential Bob has been by the in-depth memories those players shared with Scott of their experiences working with Bob. Great stuff from Jon Lester, Anthony Rizzo and others.
Training the brain is still one of the new frontiers in the game. I'm also reading Zach Schonbron's brilliant book, The Performance Cortex, which deals with the scientific part of it. Tewksbury deals with the psychological part. Both are beginning to be better understood, and both will be even bigger parts of baseball and all sports in the future.
The nice thing about what Bob does and shares is that much of it is applicable to whatever you do, sports or non-sports. So in addition to enjoying the baseball stories, you can (rightly) tell yourself you're working on self-improvement, too!
Scott and Bob do a great job of mixing the history of coaching mental skills in baseball with Bob's own career and with stories of players he has helped along the way. You can tell how influential Bob has been by the in-depth memories those players shared with Scott of their experiences working with Bob. Great stuff from Jon Lester, Anthony Rizzo and others.
Training the brain is still one of the new frontiers in the game. I'm also reading Zach Schonbron's brilliant book, The Performance Cortex, which deals with the scientific part of it. Tewksbury deals with the psychological part. Both are beginning to be better understood, and both will be even bigger parts of baseball and all sports in the future.
The nice thing about what Bob does and shares is that much of it is applicable to whatever you do, sports or non-sports. So in addition to enjoying the baseball stories, you can (rightly) tell yourself you're working on self-improvement, too!
May 30, 2019
I really loved Tewsbury as a pitcher and even have a t-shirt with an Ozzie caricature drawn by him. I wanted to love this book. I didn't. Too many names and dates that aren't arranged chronologically and parts that just dragged. I love baseball and did find parts of this book amusing but over all, it was a solid meh.
October 15, 2018
This book's focus is on success in baseball by focusing on mental training, but the lessons and thought processes apply to any endeavor where performance is key, including life itself. In a nutshell, it's the power of positive thinking, but it's way more than that, including specific case studies and techniques to be able to benefit from the concepts in the book.
We have the obligatory tale of how the author arrived to his current point, which is fine and necessary. It's important to know where the author is coming from when he is dispensing life advice.
The book is kind of repetitive, which might be good for a book of this type, but some readers might be wishing for a Cliff Notes version after they finish. Repetition is actually one of the book's techniques.
One of the most interesting observations appears in the chapter "Nearly Perfect". Tewksbury talks about the key difference between those who strive for perfection and those who refuse to accept anything less. Basically, the striving is good, but the idea that anything less than perfection is "failure" is not good. A key paragraph:
"Perfectionists tend to have low self-confidence, making it difficult for them to cope when things don't go as expected. And in search of gaining confidence, they practice more and more, which increases the risk of burnout. The constant striving for perfection creates high levels of anxiety, they worry more about what others think of them, and they focus more on their failures than their successes. Also, they tend to make excuses for poor performance because they are unable to accept mistakes." (page 107)
This packs in a lot. By focusing on their failures, they set themselves up for further failure by planting the very thought in their head that they want to avoid. They can never achieve satisfaction except in fleeting moments, and that places a tremendous burden on their psyche. And they set up mental blocks to prevent their being able to objectively and dispassionately assess how they might improve going forward.
Another good thing about the book is the narrative of the present state of baseball in relation to the topic of the book, and how baseball got to this point. Tewks mentioned that 22 of the 30 teams have some sort of mental conditioning program. I'm curious as to who the 8 teams are who don't have such a program. I wonder if they are some of the perennial on-the-field also-rans. He doesn't say.
There is so much to baseball that casual fans don't know. I enjoyed his batter-by-batter recount of his near perfect game. It is a great description of the strategy and thought process that is an essential element of professional-quality baseball on a pitch-by-pitch and play-by-play basis.
I give the book 3 stars ("I liked it") for the topic, the stories, and the information conveyed, while recognizing that the book was repetitive and in multiple places was too self-congratulatory.
We have the obligatory tale of how the author arrived to his current point, which is fine and necessary. It's important to know where the author is coming from when he is dispensing life advice.
The book is kind of repetitive, which might be good for a book of this type, but some readers might be wishing for a Cliff Notes version after they finish. Repetition is actually one of the book's techniques.
One of the most interesting observations appears in the chapter "Nearly Perfect". Tewksbury talks about the key difference between those who strive for perfection and those who refuse to accept anything less. Basically, the striving is good, but the idea that anything less than perfection is "failure" is not good. A key paragraph:
"Perfectionists tend to have low self-confidence, making it difficult for them to cope when things don't go as expected. And in search of gaining confidence, they practice more and more, which increases the risk of burnout. The constant striving for perfection creates high levels of anxiety, they worry more about what others think of them, and they focus more on their failures than their successes. Also, they tend to make excuses for poor performance because they are unable to accept mistakes." (page 107)
This packs in a lot. By focusing on their failures, they set themselves up for further failure by planting the very thought in their head that they want to avoid. They can never achieve satisfaction except in fleeting moments, and that places a tremendous burden on their psyche. And they set up mental blocks to prevent their being able to objectively and dispassionately assess how they might improve going forward.
Another good thing about the book is the narrative of the present state of baseball in relation to the topic of the book, and how baseball got to this point. Tewks mentioned that 22 of the 30 teams have some sort of mental conditioning program. I'm curious as to who the 8 teams are who don't have such a program. I wonder if they are some of the perennial on-the-field also-rans. He doesn't say.
There is so much to baseball that casual fans don't know. I enjoyed his batter-by-batter recount of his near perfect game. It is a great description of the strategy and thought process that is an essential element of professional-quality baseball on a pitch-by-pitch and play-by-play basis.
I give the book 3 stars ("I liked it") for the topic, the stories, and the information conveyed, while recognizing that the book was repetitive and in multiple places was too self-congratulatory.
April 20, 2019
I've always been fascinated by the power of the mind. As someone who suffers from pretty strong anxiety at times, I can attest first-hand to what the mind can do (both for good and for ill) to the rest of the body. As such, I found Bob Tewksbury's little treatise here on the mental side of professional baseball to be a fascinating glimpse into harnessing the mind to compete at the highest levels.
Basically, the story here is that Tewksbury never quite had the physical "stuff" to really be considered a top-flight MLB pitcher. No blazing fastball or killer breaking ball. As such, he had to rely on mental calmness and his thinking skills in order to carve out a career, which he did quite successfully (an All Star appearance and 10+ year run in the majors). After retiring as a player, he continued to give back to the game by becoming a mental skills coach, where to this day he continues to mentor current players (guys like Jon Lester and Anthony Rizzo to name just a couple) in the ways of harnessing and controlling their mind/emotions.
What makes this book really unique is that Tewksbury's mental approach to pitching isn't necessarily about "out-smarting" batters. No, it is much more about calming one's own emotions in order to control the moment. Instead of letting the "little man", as he calls it (anxiety, pressure, worry, what have you), rear up and take up precious mental resources, he preaches calming exercises and coping mechanisms to keep one in mental control at all time.
It's always amazing to me that the sport of baseball can introduce so many factors into the equation, especially ones that have almost nothing to do with the immense physical talent it takes just to make it at the highest levels. That is exactly what "Ninety Percent Mental" does here, examining yet another "edge" that is out there for the taking for teams/players willing to embrace it. This is definitely worth a read from anyone who might be fascinated with the "nooks and crannies" of baseball.
Basically, the story here is that Tewksbury never quite had the physical "stuff" to really be considered a top-flight MLB pitcher. No blazing fastball or killer breaking ball. As such, he had to rely on mental calmness and his thinking skills in order to carve out a career, which he did quite successfully (an All Star appearance and 10+ year run in the majors). After retiring as a player, he continued to give back to the game by becoming a mental skills coach, where to this day he continues to mentor current players (guys like Jon Lester and Anthony Rizzo to name just a couple) in the ways of harnessing and controlling their mind/emotions.
What makes this book really unique is that Tewksbury's mental approach to pitching isn't necessarily about "out-smarting" batters. No, it is much more about calming one's own emotions in order to control the moment. Instead of letting the "little man", as he calls it (anxiety, pressure, worry, what have you), rear up and take up precious mental resources, he preaches calming exercises and coping mechanisms to keep one in mental control at all time.
It's always amazing to me that the sport of baseball can introduce so many factors into the equation, especially ones that have almost nothing to do with the immense physical talent it takes just to make it at the highest levels. That is exactly what "Ninety Percent Mental" does here, examining yet another "edge" that is out there for the taking for teams/players willing to embrace it. This is definitely worth a read from anyone who might be fascinated with the "nooks and crannies" of baseball.
December 29, 2018
This is a curiously constructed book purportedly by the primary author, but with inserted quotes by the secondary author that all rave about the primary author in the third person, so it seems a bit self-indulgent that way. The author makes some great points about the mental nature of the game, including how long it took baseball to accept that mental counseling was not the equivalent of seeing a shrink, nor was it an acceptance of mental defeat or illness.
Some sections require an obsessive love of the sport, such as what pitch to throw on various counts--pitch by pitch. There are some great baseball anecdotes scattered through the book, although it's mostly a self-help book about overcoming negative self-talk and changing it to positive.
The whole system is based on Ted Williams's mantra: "I'm Ted Freaking Williams, and I'm the best freaking hitter in baseball." But Tewksbury breaks it down into elementary practices, such as breathing between pitches (for either a pitcher or a batter) and absolutely clearing the mind of its automatic commentary on the previous pitch or play. The idea is to continually bring oneself into the present moment and get out of the reactive mind into the creative mind.
The book will be appreciated by die-hard fans of the game, but it will be too technical for the average fan. The system he articulates absolutely works for its practitioners, but is often poorly understood or dismissed by the average ballplayer. The fact that the author had a winning record almost his entire career with a fastball that only reached 86 mph is enough for anyone to consider reading this book.
Some sections require an obsessive love of the sport, such as what pitch to throw on various counts--pitch by pitch. There are some great baseball anecdotes scattered through the book, although it's mostly a self-help book about overcoming negative self-talk and changing it to positive.
The whole system is based on Ted Williams's mantra: "I'm Ted Freaking Williams, and I'm the best freaking hitter in baseball." But Tewksbury breaks it down into elementary practices, such as breathing between pitches (for either a pitcher or a batter) and absolutely clearing the mind of its automatic commentary on the previous pitch or play. The idea is to continually bring oneself into the present moment and get out of the reactive mind into the creative mind.
The book will be appreciated by die-hard fans of the game, but it will be too technical for the average fan. The system he articulates absolutely works for its practitioners, but is often poorly understood or dismissed by the average ballplayer. The fact that the author had a winning record almost his entire career with a fastball that only reached 86 mph is enough for anyone to consider reading this book.
January 8, 2021
Like everything in life, we are all our own worst critic... an insightful read about life within the competitive world of professional sport. This is for fans, readers, sport lovers, social workers, and for people wanting to understand mental health.
Bob Tewksbury takes us on a journey through the mental skills and psychological battles professionals face daily, and highlights how the MLB has only just started to recognise these issues. A renowned and loved professional baseball player, who has turned his passion into helping others. After retiring as a decorated MLB baseball star, Bob took his drive and went back to university and has qualified as a sports mental skills professional. He is one of the first in the field, and is implementing wonderful changes.
A book for everyone, as this is relatable to everyday life.
I would say, if you don’t know a great deal about baseball (nor do I) it can be difficult at pints to keep up.
Such an inspiring read....
Bob Tewksbury takes us on a journey through the mental skills and psychological battles professionals face daily, and highlights how the MLB has only just started to recognise these issues. A renowned and loved professional baseball player, who has turned his passion into helping others. After retiring as a decorated MLB baseball star, Bob took his drive and went back to university and has qualified as a sports mental skills professional. He is one of the first in the field, and is implementing wonderful changes.
A book for everyone, as this is relatable to everyday life.
I would say, if you don’t know a great deal about baseball (nor do I) it can be difficult at pints to keep up.
Such an inspiring read....
April 16, 2018
This is an excellent and quick read. Mr. Tewksbury talks about his struggles with staying positive during his baseball playing days, what he did about it, and how that propelled him to getting a degree in sports psychology from Boston University and going on to be a Mental Skills coach for the Boston Red Sox. Many of the players with whom he has since worked include their personal stories of success. We learn that being positive isn't just a decision, it's a practice. Mr Tewksbury shares that process by both detailed "how to" instructions and examples of how it has benefited various major league players. If you enjoy baseball, or just want some insight on how to have a more positive outlook with your own life, you will like this book.
February 24, 2020
I recognize that Bob is highly regarded in his field and I think he probably deserves this, but the book felt way too much like a sales pitch to me. If you love baseball I'm sure you will enjoy his book but I was looking to learn something new that would improve mental strategies. His book spent too much time talking about his failure and success as a pitcher and a mental coach and not enough about strategies to really be useful.
It was a regurgitation of strategies that have been in use for a very long time in the mental sports performance strategies and I didn't feel like it gave the proper details on how the strategies were used. Very vague. It could have been about 2 hours and given a more powerful presentation.
This book just was not for me.
It was a regurgitation of strategies that have been in use for a very long time in the mental sports performance strategies and I didn't feel like it gave the proper details on how the strategies were used. Very vague. It could have been about 2 hours and given a more powerful presentation.
This book just was not for me.
January 11, 2021
Going in, I knew baseball was a mental game. But reading it through Tewksbury’s dual lens as a player and mental skills coach is fascinating.
Tewksbury lends us vivid details of his own fascinating career while explaining the psychological tools All-Stars like Anthony Rizzo, Jon Lester and Andrew Miller used under his tutelage.
Throughout the 20th century, psychology and baseball were anathema to each other and didn’t mix. Managers used to tell players to stay away from the “headshrinks.” But as Tewskbury explains, pioneers like him have made it the standard in baseball today. It’s the secret sauce — working on mental skills like focus, breathing, goal-setting and visualization.
You won’t watch sports in the same way after reading this gem.
Tewksbury lends us vivid details of his own fascinating career while explaining the psychological tools All-Stars like Anthony Rizzo, Jon Lester and Andrew Miller used under his tutelage.
Throughout the 20th century, psychology and baseball were anathema to each other and didn’t mix. Managers used to tell players to stay away from the “headshrinks.” But as Tewskbury explains, pioneers like him have made it the standard in baseball today. It’s the secret sauce — working on mental skills like focus, breathing, goal-setting and visualization.
You won’t watch sports in the same way after reading this gem.
September 21, 2018
This a review of the Audible version of this book. This was an interesting account of the mental aspects of sports. Tewksbury is the narrator and does a decent job (not a great reader but better to hear him deliver the account). There are some very obvious over dubs that were annoying. The folksy pace is ok but not a compelling listen (I put it on hold while I engaged in a deep dive of fantasy football podcasts). I’m pretty well versed on sports psychology so I did not find a lot of new info. There is one sequence about a near no hitter that could have been boring but I found it fascinating. Overall a plus read (listen).
May 11, 2019
This book was more about Bob Tewksbury's career than a mental skills book. Tewksbury was at times self deprecating but also made sure that the reader knew that he played in the Cape Cod league and that the Alaska summer league is the top league for west coast players. This book was also quite repetitive and by the 67th page I was wondering when he was going to stop talking about himself and start talking about the mental skills needed to succeed in baseball. Never happened. As a varsity baseball coach, this book was a waste of time. Maybe I was hoping too much it would be a supplement to Ken Ravizza's books instead of a insight into how Tewksbury used the eephus on McGwire.
October 25, 2022
Well I picked this up hoping the boys would be interested in reading it with me, but alas they were not. I’m really interested in Colin and maybe Brennan reading chapter 8 from birdseed to mind food just talking about the development of sport psychology in the baseball game because I think that is a field that he might have an interest in. I’m gonna copy pages 184 through191 as it puts some things together but I think are meaningful and important. Hope to peak their interest it was good for me to read a different perspective and learn more about the game and pitching in particular.
April 27, 2021
I liked parts of this book 1/3 is a look into the life of a player working his way into the pros and the stresses it brings. Another 1/3 is about mental toughness and the process of working through the mental game in a way you can use this in baseball or just life, also great. The last 1/3 though felt like multiple personal advertisement for Tewksbury, mental coaching, and his system of working through it which became annoying.
January 9, 2026
This is one of my all-time favorite books about mental skills in sports, and I've read them all. The writing is easily accessible to anyone, and the personal stories are wonderful illustrations of how mental skills can impact performance. I may be biased because I'm in a baseball-oriented family, but I've read mental skills books focused on athletes and mental skills coaches across a variety of sports, and this one stands out.
September 3, 2018
If you want a good picture of how hard baseball really is read this book. It is immensely difficult and there is tons of pressure on a daily basis. I love the stories of tewks Jon Lester and Anthony rizzo who I did not know was originally drafted by the Red Sox. This is a good primer for improving your mental skills and playing to the best of your abilities.
August 3, 2024
Picked this book up in Cooperstown, NY at a free book stand (an appropriate place to find this gem). There were several helpful tips and insights in this book that can help a player. However, I thought there were a lot more references to his past and his career, where I was hoping for a bit more bullet point tricks. Still worth the read and fun for any baseball fan.
January 15, 2025
Great book with great messages about the game of baseball and the mental preparedness needed among youth athletes aiming to make it to the show. The combination of personal stories with real life inspirational and humorous interactions with other players, helps weave together a great book that emphasizes wellness and the real challenges in staying mentally driven!
November 14, 2018
I wasn't super engaged because it had more detail about his own career and less mental how-to than I expected. But I do feel comfortable giving this to a middle school aged kid of mine who is a baseball fan and an athlete, and I'm curious to hear his thoughts.
February 26, 2021
A good listen on Audible. Always interesting to hear what life in the pros is like. Tewksbury has sent all angles, from all-star to being sent to the minors several times. Good history of mental fitness training in baseball and piked up a few pointers myself.
May 15, 2023
This book was amazing! Really shows you how much of baseball is mental and not skill. My favorite book that I’ve read in a while. Highly recommend to any reader wanting to know how to get out of a slump or get into a better mental state at the plate. Would totally read again!
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