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Big Sexy: In His Own Words
From picking coffee in the Dominican Republic to reaching icon status as a Major League pitcher in America, here is the story of baseball’s most colorful player told in his own words
Bartolo Colón—also known as Big Sexy—is a baseball icon and one of the most beloved players to ever play the game. In a career spanning 21 years, Colón has won the Cy Young Award and won more games than any other Latin American–born pitcher. But more importantly, throughout his career, Big Sexy has captured the hearts of fans of the game as well as the stars he has played against. Colón plays the game the way it was meant to be.
In Big Sexy: The Life and Times of Bartolo Colón, he opens up as never before. The result is a touching and deeply personal story of a truly unique baseball life.
Bartolo Colón—also known as Big Sexy—is a baseball icon and one of the most beloved players to ever play the game. In a career spanning 21 years, Colón has won the Cy Young Award and won more games than any other Latin American–born pitcher. But more importantly, throughout his career, Big Sexy has captured the hearts of fans of the game as well as the stars he has played against. Colón plays the game the way it was meant to be.
In Big Sexy: The Life and Times of Bartolo Colón, he opens up as never before. The result is a touching and deeply personal story of a truly unique baseball life.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2020
9 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 22, 2020
I was curious about this book and was thrilled when I first picked it up noticing the layout, the font size, the approach. Bartolo has won more games than any DR pitcher ever...was liked by his peers...had several run-ins with the laws...steroids. He rose above this, hit that magical homer and was good for beisbol.
October 22, 2023
Bartolo Colon pitched in the major leagues for 21 years and won more games than any other Latin American player. Which surprised me, my first guess would have been Juan Marichal. Like so many other Latin players, he had fairly humble beginnings in the Dominican Republic. He grew up working on his father’s farm, doing the kind of physical labor that most people do on farms.
Despite his success on the mound, Colon played for 11 teams, winning the Cy Young award as the best pitcher in the American League in 2005. He was very much a product of his youth in the Dominican Republic and was considered “colorful.”
This is a first person account of his life, told in a series of snippets and not in chronological order. There are many quotes from the people that he interacted with during his major league career, from teammates to managers and coaches to opposing players to sportscasters. There are a few negative comments and those that are come across as rather tame.
Written as the level of the young adult, this is a book that is different from most of the sports memoir books. While Colon did have some difficulties as a player and as a person, there is none of the harsh backstabbing of teammates, opponents, umpires, and others around baseball that is so typical of the modern sports memoirs. While many will think it makes this book dull, in many ways it is quite refreshing. It is often frustrating to hear pampered millionaires complaining about their lives.
Despite his success on the mound, Colon played for 11 teams, winning the Cy Young award as the best pitcher in the American League in 2005. He was very much a product of his youth in the Dominican Republic and was considered “colorful.”
This is a first person account of his life, told in a series of snippets and not in chronological order. There are many quotes from the people that he interacted with during his major league career, from teammates to managers and coaches to opposing players to sportscasters. There are a few negative comments and those that are come across as rather tame.
Written as the level of the young adult, this is a book that is different from most of the sports memoir books. While Colon did have some difficulties as a player and as a person, there is none of the harsh backstabbing of teammates, opponents, umpires, and others around baseball that is so typical of the modern sports memoirs. While many will think it makes this book dull, in many ways it is quite refreshing. It is often frustrating to hear pampered millionaires complaining about their lives.
June 15, 2020
Over the past couple of seasons, Bartolo Colon has developed a bit of a cult following amongst baseball fans. While a solid MLB pitcher, his primary appeal has been his gregarious attitude, rotund figure, and ability to pitch well into his 40s. When I picked up this book, I was expected a biography of that crazy career. Instead, I received an oversized, huge-font, almost child-appealing tome.
I usually classify sports bios into two different categories: expose's and self-serving publications. Oddly, "Big Sexy" fits into neither category. Instead, it is basically Bartolo explaining his life and career in a very conversational tone. The English language is pretty shaky in spots, while the stories really have no connective tissue between them: just a series of non-sequiturs.
Basically, this seems like the kind of book that not a ton of thought/effort was put into from the publishing side of things. Instead of the thought being "let's create a great book that represents Colon's legacy within the game", it was instead "let's quick push something out to capitalize on his cult popularity at the moment". Because of that, there is very little editing or nuance to the project at all. A few good Colon stories are probably the only thing keeping this from being a one-star effort, in all honesty. Hopefully, someday a more comprehensive, well thought-out book will be constructed to more truly and accurately capture Colon's unique life and career. But "Big Sexy" simply isn't that book.
I usually classify sports bios into two different categories: expose's and self-serving publications. Oddly, "Big Sexy" fits into neither category. Instead, it is basically Bartolo explaining his life and career in a very conversational tone. The English language is pretty shaky in spots, while the stories really have no connective tissue between them: just a series of non-sequiturs.
Basically, this seems like the kind of book that not a ton of thought/effort was put into from the publishing side of things. Instead of the thought being "let's create a great book that represents Colon's legacy within the game", it was instead "let's quick push something out to capitalize on his cult popularity at the moment". Because of that, there is very little editing or nuance to the project at all. A few good Colon stories are probably the only thing keeping this from being a one-star effort, in all honesty. Hopefully, someday a more comprehensive, well thought-out book will be constructed to more truly and accurately capture Colon's unique life and career. But "Big Sexy" simply isn't that book.
July 7, 2025
Bartolo Colon, Big Sexy. I really enjoyed this easy and fast read about Bartolo Colon. I remember him pitching with Cleveland and then I remember him popping up with Oakland and being successful but baseball fans from all teams seemed to fall in love with Colon while he was with the Mets.
I enjoyed Colon's upbeat and happy attitude that endeared him to fans. I didn't know the struggles he went through with his shoulder. Colon is always appreciative of the teams that took a chance on him at different times in his career.
This book does not delve into the secret second family that was uncovered in 2016. This is a fun, easy, upbeat book.
I enjoyed Colon's upbeat and happy attitude that endeared him to fans. I didn't know the struggles he went through with his shoulder. Colon is always appreciative of the teams that took a chance on him at different times in his career.
This book does not delve into the secret second family that was uncovered in 2016. This is a fun, easy, upbeat book.
August 1, 2020
I consider this book Bartolo Colon Light. It is very short - only 208 pages, and even shorter because many pages have very large font. It gives a flavor, but rarely goes in depth. Some day, I hope Bartolo will write a more substantive book. I want to hear more baseball stories, and longer ones providing more details. I also want to learn more about his pitching approach, what it was like adjusting to the US, his thoughts on the DH and other aspects of baseball...
This book is good for middle schoolers and older, maybe even late elementary school. Vocabulary and sentence structure are simple.
This book is good for middle schoolers and older, maybe even late elementary school. Vocabulary and sentence structure are simple.
February 13, 2022
Okay book for younger readers
This memoir by Bartolo Colon could almost be described as a Cliff Notes version of his life and baseball career. He doesn’t go into great details on any one aspect or topic - the closest to,doing so is is lone home run as a hitter in 2015. That is my favorite “Big Sexy” moment, a question asked to many different people through the book. All in all, it’s a quick, fun read that feels like it is more geared for young readers than adults but is certainly worth the short amount of time it takes to finish.
This memoir by Bartolo Colon could almost be described as a Cliff Notes version of his life and baseball career. He doesn’t go into great details on any one aspect or topic - the closest to,doing so is is lone home run as a hitter in 2015. That is my favorite “Big Sexy” moment, a question asked to many different people through the book. All in all, it’s a quick, fun read that feels like it is more geared for young readers than adults but is certainly worth the short amount of time it takes to finish.
February 19, 2024
Bartolo Colon is an interesting guy with a baseball life story that reflects one that is consistent with his highly respected personal life, love for family and country. He pretty much operated above board during his career with a story that has no need for provocative asides or attacks on former teammates. Big Sexy is a quick read with plenty of baseball insight and a joy to read especially for us Cleveland baseball fans.
March 1, 2021
This was a very quick, fun, and easy read. Bartolo seems like a nice guy and told a good story. I liked the layout of the book. You can read it within a day or two. He really glossed over some big things in his life though. I can understand why he would not want to include it. "Big Sexy" is an enjoyable read overall. I always enjoyed watching him pitch.
June 3, 2025
Found this book through a recommendation by chatgpt. This was an enjoyable, easy, relaxing 3-star read. If you asked me when he retired I'd have guessed more recently, maybe 2021ish. and I'd have guessed that home run he hit was around that time as well. However he retired in 2018 and hit the home run in 2016. Time flies.
January 14, 2026
It was good, simple but good. There wasn’t much to it, it never went into any real depth, but he did mention his PED suspension, which I was wondering if he’d do or not. I almost felt like it was a version made for kids, maybe I should have looked at it a little closer, haha.
June 27, 2020
I was expecting a lot more from this book.
August 13, 2020
Simple, quick fun. Nothing to note here, flew by in an hour or so. Wish it went into more detail.
April 18, 2021
Not the best bio.... But it was a fun easy read none the less.
May 15, 2020
First off, the book LOOKS great! The cover reminds me of a baseball card. They spent a lot of time on design and layout. It works.
It is fun read with things I didnt know about Colon. It is quick read as well. You can get through it in one or two sittings.
It is good and engaging. Wish there was a little more about some of his, uh, off-the‐field exploits. But maybe that's what the unauthorized biography is for. 😂😂
It is fun read with things I didnt know about Colon. It is quick read as well. You can get through it in one or two sittings.
It is good and engaging. Wish there was a little more about some of his, uh, off-the‐field exploits. But maybe that's what the unauthorized biography is for. 😂😂
May 18, 2020
This was such an easy and fun read. It was great learning more about Bartolo and his life outside of baseball.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews