March is National Reading Month, and with the excitement of the new baseball season less than a week away, there is no better way to celebrate than with a book about the Mets. But, with so many Mets books out there, which are the best ones to read?
Last week I presented my Top 5 books about the miraculous Mets 1986 World Championship season, and the week before that featured the Amazin’ Mets of 1969. This week it’s time to write about the players, managers, and more who comprised those teams, and more – the biographies of Mets personalities from over the years.
This was an especially tough one to reduce to 5 books. In the franchise’s 60-plus year existence, there has been a wild, varied, and ever-entertaining cast of characters. Most of these personalities have at least one book dedicated to them, often more. Some were written by authors, others by reporters, and some by the players themselves. As always, please keep in mind that this list is intended to initiate conversation and is not meant to be the end of a debate.
Before we get into the actual “Top 5” list, here are some honorable mentions that are certainly worth reading…
· House of Nails: A Memoir of Life on the Edge by Lenny Dykstra
· Still a Kid at Heart: My Life in Baseball and Beyond by Gary Carter & Phil Pepe
· Long Shot by Mike Piazza & Lonnie Wheeler
· The Last Miracle: My 18-Year Journey with the Amazin’ New York Mets by Ed Kranepool & Gary Kaschak
· Mookie: Life, Baseball, and the ’86 Mets by Mookie Wilson & Erik Sherman
· Doc: A Memoir by Dwight Gooden & Ellis Henican
· Straw: Finding My Way by Darryl Strawberry & John Strausbaugh
· The Complete Game: Reflections on Baseball, Pitching, and Life on the Mound by Ron Darling
· I’m Keith Hernandez by Keith Hernandez
· Gil Hodges: The Brooklyn Bums, the Miracle Mets, and the Extraordinary Life of a Baseball Legend by Tom Clavin & Danny Peary
And here are the Top 5...
Mets Biographies
5. Mr. Met: How a Sports-Mad Kid from Jersey Became Like Family to Generations of Big Leaguers by Jay Horwitz
Jay Horwitz has been a member of the Mets for almost 45 years, beginning in 1980 when he was named the team’s Director of Public Relations. If the walls at Shea Stadium and Citi Field could talk, they would sound just like Jay. In his decades with the Mets, he has not only seen the triumphs, failures, and everything in between, he’s been a part of them. This book is not only a collection of entertaining anecdotes and fascinating insights, it is a first-hand account of a dream-come-true experience by a lifelong Mets fan.
4. Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity, and the Perfect Knuckleball by R.A. Dickey & Wayne Coffey
Baseball player biographies often have a lofty air to them. Even the challenging moments that came with the players’ personal successes are moments that fans wish they could have experienced. R.A. Dickey’s autobiography, however, comes with a relatable vulnerability that’s as refreshing as it is sympathetic. Dickey gives as much space to his personal wins as he does to his losses, baseball and otherwise. His honest take on his experience is at times heartbreaking and inspiring.
3. Tom Seaver: A Terrific Life by Bill Madden
There are numerous books about Tom Seaver’s life, and considering he is known as “The Franchise” it’s fitting. Still, Bill Madden’s experience as a reporter first and then a friend of Tom Terrific gives the reader unique perspective and fascinating insight. Considered by many to be the best Mets player ever, Seaver’s story is about more than just athletic accomplishments, it’s about his mindful approach, his competitive nature, and his intensity. Madden’s delivers these tales about Seaver in an enjoyable storytelling manner that keep this book a joy to read from beginning to end.
2. The Captain: A Memoir by David Wright & Anthony DiComo
David Wright’s story as a career-long member of the New York Mets is somehow a simultaneous celebration of what was and a curiosity for what could have been. His book, however, focuses mostly on an appreciation of his experience. Throughout his injury-shortened career, Wright was a feel-good player who seemed to embody optimism, even during challenging times. His autobiography captures this feeling as well, as he relays a variety of stories of the early 21st Century Mets with admirable humility.
1. Gil Hodges: A Hall of Fame Life by Mort Zachter
Gil Hodges is often described with the words: heroic, dignified, and humble. Mort Zachter’s book backs up these adjectives with stories from Hodges’ experience as player with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and later as the manager of the Washington Senators and then the Mets. Throughout it all, Zachter showcases Hodges’ integrity, intensity, dry humor, and leadership. Through interviews with people from all walks of his life, Zachter paints a portrait of an inspirational hall of famer that Hodges was off the field as well as on.
When putting this list together, it was strange to me that the era I feel most connected to (1986) were most of what made up the honorable mention list. Maybe it’s because it’s the time period I already knew the most about. That said, any one of those books could have easily made the Top 5, and I recommend them all.
As for the list itself – all people who impacted Mets history in profoundly different ways, each with a unique and riveting story.
Which Mets biographies would make your list? Please leave your thoughts in the comments.