Pudge: The Biography of Carlton Fisk

Author Doug Wilson has scored another hit with his latest biography on Carlton Fisk. Fisk divided his 24 years behind the plate with both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox. What I especially enjoyed about the book is that it wasn't a year-by-year and play-by-play of games in which he took part. To me Fisk's two most memorable moments in his baseball career would be his historic home run in game six of the 1975 World Series and his chastising of opposing player Deon Sanders for not running out a pop fly ball. Any baseball fan would remember game six and where they were at the time but Fisk calling out Sanders for not respecting the game is very memorable to me as well. Pudge took part in more games behind the bat than any other catcher. However, in order to accomplish that fete he had to punish his body in the workout room even after catching a full game and for a neophyte like Sanders to disrespect the game was too much for Fisk even though it was a player on the opposing team.Fisk played more games for Chicago than for Boston and there was some question as to which hat he would wear on his Hall of Fame plaque since he left both teams under uncomfortable circumstances. Fisk initially chose Chicago since he played more games there but later changed his mind to Boston. Everyone has someone we especially remember in our field of work who influenced us the most and the choice for Fisk was batting coach Walt Hriniak.Whatever one's line of work we need to give our best effort and this book on Carlton Fisk makes good reading for young readers as well to emphasize the importance of respecting our line of work whether it be baseball or anything else. I have author Doug Wilson's books on Mark Fidrych and Brooks Robinson and his latest effort on Carlton Fisk is another important addition to my library.

carlton fisk has been my hero since he was on the red sox and this is a book that is beautifully written and shows me a part of carlton that i may have seen briefly or not all. it just flows through his life from a young boy.. what i loved was the quotes from others about him rather than a general "teammates thought he was xyz". the author would get actual press, red sox players and other teams to say what they thought and that gives great dimension to this book.i usually get bored with stats, dates, and all that stuff but it was presented so well i didn't mind. in fact he mostly contained them to the year in question and didn't have numerous references to 4 years ago etc where i feel i have to find the page about 4 yrs ago.my summer house in sunapee new hampshire is 2 or 3 towns over from charlestown and even though i am a new englander through and through (boston) people in the northwest N.H. area are tougher than we are in boston.from dealing with the sunapee people i found that they are fair, speak very little unless necessary, and don't laugh and smile a lot. my father taught me that you never give up, keep going until the job is done and give everything 150%. carlton fisk is a product of all that and more. what his father taught him served him his whole life.

Doug Wilson's account of Fisk's life is very well written, a definite page turner and a must for any baseball fan.Would have been a five star rating but for a huge omission concerning this interesting subject who lived his life according to a strict code of doing things right: there is not a word written about Fisk's DUI arrest in October 2012. For a man who supposedly would not drink to excess, how did he come to be passed out in his truck in the middle of a farm field in New Lenox, Illinois with a bottle of vodka in the front seat. Engine running. Pudge passed out. The mug shot was not very complimentary. This event was totally out of character for the Commander. What led to this? How did Pudge ever explain this episode to the court or community? This omission is the one flaw of this extraordinarily well written and researched biography. It is a major omission.

No writer had attempted a bio of Pudge despite his HOF credentials and the unique fact that he spent 24 years crouching behind major league home plates like a block of New Hampshire granite. Perhaps this is because he was perceived as being combative, stubborn, and aloof. Doug Wilson has accepted the challenge of humanizing Fisk with this book which was released on the 40th anniversary of his iconic game six World Series home run, and he certainly achieves his goal. Who would have imagained Fisk would find raising orchids a worthy passion after retirement? Carlton Fisk's character is shown to have been molded by his strict New England upbringing and his respect for the game at which he excelled. A similar affection for the game is obvious in Wilson's writing which is lively and throws in enough pop culture references and humorous puns to make the narrative move along rapidly. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves baseball and does not want to read about steroid use and police blotters.

Carlton Fisk has been my favorite baseball player since I first fell in love with the game and with the Chicago White Sox. I loved the way he hit, the way he handled pitchers, and his commanding presence on the field. (He was also quite good looking.) This book captures the essence of that commanding, dedicated, and devoted player I remember so well. It gave me an insight into his life before the White Sox and helped me relive some of his greatest moments with the White Sox, several of which I was able to see first hand. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Mr. Fisk, of either Sox team, or of baseball in general.

Book is well written and takes the reader from his childhood all the way to the end of his career. A true warrior and student of the game. I am not sure there will ever be someone catch again with the same hear and passion.

qualité prix excellent et rapide