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prettypious's review
5.0
This was a great well written biography. I found it to be comprehensive, fair, and multifaceted. Rickey Henderson was an amazing man and player and I had not heard of him until this book was recommended to me and that’s a shame. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves baseball, biographies, or Black history/excellence
betanine's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
4.25
I enjoyed this biography. I’m used to biographies that clean up the story a bit. I’m sure there was some of that in this book, but it doesn’t shy away from the swear words.
The biography focuses mainly on Rickey’s life as it relates to sports. There are numerous stories from the games and the players he played with throughout his career. These are well told stories that put the action in context, not a retelling of the highlight reels.
As Rickey was a private person throughout his life, that is privacy is kept in this telling.
There is a point wherethe book addresses a lawsuit brought against Rickey by his stepsister alleging he raped her when they were teenagers, she being five years his junior, while he was high on cocaine. The case was dismissed on the basis of being beyond the statutes of limitation. No court verdict was made on guilt or innocence. The author gives an indication of what he believes in the story without saying unequivocally what did or didn’t happen.
I like that the book shows Rickey’s growth as a person over the years. I like the presentation of Rickey’s performances and stats to show why Rickey was an amazing baseball player from the start, even when people didn’t like his style and how they perceived him.
The book also addresses nuanced racism that black players in the 80s were subject to. It’s too simple to narrowly define racism to lynchings, Jim Crowe laws, and certain name calling. It’s a reminder to me to remember that all people deserve the same treatment, regardless of what stereotypes or rumors I hear about them.
Overall, I learned a lot about Rickey Henderson the player. I have a lot of respect for his competitiveness and refusal to conform to others expectations. I was already amazed by his game play, yet this book put it in context that shows me his play was legendary.
The biography focuses mainly on Rickey’s life as it relates to sports. There are numerous stories from the games and the players he played with throughout his career. These are well told stories that put the action in context, not a retelling of the highlight reels.
As Rickey was a private person throughout his life, that is privacy is kept in this telling.
There is a point where
I like that the book shows Rickey’s growth as a person over the years. I like the presentation of Rickey’s performances and stats to show why Rickey was an amazing baseball player from the start, even when people didn’t like his style and how they perceived him.
The book also addresses nuanced racism that black players in the 80s were subject to. It’s too simple to narrowly define racism to lynchings, Jim Crowe laws, and certain name calling. It’s a reminder to me to remember that all people deserve the same treatment, regardless of what stereotypes or rumors I hear about them.
Overall, I learned a lot about Rickey Henderson the player. I have a lot of respect for his competitiveness and refusal to conform to others expectations. I was already amazed by his game play, yet this book put it in context that shows me his play was legendary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Rape
duparker's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
4.5
What a story. I've seen documentary on Rickey and there are similar stories or there, but the way the author pulls everything together and weaves facts and fiction into one narrative is great. It's exactly what a sports book about a legend should feel like. Classy when it needs to be, dirty when it has to be and colorful at all times.
djbobthegirl's review
3.0
The first quarter was really excellent but it did get dense with baseball slang (that was never defined) and then you find out Rickey was accused of raping his little sister when she was a child.
Tfw your hero loses all your respect.
The author covered the information fairly but the rest of the book was just tainted after that and I couldn't give a crap anymore.
Tfw your hero loses all your respect.
The author covered the information fairly but the rest of the book was just tainted after that and I couldn't give a crap anymore.
jakewritesbooks's review
4.0
I've always been fascinated with Rickey Henderson, the player. A combination of speed and power made him the best leadoff hitter and stolen base champ in history. I always admired how instead of acting too proud to end his career with some hokey narrative, he kept playing independent ball, hoping to be signed.
I know less about Rickey the person aside from how he would occasionally refer to himself in the third person and how he was considered a malignant presence in the clubhouse.
I also assumed (correctly, as Howard Bryant points out in this book) that a lot of the negative attention Henderson received was due to racism. I remember reading Mike Lupica and William Goldman's accounting of the 1987 New York sports scene where they quote Henderson's teammates talking about how underrated he is, likely because he is Black.
Howard Bryant's book on his life and career pulls back enough of the curtain that I got a full picture of the complicated, complex, fascinating person that is Henderson. Large parts of the book genuinely surprised me, especially how Henderson and Billy Martin were so close. Martin was a notorious racist but he realized Henderson's talent and he nurtured it. The two of them apparently developed a bond.
All throughout, both Henderson and his career circle back to Oakland and I got a great picture of the bay area city and what Henderson's background was like.
So yes, all of this is good and worth reading but because Henderson barely participated, I still never got a full sense of the man. What was he like as a father? A boyfriend/husband? It's strongly implied he was unfaithful. I don't need Penthouse Letters but I'd like to know more about him than just his baseball story. He was guarded, which I understand and respect. I'm glad Howard Bryant isn't the jock sniffing hack that some are. But I still feel like I never got the full picture presented of the man.
Still, it's an excellent book about the man who revolutionized the sport forever and is only now getting his just recognition.
I know less about Rickey the person aside from how he would occasionally refer to himself in the third person and how he was considered a malignant presence in the clubhouse.
I also assumed (correctly, as Howard Bryant points out in this book) that a lot of the negative attention Henderson received was due to racism. I remember reading Mike Lupica and William Goldman's accounting of the 1987 New York sports scene where they quote Henderson's teammates talking about how underrated he is, likely because he is Black.
Howard Bryant's book on his life and career pulls back enough of the curtain that I got a full picture of the complicated, complex, fascinating person that is Henderson. Large parts of the book genuinely surprised me, especially how Henderson and Billy Martin were so close. Martin was a notorious racist but he realized Henderson's talent and he nurtured it. The two of them apparently developed a bond.
All throughout, both Henderson and his career circle back to Oakland and I got a great picture of the bay area city and what Henderson's background was like.
So yes, all of this is good and worth reading but because Henderson barely participated, I still never got a full sense of the man. What was he like as a father? A boyfriend/husband? It's strongly implied he was unfaithful. I don't need Penthouse Letters but I'd like to know more about him than just his baseball story. He was guarded, which I understand and respect. I'm glad Howard Bryant isn't the jock sniffing hack that some are. But I still feel like I never got the full picture presented of the man.
Still, it's an excellent book about the man who revolutionized the sport forever and is only now getting his just recognition.
thomasmagee_'s review
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
pamiverson's review
3.0
Howard Bryant does a great job of examining sports and race as a way for commentary on society. This book is mostly a biography of Rickey Henderson, an amazing baseball player – holds many career records as well as most stolen bases in a season. Also interesting to hear how “hot-dogging” is a racist concept; the number of great athletes in many sports who come from Oakland, CA; the relationship between manager (Billy Martin) and player. But would be better for a bigger baseball fan than me.
cook_memorial_public_library's review
5.0
A 2022 staff favorite recommended by Rob. Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Srickey%3A%20the%20life%20and%20legend%20Bryant__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold