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Beating about the Bushes
Beating About the Bushes allows the reader to ride the emotional wave of my eight year professional career starting with the realization at age 12, I was the big fish in the small pond .
274 pages, Paperback
First published December 11, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 2, 2022
I struggled with reading for two reasons. One is that I know very little about baseball so I was baffled by the statistics and language at times. Also, Sommer jumps around a lot as he is writing and at times it was hard to follow when he switched time periods and stories. Still it was interesting to read someone's experience in minor league baseball in a time of great change. Also, my dad is mentioned in this book which is the coolest thing about having read it.
August 19, 2015
I come from a family that loves baseball. Our extended family would always play baseball when we got together at my grandparent’s farm for Easter, Mother’s Day and other holidays. All 18 grandchildren played and most of their 8 children and we loved it.
I grew up outside Baltimore and so my team was always the Orioles. We joined the Junior Orioles and went to many games. If not there we would watch the games on tv when they were on but mostly listened to Chuck Thompson’s play by play on the radio. I also have gone to quite a few minor league games in the Orioles farm system: Frederick Keys and DelMarVa Shore Birds.
That is why I couldn’t wait to read Tim Sommer’s book about his 8 year professional career with the Baltimore Orioles organization. I was not disappointed. He gives many details in his time as a pitcher from 1963 through 1970. He rubbed shoulders with many great Orioles who I grew up watching such as Jim Palmer, who he would have pitching contests to see who threw faster, Cal Ripken, Sr., who was his manager and took a real interest in his players, Frank Robinson and Earl Weaver who would work hard to get the players that would work best on his team.
There were other Oriole players, not as famous to those outside Baltimore but who I remembered such as Curt Blefary and Don Baylor. Hearing stories about some of your childhood heroes was fun and sometimes disappointing as you heard some not so flattering stories.
Sommer gives an inside look to life on the road with the minor leagues during a time that it was definitely more about loving the game then making money though he stood up for himself to increase his pay. You also hear the stories during the 60’s of the civil rights movement and how that affected the minor leagues when they did have black players who could not do the same things as the white players. He addresses some of the drug and alcohol issues too, without being sensational.
The book is divided into short chapters and is an easy read though several times I wanted the transitions to be smoother. Sommer is a good storyteller and whether you know the players or not you will enjoy learning about them. If you like stories and especially if you are sports lover you will enjoy this book.
I grew up outside Baltimore and so my team was always the Orioles. We joined the Junior Orioles and went to many games. If not there we would watch the games on tv when they were on but mostly listened to Chuck Thompson’s play by play on the radio. I also have gone to quite a few minor league games in the Orioles farm system: Frederick Keys and DelMarVa Shore Birds.
That is why I couldn’t wait to read Tim Sommer’s book about his 8 year professional career with the Baltimore Orioles organization. I was not disappointed. He gives many details in his time as a pitcher from 1963 through 1970. He rubbed shoulders with many great Orioles who I grew up watching such as Jim Palmer, who he would have pitching contests to see who threw faster, Cal Ripken, Sr., who was his manager and took a real interest in his players, Frank Robinson and Earl Weaver who would work hard to get the players that would work best on his team.
There were other Oriole players, not as famous to those outside Baltimore but who I remembered such as Curt Blefary and Don Baylor. Hearing stories about some of your childhood heroes was fun and sometimes disappointing as you heard some not so flattering stories.
Sommer gives an inside look to life on the road with the minor leagues during a time that it was definitely more about loving the game then making money though he stood up for himself to increase his pay. You also hear the stories during the 60’s of the civil rights movement and how that affected the minor leagues when they did have black players who could not do the same things as the white players. He addresses some of the drug and alcohol issues too, without being sensational.
The book is divided into short chapters and is an easy read though several times I wanted the transitions to be smoother. Sommer is a good storyteller and whether you know the players or not you will enjoy learning about them. If you like stories and especially if you are sports lover you will enjoy this book.
January 14, 2021
A good, folksy, reminiscence of a different time in baseball. It is sort of like sitting around hearing stories of the experience of playing/succeeding in the minor leagues of the 1960's. The struggles, from structural to financial to personal, are well told. Also the eternal optimism of getting to the majors and yet being thwarted due to some issues out of one's control is vivid. Worth the read! Truth in advertising: I am named in the book and it held a special appeal to (finally) hear the baseball journey of a friend since the sixth grade with little knowledge of what went on for him after our Knothole League days and then his heading for Ohio University. Thanks.
July 23, 2022
The author desperately needed a ghostwriter or, at the very least, an editor. The most poorly written book I've ever read. Too bad, since he seemed to have some great stories to share. Oh well, they can't all be gems.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews