In a serious tone that captures the significance of breaking the color barrier and with a flair for portraying quirky characters, narrator Leon Nixon guides listeners through the lives of four men who transformed the Cleveland Indians to win the World Series in 1948. Larry Doby was signed a few months after Jackie Robinson; then aging Negro Leagues legend Satchel Paige finally got a call. White manager Bill Veeck used gag prizes and fireworks to attract fans, and pitcher Bob Feller pioneered athletics marketing to the public. Doby's loneliness is clear in Nixon's performance as the frosty reception he received from teammates and his relegation to segregated hotel rooms are described. The nuances are perfect, both for the underdog story and the narration.
Pub Date: March 30, 2021
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250760029
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An enjoyable dive into a frigid world filled with warm hearts.
Ballard’s fascination with cold water swimming is contagious. Even if climbing into an ice bath, swimming in the ocean in the winter, or alternating a steaming sauna with freezing water doesn’t really appeal, the stories of the participants, including the author himself, are joyful and life-affirming. Ballard cites studies about the positive impacts of a brief cold dip on mood, inflammation, and resiliency (although he recommends undergoing an in-depth medical checkup before jumping in). He meets Lynne Cox, a giant in the worlds of both distance and polar swimming; Olympians; and regular people who just want to feel both alert and calm. Ballard becomes an enthusiastic member of this tight club, and his performance clearly exudes his affection for the others and their serious purpose.
An enjoyable dive into a frigid world filled with warm hearts.Pub Date: June 9, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 22 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668106754
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 8, 2026
A close examination that will resonate with baseball fans.
Sports aficionados, and baseball fans in particular, are well-versed in superstitions. Baird’s book analyzes those superstitions, lucky wins, and mysterious losses from both anecdotal and academic perspectives. Erin Moon narrates with an interested tone, occasionally changing her pitch for various portrayals. She’s an able guide to players who hold to a code of do’s and don’ts—Wade Boggs in particular adhered to a plethora of rituals both on and off the field. The question remains: Do the rituals and superstitions actually help? Moon keeps pace as the author, a New York Mets fan, crunches numbers and statistics as she delves into the topic.
A close examination that will resonate with baseball fans.Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 44 mins
DD ISBN: 9798318252822
Publisher: Spotify Audiobooks
Review Posted Online: tomorrow
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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