Adam Grupper is a charming and entertaining narrator of this jaunt through Chicago Cubs history. The story spans more than a century--roughly from 1908 to 2016, the years between Cubs championships--but moves swiftly. It's less a comprehensive historical account than snapshots of different baseball eras. Grupper's resonant voice warrants full attention as he describes decades of hope, heartbreak, desolation, and, eventually, triumph. When author Rich Cohen becomes a more present voice in the narrative, Grupper shifts to a conversational tone that forges a personal connection with the listener. High praise to Grupper for also adding some laughs, especially with a hilarious impression of sportscaster Harry Caray and a full re-creation of 1983 manager Lee Elia's infamous profanity-laced tirade.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2017
Duration: 9 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781501969270
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
More books have been written about baseball than any other sport, and audiobooks such as this allow the genre to flourish. Former pitcher Ron Darling, now a broadcaster, had a distinguished career, primarily with the New York Mets. Darling has met just about everyone in the sport for nearly four decades and demonstrates his knowledge and connections with the anecdotes in this entertaining memoir. Narrator Malcolm Hillgartner's relaxed delivery sounds as though he is in the broadcast booth with Darling. Like most audio sports memoirs, this book succeeds because of the narrator's engaging style. Hillgartner recognizes that even the duller moments in baseball are bolstered by the legacies of so many who have played the game, and were fortunate to have crossed paths with the author.
Pub Date: April 2, 2019
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781721342457
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Willie Mays's baseball life was a long and rich one, worthy of multiple biographies. Known as a five-tool player--he could run, field, throw, hit, and hit for power--Mays enjoyed a long career. The tag-team narration here fits wonderfully: Larry Herron speaks in a serious and deep tone that is commanding, with appropriate doses of emotion. Julian McWilliams uses a higher voice for Mays who, in fact, does have a slightly high voice. Often, when people are quoted--like President Obama--imitations are used and fit seamlessly within the story. Off- and on-the-field anecdotes are interspersed with brief pieces of advice and mini-mantras from the baseball great.
Pub Date: May 12, 2020
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781250240231
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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