Casey Stengel

It's always interesting to hear an author read his or her own book because it's not a given that writing well translates to narrating well. But Marty Appel does a fine job here, knowing every nook, cranny, and nuance of baseball legend Casey Stengel's personality, voice, and life. Appel's narration is animated but never campy as he delivers the story of "The Old Professor" whose career spanned decades with assorted teams as a player and manager. Stengel was a character, to be sure, and this audiobook describes his noteworthy moments in the sport while showing who he was off the diamond as well. Juliet Papa clearly portrays Edna, Stengel's wife, whose unpublished manuscripts are sourced here. M.B. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine