Gehrig and the Babe

April 1, 2018

Journalist and sportswriter Castro (DiMag & Mick) looks at two of the most popular legends of baseball: Lou Gehrig (1903-41) and Babe Ruth (1895-1948). They were synonymous during the creation of the original Yankees dynasty, and many assume that they were friends both on and off the field. That may have been the case early on, but their drastically different personalities caused the relationship to deteriorate. In his latest work, Castro details the background of each man, including their upbringing and major influences in adulthood. The individual accounts of Gehrig and Ruth are compelling enough on their own; weaving them makes the successes more exciting and the tragedies more potent. VERDICT A number of facts and elements of the story are repeated more than necessary, so the flow of the narrative sometimes feels disorganized. Still, this remains an intriguing read for baseball history buffs. Babe Ruth's early career off-field debauchery is not described explicitly but may make this title inappropriate for adolescent readers.--Matt Schirano, Univ. of Bridgeport Lib., CT

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2018
Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth are as intertwined as any two characters in baseball history. They were the best players on the best team, the New York Yankees, as baseball cemented itself as the national pastime. Gehrig was quiet and unassuming; Ruth was loud, self-aggrandizing, and a voracious consumer of liquor, women, and food. For a while, as veteran journalist Castro details in this revealing account, it was a great friendship. Ruth took the younger Gehrig under his wing, and Gehrig's home (he lived with his parents for much of his career) became a haven for Ruth, who was an orphan. (Lou's domineering mother loved to feed Ruth, who was especially fond of her pickled eels.) But then something happened, and Ruth and Gehrig spoke only when necessary for the rest of their lives. Castro explores a number of possible sources for the falling out, including the possibility that Gehrig's wife had once been intimate with Ruth before her marriage. This is a very kind exploration of a little-known aspect of the relationship between two of the most iconic players in baseball history.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)