Bottom of the Ninth

It's the last week of September 2009 and most MLB players know whether they will be playing in the post season. When I was watching the Tigers on television yesterday, I wondered what was missing on our current team which seems to lack the leadership of past teams. I recall the time I ran into into Sparky Anderson at Detroit Metro Airport and will always remember his comment about "Gibson being the next Mickey Mantle". I asked myself, what if we had Kirk Gibson on this team? I pulled out my copy of "Bottom of the Ninth" and as I browsed through a few chapters, I am reminded that it takes more than natural talent to succeed at the highest level. Kirk Gibson can remind us all about the passion and dedication it takes to be a successful gamer on any team. He would constantly challenge himself and his teammates, he wanted the ball hit to him, he wanted to be hitting in clutch situations. Gibby certainly could be obnoxious and had a big ego. But as this autobiography describes, he eventually matured and interestingly describes many insightful self-realizations along the way. This book includes an insightful look into the personal transformation of a small town kid beginning with his All-American football and baseball days at Michigan State to his decision to play professional baseball over football. I enjoyed his stories about "hardly being recruited" and then his his goals and efforts during the summer in preparing to enter college as a freshman that culminated in him being selected as a starter as a freshman. He relives his frustrations being injury prone his first few years in MLB. Who can forget the clutch homerun versus Goose Gossage in 1984. What a gamer he was. Everytime I read through this book, I have a better appreciation for the ups and downs of a professional baseball career. Bottom of the Ninth would also be good reading for any young high school athlete thinking of playing sports at the next level and the commitment and dedication it will take to be successful. Lots of great black and white pictures too!

That reader from Chicago has got to be kidding!! Besides GIBSON admits in his younger days he was very obnoxious so whats the big secret?? The book reads extremely well even if your not a GIBSON fan.The book also shows that with DRIVE and DETERMINATION you can be a success in almost anything!! A great book for youngsters to read!!!Remember GIBSON wasn't a natural gifted athlete at baseball he excelled because he would not give up!!I wish the TIGERS had a whole team of GIBSONS!!Think of what a great country we would have if we had more people with GIBSONS attitude and drive to not give in to the BEAST of defeat! ([email protected])

I found this to be an exceptional book. I personally am a big Kirk Gibson fan. I was able to learn alot about one of the most intense baseball players of the modern era. A great book for collectors or any sports fan in general

Is what the excited announcer on TV repeated after Gibby limped to the plate and banged the greatest homer in Game 1 World Series history. Gibby was obnoxious. He was cocky. But as he grew older, he became humble and even friendly. You can read about this epiphany in this book. Packed with great photos. For anyone who saw Gibby play football at MSU -- single handedly beating Michigan in 1978 -- or charge his way around the basepaths at Tiger Stadium, there has to be admiration. He hit more clutch homeruns than anyone. He was a competitor, a leader and a winner.

If anyone ever epitomized hard work, determination, and success through pure heart and determination, it was Kirk Gibson. This book speaks not only on the level of sports but on life. I'll never forget going to my first ballgame at age 5 with my dad in '84 and seeing Gibby smack that historic homer off Goose Gossage in game five of the World Series. I was sitting in the upper deck in right field at Tiger Stadium at the time, and the thrills of the crowd exploding in unison as the ball landed 6-7 rows next to me has always stuck in my mind! It will always rank as one of the most exciting moments in my life! This book will always serve as a memory of that day. Just me my dad and a World Series Title in tow. It's one worth treasuring. Nuf said