Of Mikes and Men: A Lifetime of Braves Baseball

If you are a Baseball fan as I am you will enjoy this book. I am a big Brave's fan so I really loved Pete's book.

There was nothing better than watching the Braves on TBS back in the day. What made it even better was the fact that the Braves had the best broadcasters in the business. There was Skip and Joe and then there was Pete and Don. I can close my eyes and hear any number of Skip's famous calls, Joe's jokes, Don's perfect analysis, and Pete's crazy statistics that no one else knew. In this book, Pete relives all of those memories. This is a great read from one of baseball's most dedicated voices of all time.

When veteran Braves baseball announcer Pete "The Professor" Van Wieren retired from broadcasting in 2008, ending a 33-year-run with the Braves, fans mourned his departure from the game. But now, with OF MIKES AND MEN, co-written with former AJC baseball beat reporter Jack Wilkinson, fans can revisit the gory and the glory of Braves baseball, including that historic 1991 "Worst to First" season. Van Wieren's memory is sharp, and Wilkinson's account is faithful and well-written. A must read for anybody who loves baseball behind the scenes.

Reading this book is like cracking open a Heineken at the hotel lobby bar with Pete and hearing one of baseball's great storytellers share some of his best. Whether it's his anecdote about Dale Murphy walking down the aisle on a team charter headed to the 1982 NLCS, reminding each teammate what he contributed to get there to the origin of the Tomahawk Chop, and the moment when David Justice had to step out of the batter's box in 1991 just to take it all in, Pete gives you an insider's look at Braves history through the eyes of someone who lived it and loved it. He reminds you why you love baseball, and why you are so attached to the Braves. His stories will make you laugh out loud, feel the chills all over again, and in some cases, the heartache. Jack Wilkinson is effortless in his writing, letting Pete's voice, once said to be as familiar as an old pair of slippers, shine through. You'll enjoy this like you enjoyed listening to Pete on the radio because it's like he's talking just to you.

Having been a fan of Peter Van Wieren's "Diamond Notes" for the Atlanta Braves and his play by play style, his autobiography provides insight into his world of sports broadcasting and the remarkable downs and ups of the Atlanta Braves during a significant portion of his 33 year career. Reading his book co-authored with Jack Wilkinson, one of Atlanta's finest sports writers, the reader can hear his voice again as he recounts life in the booth working with and reporting about rather remarkable characters on and off the field. By no means a tell all book other than some tough personal history, the book reflects his love for the game, the people in it and his dedication to truthfully telling the story of what is happening on the field. Braves' fans will love the book as a chance to reconnect with a favorite voice and remember amazing moments of Braves history, both sublime and ridiculous, while also reading a revealing history of the personalities and economics of sports programming as Ted Turner changed sports media through TBS.