Willie Stargell: An Autobiography

Written just a year following his retirement from the Pittsburgh Pirates as a Hall of Fame player in 1982, this book caused quite a stir at the time of its first printing. Stargell gave honest criticism of teammate and fellow Bucco slugger Dave Parker on page 241 that Parker had "turned his back on me". Captain Willie was asked by Parker to stay around for a final season in '82 as a pinch-hitter/mentor, but was largely ignored by Parker. For Parker, who briefly considered taking uniform no. 8 in honor of Stargell when he departed as a free agent for Cincinnati in 1984, it was very biting criticism. But those comments overshadow an otherwise good book. Stargell talks about growing up poor, being abducted by an aunt who could not have her own children from the ages of 6 to 12, the strength of his mother, and his high school team at Encinal High in Oakland, CA which featured two other future major leaguers in Tommy Harper and Curt Motten. He talks about feeling the sting of racism for the first time in the major leagues, once being told at gunpoint in Roswell, NM that he would be shot dead if he played in that evening's game. He speaks of his great love of the city of Pittsburgh and his teammates, who he dedicates the book to at the end, listing every, and I mean every, player he ever shared a Pirates roster with. The perspective Stargell gives of the glory days in club history paints the warm feel of "The Family", perhaps the closest-knit team in baseball history. His recaps of the pennant race of 1978 and the Championship run of '79 will make you feel as if you are watching the games develop from the Pirates' dugout. You will relive the Bucs great years of the 1970's, when they finished in the first division of the NL East every year, winning six division titles and two World Championships. Stargell also talks about losing not only his close friend Roberto Clemente during that time, but Bob Moose as well. Willie Stargell was the leading home run hitter of the 1970's. The greatest living legend in Pirates history, no player in team history ever played on as many first place clubs in a Pittsburgh uniform. He was also one of the classiest men and great leaders in baseball history, and you will find that out for yourself when you read this fine book.