Baseball's great expectations: candid stories of ballplayers who didn't live up to the hype

This is not a book about failure. While the subtitle intimates defaulted promise, these are actually stories of players who, through some combination of happenstance or injury or simply poor timing, did not rise to their lofty scouting reports. The living players Montgomery profiles center their love of the game over regret as they look back on their careers, with most still being involved with the game today. In interviewing his subjects specifically about how they've navigated the hype that didn't translate to success, Montgomery is able to expand beyond just the stats on the backs of their trading cards. In a standout chapter, Montgomery recounts the story of Brian Cole, who was being touted as an era-defining talent but died following a car accident just as his career was beginning. The memories collected from Cole's family and teammates provide an especially affecting profile, representing that most tragic example of a life and career cut cruelly short. While there are plenty of what-if ponderings, positing how a player would have impacted the game if the baseball gods had had different plans, it's Montgomery's journalistic eye for distilling the humanity behind the unfulfilled athletic potential that makes this a real home run.

In baseball, even the greatest batters hit the ball safely only three out of every 10 times. For pitchers, it is equally hard to excel; perfecting the mechanics is as important as the mental aspects of the position. Baseball historian Montgomery (The Baseball Miracle of the Splendid 6) devotes this book to long-ago and recent players who were touted by scouts and media as the next superstars. With an insider's verve, Montgomery discusses how, for various reasons, certain phenoms didn't live up to the hype. In some cases, it was the fault of organizational mismanagement; with others, it was mere bad luck. With some athletes--Gregg Jefferies and Ben Grieve, for example--it could be argued that they had successful and lengthy careers. Their results, however, did not match the attention they received. Via interviews with former players and their scouts, agents, and families, the book reveals baseball's stories and what-ifs. It includes stories of heartbreak that are akin to unrequited love; the majority of these players put their souls into the game only to have the sport repel their best efforts. VERDICT A fascinating exploration of the unfulfilled dreams of pro baseball players. Will appeal to fans of the sport.--Brian Renvall

*Starred Review* This is not a book about failure. While the subtitle intimates defaulted promise, these are actually stories of players who, through some combination of happenstance or injury or simply poor timing, did not rise to their lofty scouting reports. The living players Montgomery profiles center their love of the game over regret as they look back on their careers, with most still being involved with the game today. In interviewing his subjects specifically about how they've navigated the hype that didn't translate to success, Montgomery is able to expand beyond just the stats on the backs of their trading cards. In a standout chapter, Montgomery recounts the story of Brian Cole, who was being touted as an era-defining talent but died following a car accident just as his career was beginning. The memories collected from Cole's family and teammates provide an especially affecting profile, representing that most tragic example of a life and career cut cruelly short. While there are plenty of what-if ponderings, positing how a player would have impacted the game if the baseball gods had had different plans, it's Montgomery's journalistic eye for distilling the humanity behind the unfulfilled athletic potential that makes this a real home run. Copyright 2024 Booklist Reviews.

In baseball, even the greatest batters hit the ball safely only three out of every 10 times. For pitchers, it is equally hard to excel; perfecting the mechanics is as important as the mental aspects of the position. Baseball historian Montgomery (The Baseball Miracle of the Splendid 6) devotes this book to long-ago and recent players who were touted by scouts and media as the next superstars. With an insider's verve, Montgomery discusses how, for various reasons, certain phenoms didn't live up to the hype. In some cases, it was the fault of organizational mismanagement; with others, it was mere bad luck. With some athletes—Gregg Jefferies and Ben Grieve, for example—it could be argued that they had successful and lengthy careers. Their results, however, did not match the attention they received. Via interviews with former players and their scouts, agents, and families, the book reveals baseball's stories and what-ifs. It includes stories of heartbreak that are akin to unrequited love; the majority of these players put their souls into the game only to have the sport repel their best efforts. VERDICT A fascinating exploration of the unfulfilled dreams of pro baseball players. Will appeal to fans of the sport.—Brian Renvall