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Juan Marichal

My Journey from the Dominican Republic to Cooperstown
by Juan with Lew Freedman Marichal
Juan Marichal: My Journey from the Dominican Republic to Cooperstown. MVP: Quayside. Oct. 2011. c.288p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780760340592. $25. SPORTS
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To look at the MLB career (1960–75) of Hall of Fame pitcher Marichal is to look at another era. Over the last decade, the most games a major league pitcher has completed in a season has been nine; Marichal had five seasons in which he completed over 20 games, peaking at 30 complete games in 1968. From 1990 to 2010, the most shutouts hurled in a season by a major league pitcher was five; Marichal had years with eight and ten shutouts. Playing before free agency, he spent 14 of his 16 big league seasons with the San Francisco Giants, and here he stays loyal to them.
VERDICT If Marichal can be seen as a throwback, so can his autobiography, written with sportswriter Freedman (Going Yard: The Everything Home Run Book). After a short preface to each chapter by Freedman, we have Marichal in his own words—conversational, staying clear of the current focus on sex, drugs, and dishing on teammates and opposing players; his perspective is refreshing, but because of it and the simplicity of the narrative, this book may be most appropriate for a young adult audience. Not a home run, but a solid hit.
Reviewed by Jim Burns, Jacksonville P.L., FL , Sep 01, 2011
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