Baseball Book Report Countdown #2 - The Last Boy

It was a tough choice, but this one was a close runner up in at number 2:

The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood - Jane Leavy

It took a couple attempts to get through this book, but I'm glad a persevered through the slow, humble beginnings of the Mick's life in rural Oklahoma. Author Jane Leavy juxtapositions an uncomfortable interview with Mantle in the early 80's Atlantic City with his tragic journey through baseball, family life, alcoholism, recovery and the liver failure that led to his death.

Before reading this book, I didn't know too much about Mickey Mantle other than he was a hall of famer and an alcoholic. This really provided a lot of insight into how one misstep in the outfield helped to push him down the dark spiral of alcohol and drugs.

Also of note, Jane Leavy confirms that the following letter is real...