The Babe Signed My Shoe

Hall-of-Fame broadcaster Harwell ( Tuned to Baseball ) is best known as the voice of the Detroit Tigers, for whom he worked for more than three decades before retiring in 1993. In this delightful reminiscence, he touches all the bases. He includes excerpts from his interviews with Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams as well as with sportswriter Fred Lieb, who knew Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb. He devotes a segment to peripheral personnel like clubhouse men, groundskeepers and traveling secretaries. He also presents anecdotes about such oddities as a minor league player who was traded for two barrels of oysters. Harwell doesn't ignore play on the diamond, arguing against the designated hitter rule and lamenting the increased length of games. The concluding chapters, a catchall for non-specific material, form the weakest part of an otherwise strong book. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour. (July)