SPORTS & RECREATION

Gehrig and the Babe: The Friendship and the Feud

by Tony Castro
Triumph. Apr. 2018. 304p. bibliog. ISBN 9781629372518. $25.95; ebk. ISBN 9781641250047. SPORTS
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Journalist and sportswriter Castro (DiMag & Mick) looks at two of the most popular legends of baseball: Lou Gehrig (1903–41) and Babe Ruth (1895–1948). They were synonymous during the creation of the original Yankees dynasty, and many assume that they were friends both on and off the field. That may have been the case early on, but their drastically different personalities caused the relationship to deteriorate. In his latest work, Castro details the background of each man, including their upbringing and major influences in adulthood. The individual accounts of Gehrig and Ruth are compelling enough on their own; weaving them makes the successes more exciting and the tragedies more potent.
VERDICT A number of facts and elements of the story are repeated more than necessary, so the flow of the narrative sometimes feels disorganized. Still, this remains an intriguing read for baseball history buffs. Babe Ruth's early career off-field debauchery is not described explicitly but may make this title inappropriate for adolescent readers.
Reviewed by Matt Schirano, Univ. of Bridgeport Lib., CT , Apr 01, 2018
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