♦ The passing of Pirates Hall of Famer Bill Mazersoki makes tributes like this one — “Maz, You’re Up” from the Pittsburgh quarterly by Richard “Pete” Peterson — all the more poignant.
♦ From MLB.com: “As he recovered from a rare third ulnar collateral ligament surgery on his right elbow, Reds reliever Tejay Antone wrote a book that’s a combination autobiography and instructional titled “The Tommy John Protocol.” An editor has been hired, and Antone hopes the book releases this summer. Even though one event hasn’t actually happened yet, the book has a happy ending.”
♦ Also from MLB.com, this profile of Gerald Early, author of Play Harder: The Triumph of Black Baseball in America,” particularly appropriate as we wind down Black History Month.
♦ Also from MLB.com, this profile of Darryl Strawberry, whose new book, Another Life: Discovering the Healing Power of Purpose on My Long Journey from Player to Preacher,” written with Jerome Preisler, is due out in August.
♦ From The Japan News, this story about the Japanese version of Shohei Ohtani‘s new children’s book, Decoy Saves Opening Day.
♦ Sports Collectors Daily has a fun series, “Who Drew the Classic Topps Baseball Cartoons?” This is the fifth installment. Funny how you hardly ever think of how the cards are actually composed.
