Baseball/Essays & Writings / A freewheeling memoir of baseball, journalism, and New York spanning over 50 years of America's pastime Before he'd covered dozens of World Series; before he'd written about countless hirings, firings, superstars, and scandals, Bill Madden was a cub reporter on one of his first assignments at Yankee Stadium—and manager Ralph Houk had just gone out of his way to spit tobacco juice all over Madden's shoes. "That's Ralph's way with rookie writers he doesn't recognize," came the explanation. "He doesn't mean anything by it."  So began a Hall of Fame scribe's career, as detailed in this clear-eyed memoir. With verve and candor, Madden reflects on five decades of triumphs, misadventures, and unforgettable characters.