Ty and The Babe

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly

“Stanton’s story of the rivalry-turned-friendship of Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth is as splendid as a sunny spring day at the ballpark. … Stanton portrays them sympathetically as exceptionally talented men with complex flaws. Stanton’s writing is seamless, exploring the lives of both men but never lapsing into tedious detail.”

Jonathan Eig, author of Luckiest Man and Opening Day

“Ruth and Cobb come together as never before in this charming story of rivalry and friendship. Stanton, a keen story-teller, has written a book that surprises and delights.”

Leigh Montville, author of The Big Bam and Ted Williams

“The wardrobe mistress of baseball history seems to have assigned the white hat to Babe Ruth and the black hat to Ty Cobb for all time. … Now Tom Stanton comes along to rearrange the roles in his terrific new book… He takes off the hats and tells us about the real people. And it is all great fun.”

James Dodson, author of Final Rounds and Ben Hogan

 “Ty and The Babe had me hooked from the opening page, a thoroughly absorbing tale that has all the charm and elements of an unforgettable film … Tom Stanton has beautifully recreated the most romantic period of American sports, provided new and powerful insights into a pair of greatly misunderstood figures in Cobb and Ruth, and given baseball and golf fans everywhere something to cheer lustily about.”

Ernie Harwell, broadcasting legend

“Wonderful! Filled with tension, humor, and warmth. Tom Stanton vividly brings back to life two rival sports icons. It’s fantastic!”

Hank Aaron and the Home Run

That Changed America

Reader’s Digest

“An eye-opener.  Tom Stanton details the rivalries, the passions, the taunts and even threats on Aaron’s life that made that season so dramatic.”

Sports Illustrated

“Engaging...The real story here...is of the trials this wondrous player endured on the way to his big moment.”

Chicago Tribune

“Powerful...Baseball books rarely reach the heights of Stanton’s, as he takes a comprehensive look at the games and the mounting pressures—external and internal—that Aaron had to endure during his chase....Stanton’s excellent treatment leaves no doubt that Aaron’s steady distinction on the field, especially because of what was occurring off of it, should rank among baseball’s greatest individual accomplishments.”

Boston Herald

“A story that transcends baseball, an object lesson about a nation divided on the subject of race.”

Library Journal

“Stanton captures the embittering and, finally, uplifting sides of Aaron’s personal story...”

The Road to Cooperstown

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“The equivalent of a tall icy glass of homemade lemonade: direct, irresistible, bittersweet.”—

Richmond Times Dispatch

 “Stanton turns a phrase as deftly as Maz used to turn double plays for the Pirates.”

The Final Season

The Detroit News

“It’s splendid. No dad, son, or combination thereof should get through June without The Final Season.”

USA Today

“A moving portrayal of trying to hold on to the past while plunging into the future.”

Lawrence Ritter, author of The Glory of Their Times

“A beautiful gem of a book: tender, perceptive, compassionate, funny, and wise. I devoured it in one sitting and am still banging my tin cup on the dining room table wanting more.”

Bob Costas, broadcaster and author

“Those who don’t understand say baseball is only a game. Those who run and play it sometimes act as if it’s only a business. By now, maybe they’re right. But for a long time, something else was true. That something else is what Tom Stanton is getting at here.”