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Starting and Closing: Perseverance, Faith, and One More Year
John Smoltz was one of the greatest Major League pitchers of the late twentieth / early twenty-first century—one of only two in baseball history ever to achieve twenty wins and fifty saves in single seasons—and now he shares the candid, no-holds-barred story of his life, his career, and the game he loves in Starting and Closing.
A Cy Young Award-winner, future Baseball Hall of Famer, and currently a broadcaster for his former team, the Atlanta Braves, Smoltz delivers a powerful memoir with the kind of fascinating insight into game that made Moneyball a runaway bestseller, plus a heartfelt and truly inspiring faith and religious conviction, similar to what illuminates each page of Tim Tebow’s smash hit memoir, Through My Eyes.
A Cy Young Award-winner, future Baseball Hall of Famer, and currently a broadcaster for his former team, the Atlanta Braves, Smoltz delivers a powerful memoir with the kind of fascinating insight into game that made Moneyball a runaway bestseller, plus a heartfelt and truly inspiring faith and religious conviction, similar to what illuminates each page of Tim Tebow’s smash hit memoir, Through My Eyes.
293 pages, Hardcover
First published May 8, 2012
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212 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 9, 2012
I grew up a die-hard Atlanta Braves fan. Though I don't follow the game nearly as much as I used to (I used to record the team's stats and maintain a binder for a few years -- I was very serious!), I am still a Braves fan at heart. I've long been a fan of John Smoltz, as well. I had the good fortune to interview him in the Braves dugout for a summer project I worked on in 2002, the summer after my junior year at The College of William & Mary. (The project was a statistical analysis of the Braves current ballpark, Turner Field, versus their old stomping grounds at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium -- taking a look at whether or not Turner Field was more of a pitcher's park and AFC Stadium was a hitter's park, which were the reputations each field had gained. The long and short of it, there was no statistical difference between the two parks despite obvious opinions and impressions that the two stadiums were completely different parks with respect to how they "played.")
My project aside, the one thing I came away with from my interview with Smoltz (and a few other players and coaches) was what a genuinely nice guy he was -- willing to take the time to answer my questions honestly and fully. It was an experience I'll never forget. So, when I learned that Smoltz had co-authored a book documenting his final year in the Major Leagues, I was anxious to get my hands on it, both from a personal standpoint and with the thought that it would be a departure from my usual reviews. (Not to mention that both my husband and my dad will likely enjoy reading this book.)
Starting and Closing proved to be a very interesting read. And though I admitted yesterday it was slow going for me (compared to when I read fictional works), that certainly doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy this book. Smoltz's personality really shines through the pages of this autobiographical account. It's his voice you hear, evidenced much by the colloquial writing and heartfelt sentiments throughout. Until reading his story, I wasn't really aware that he was a "born again Christian" or that his faith played such a strong role in his life and his baseball career. By the end of the book, I had a new perspective on Smoltz and it was fun to see a more personal side, beyond the man on the pitcher's mound.
While this book does chronicle Smoltz's comeback after shoulder surgery and his perseverance to play one more year, he sprinkles in many stories of his boyhood growing up in Michigan and dreaming to play for the Detroit Tigers, not to mention the years he spent pitching with one of the best rotations in baseball in Atlanta. Though I was already aware of his tendency to be a bit of a prankster and joke around, reading his accounts of some of the pranks he'd pulled, along with other Braves pitchers, made for an often funny read. The book isn't all fun and games, though. Smoltz also chronicles difficulties with injuries throughout his career, challenges he faced with the Braves' upper management, and some personal life struggles along the way.
Starting and Closing really is a genuine look at one of baseball's best pitchers through his own eyes. If you're a sports fan or just a baseball fan -- even if you're not a fan of the Braves -- I think you'd enjoy picking up this book. It's a quick, easy read (unless you have a difficult history with nonfiction like some of us and even then, I got through it relatively quickly) that offers not only a closer look at Smoltz, but some of the other guys he played with throughout his career.
My project aside, the one thing I came away with from my interview with Smoltz (and a few other players and coaches) was what a genuinely nice guy he was -- willing to take the time to answer my questions honestly and fully. It was an experience I'll never forget. So, when I learned that Smoltz had co-authored a book documenting his final year in the Major Leagues, I was anxious to get my hands on it, both from a personal standpoint and with the thought that it would be a departure from my usual reviews. (Not to mention that both my husband and my dad will likely enjoy reading this book.)
Starting and Closing proved to be a very interesting read. And though I admitted yesterday it was slow going for me (compared to when I read fictional works), that certainly doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy this book. Smoltz's personality really shines through the pages of this autobiographical account. It's his voice you hear, evidenced much by the colloquial writing and heartfelt sentiments throughout. Until reading his story, I wasn't really aware that he was a "born again Christian" or that his faith played such a strong role in his life and his baseball career. By the end of the book, I had a new perspective on Smoltz and it was fun to see a more personal side, beyond the man on the pitcher's mound.
While this book does chronicle Smoltz's comeback after shoulder surgery and his perseverance to play one more year, he sprinkles in many stories of his boyhood growing up in Michigan and dreaming to play for the Detroit Tigers, not to mention the years he spent pitching with one of the best rotations in baseball in Atlanta. Though I was already aware of his tendency to be a bit of a prankster and joke around, reading his accounts of some of the pranks he'd pulled, along with other Braves pitchers, made for an often funny read. The book isn't all fun and games, though. Smoltz also chronicles difficulties with injuries throughout his career, challenges he faced with the Braves' upper management, and some personal life struggles along the way.
Starting and Closing really is a genuine look at one of baseball's best pitchers through his own eyes. If you're a sports fan or just a baseball fan -- even if you're not a fan of the Braves -- I think you'd enjoy picking up this book. It's a quick, easy read (unless you have a difficult history with nonfiction like some of us and even then, I got through it relatively quickly) that offers not only a closer look at Smoltz, but some of the other guys he played with throughout his career.
April 22, 2014
At first I thought it was kind of boring, but then I realized that I only held that opinion because I was accustomed to reading gripping biographies of Christian martyrs like Dietrich Beonhoffer and Corrie Ten-Boom. If you imagine John Smoltz just relaxing in your living room after eating a good dinner telling you his life story, it becomes an enjoyable read.
November 3, 2013
Enjoyed the background to these important years in Braves history and Major League Baseball history. Very insightful autobiography.
May 15, 2012
John Smoltz is one of the best pitchers to ever play major league baseball. For over twenty years he pitched for the Atlanta Braves, chosen eight times for the All-Star team and winning the Cy Young Award for best pitcher in 1996.
He pitched in the starting rotation for fourteen years when an injury caused him to move to the bullpen and become a relief pitcher. After three years in the bullpen, he asked to rejoin the starting rotation. Many people, particularly in the sports media, asked him why he did this. His response: Why not?
Smoltz begins the book with three things people need to know about him:
1. All he ever wanted to do was win
2. He's not afraid to fail
3. He never did anything in his baseball career just to set a record, or to be able to say that no one else has done what he has done
Smoltz lived in Michigan, and his grandfather worked at the Detroit Tigers stadium. Young John grew up going to Tigers games, and he loved the Tigers. He was thrilled to be drafted by his hometown Tigers to play baseball, and disappointed when they soon traded him to the Atlanta Braves.
His disappointed turned to happiness when he realized that the Braves were willing to work with him, that they valued their young players and worked hard to make him a successful pitcher. (The Braves are known for their excellent farm system.)
Injuries plagued Smoltz throughout his career, and he pushed his body through the pain, hoping to avoid Tommy John surgery, which could end his baseball career. He eventually had the surgery, but with his amazing work ethic, he began a grueling rehab program and came back to pitch again, although as a closer.
As a person who worked best with a steady routine, Smoltz found it difficult to get used to the unpredictability of being a reliever. As a starter, he knew which day he would pitch, so his mind was set. He could play his favorite hobby, golf, on his off-days. He said that "by going to the bullpen, I sacrificed two things that really helped me tick; knowing what was coming and feeling like I was in control."
Besides baseball, two other things motivated Smoltz: golf and being a born-again Christian. He described the moment he knew that his relationship with God had to change, and how his life changed for the better because of it. He soon became a popular speaker at 'baseball church' gatherings, and later founded a Christian school in an Atlanta suburb.
Now that he is retired, Smoltz has set his sights on joining the Champions Tour in golf , and Tiger Woods has said that publicly that Smoltz is the best amateur golfer he has seen. Smoltz frequently played golf with his pitching teammates, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux, and you can feel the joy on the pages where describes their bonding over golf.
Smoltz was not re-signed by the Braves after twenty years, and he joined the Boston Red Sox for a final season. He describes the sadness he felt at leaving the team he helped to bring to 14 post-season playoffs, although with only one World Series title. I found his analysis of the toll that pitching in so many consecutive post-seasons took interesting, and I have to say it never occurred to me how damaging it could be.
Boston was a disaster, and Smoltz was happy to be picked by up the St. Louis Cardinals after the Red Sox released him halfway through the season. He was happy to be able to contribute to the Cardinals playoff run, but wistfully says that he wished he could have ended his career in Atlanta.
Starting & Closing is not your typical sports memoir; Smoltz really concentrates on his last season, sprinkling little parts of his life throughout. You get a real feel for what makes this intriguing man tick, why he was so successful in baseball although plagued with injuries, and how his changed relationship with God made him a better man and a better pitcher.
He pitched in the starting rotation for fourteen years when an injury caused him to move to the bullpen and become a relief pitcher. After three years in the bullpen, he asked to rejoin the starting rotation. Many people, particularly in the sports media, asked him why he did this. His response: Why not?
Smoltz begins the book with three things people need to know about him:
1. All he ever wanted to do was win
2. He's not afraid to fail
3. He never did anything in his baseball career just to set a record, or to be able to say that no one else has done what he has done
Smoltz lived in Michigan, and his grandfather worked at the Detroit Tigers stadium. Young John grew up going to Tigers games, and he loved the Tigers. He was thrilled to be drafted by his hometown Tigers to play baseball, and disappointed when they soon traded him to the Atlanta Braves.
His disappointed turned to happiness when he realized that the Braves were willing to work with him, that they valued their young players and worked hard to make him a successful pitcher. (The Braves are known for their excellent farm system.)
Injuries plagued Smoltz throughout his career, and he pushed his body through the pain, hoping to avoid Tommy John surgery, which could end his baseball career. He eventually had the surgery, but with his amazing work ethic, he began a grueling rehab program and came back to pitch again, although as a closer.
As a person who worked best with a steady routine, Smoltz found it difficult to get used to the unpredictability of being a reliever. As a starter, he knew which day he would pitch, so his mind was set. He could play his favorite hobby, golf, on his off-days. He said that "by going to the bullpen, I sacrificed two things that really helped me tick; knowing what was coming and feeling like I was in control."
Besides baseball, two other things motivated Smoltz: golf and being a born-again Christian. He described the moment he knew that his relationship with God had to change, and how his life changed for the better because of it. He soon became a popular speaker at 'baseball church' gatherings, and later founded a Christian school in an Atlanta suburb.
Now that he is retired, Smoltz has set his sights on joining the Champions Tour in golf , and Tiger Woods has said that publicly that Smoltz is the best amateur golfer he has seen. Smoltz frequently played golf with his pitching teammates, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux, and you can feel the joy on the pages where describes their bonding over golf.
Smoltz was not re-signed by the Braves after twenty years, and he joined the Boston Red Sox for a final season. He describes the sadness he felt at leaving the team he helped to bring to 14 post-season playoffs, although with only one World Series title. I found his analysis of the toll that pitching in so many consecutive post-seasons took interesting, and I have to say it never occurred to me how damaging it could be.
Boston was a disaster, and Smoltz was happy to be picked by up the St. Louis Cardinals after the Red Sox released him halfway through the season. He was happy to be able to contribute to the Cardinals playoff run, but wistfully says that he wished he could have ended his career in Atlanta.
Starting & Closing is not your typical sports memoir; Smoltz really concentrates on his last season, sprinkling little parts of his life throughout. You get a real feel for what makes this intriguing man tick, why he was so successful in baseball although plagued with injuries, and how his changed relationship with God made him a better man and a better pitcher.
July 4, 2012
I'll admit to being a bit biased on this review. The Atlanta Braves are my favorite team in any sport, and John Smoltz is my all-time favorite Brave, so I doubt that there would have been any way for me to NOT like this book. For those who may not know, Smoltz was one of the key figures in the Braves' rise from 1980s doormats to 1990s contenders. He is one of only 15 pitchers with 3,000 + career strikeouts (and the only Brave on that list), has 15 career postseason wins, and is the only pitcher in Major League history with both 200 career wins and 150 career saves. In short, he is a future Hall of Famer.
With that aside, this book is notably different from a lot of the other sports biographies/autobiographies I have read. Interesting, he focuses his book on what would appear to be one of the lowest points of his career, a 2008 shoulder surgery that threatened his career (as it was, he pitched one more year after that, but was only a shadow of his former self). He uses that as a springboard for the book's true message, which is the importance of faith and perserverance under adversity. Since retiring from baseball, Smoltz has worked as a sportscaster and a motivational speaker, and this book is a product of the latter. He highlights his Christian faith, the importance of challenging oneself and goal setting, and how seemingly negative events can strengthen us and eventually lead to opportunities later.
For non-baseball fans, this is a fairly accessible book. There are some "basic" baseball statistics thrown in, such as won-loss records and earned run averages (ERA), but not so extensively as to distract from the books overall message. For baseball fans like myself, it's actually refreshing to read a sports bio that has a slightly different focus. Definitely worth taking the time to read.
With that aside, this book is notably different from a lot of the other sports biographies/autobiographies I have read. Interesting, he focuses his book on what would appear to be one of the lowest points of his career, a 2008 shoulder surgery that threatened his career (as it was, he pitched one more year after that, but was only a shadow of his former self). He uses that as a springboard for the book's true message, which is the importance of faith and perserverance under adversity. Since retiring from baseball, Smoltz has worked as a sportscaster and a motivational speaker, and this book is a product of the latter. He highlights his Christian faith, the importance of challenging oneself and goal setting, and how seemingly negative events can strengthen us and eventually lead to opportunities later.
For non-baseball fans, this is a fairly accessible book. There are some "basic" baseball statistics thrown in, such as won-loss records and earned run averages (ERA), but not so extensively as to distract from the books overall message. For baseball fans like myself, it's actually refreshing to read a sports bio that has a slightly different focus. Definitely worth taking the time to read.
March 1, 2012
Every year when Spring Training comes around I find my self reading a baseball book. So this year when I found out that John Smoltz would be coming to my store to do a book signing and I was able to acquire an advanced copy I thought I had another baseball book I could enjoy. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. This book just didn't do it for me. First of all, as a dedicated and life time fan of the Mets, I'm going to have a certain animosity toward anyone involved with the Braves. But as a fan of baseball in general, I tried to get past that,and be impartial with my review. But something else also wound up prejudicing my view of this book. And that would be the book I read immediately before this one. I'm still blown away by all the incredible adversities faced by Former Olympic runner Louie Zamperini as depicted in the book "Unbroken". And after reading about Zamperini's adversities it really bothered me just how many times Smoltz used the word adversity. Sorry John, but whining about your sore shoulder, elbow, or thumb in comparison with Zamperini's being shot from a B-24 bomber, spending 47 days with no food or water on a raft in the Pacific Ocean only to finally be picked up by the Japanese and spend another two years being starved and tortured in a POW camp just doesn't match up with your sore thumb. I respect what you did on the field and admire all the charity work you've done for the people of Atlanta, but your story just didn't move me .
April 19, 2013
Let me preface my review by stating that I'm a huge Braves fan and a huge John Smoltz fan. In the '90s when he, Glavine, and Maddux were part of the rotation, I listened to them on the radio all the time, especially in September when the season would be winding down and we'd be in our huge crunch time at work.
Reading Smoltz account of his time with the Braves, his disaster with the Red Sox and finally ending with the Cardinals, it felt as if he were actually telling me, about it. Because of his broadcast career in the later years I could actually hear his voice as I read.
From his tales of starting as a Detroit Tigers fan, his faith, his lack of respect for the Braves front of office, and how/why games go the way they do ... thoroughly enjoyed the reading. Wish Smoltzy all the best in his future endeavors be it golf, broadcasting or something else.
Reading Smoltz account of his time with the Braves, his disaster with the Red Sox and finally ending with the Cardinals, it felt as if he were actually telling me, about it. Because of his broadcast career in the later years I could actually hear his voice as I read.
From his tales of starting as a Detroit Tigers fan, his faith, his lack of respect for the Braves front of office, and how/why games go the way they do ... thoroughly enjoyed the reading. Wish Smoltzy all the best in his future endeavors be it golf, broadcasting or something else.
November 8, 2012
"Staring and Closing" is insightful and motivational, with some fun anecdotes from both John Smoltz' playing career and his post-career (starting a private school, public speaking, and broadcasting). I enjoyed getting to know Smoltz and found him quite transparent. I also appreciated his boldness in sharing his Christian faith in a simple but powerful way. It really is a terrific peek into his motivations and how he turns challenges -- even failure -- into the fuel for success. Some Braves fans may be disappointed that this isn't an in-depth season-by-season account of the golden era of Atlanta baseball - it does touch on the highlights - but is mainly a book of overcoming adversity and starting a new chapter. My rating is closer to 3.5 stars than 4.
January 9, 2014
This was one of the best books I read, even for not being a book reader myself. The fact that he always wants to go out and help his team win games inspired me to go out and help others with anything. This book also taught me that no matter what happens, always have a mindset that you can do it. I also realized that if you make mistakes, move on with the knowledge to prevent that mistake. A man from one of my favorite teams was nearly at a career ending injury, but he came back, even though the odds were against him. Even though his last season didn't happen to be with the Braves, he still tried his hardest to win, even if the results were less than satisfactory. Overall, this book had an impact on my views towards how I should do things, and I would recommend this book to lots of people.
August 17, 2012
Growing up in a Braves family (for example -- I have lots of memories of watching the Braves on TBS; my great-aunt had a photo of Maddux in her family pictures!) I grabbed this book when I saw it at my local public library. I was able to follow along with the baseball (particularly the Braves part!) but the rest of his baseball career was interesting as well.
The entire book talks alot about what he overcame to do what he wanted to do. It was very inspiring!
The entire book talks alot about what he overcame to do what he wanted to do. It was very inspiring!
May 18, 2012
I am a huge Braves fan, but I think this book is for everyone. It reads just like Smoltz is talking to you. He talks about his internal drive and refusing to fail through his many surgeries and comebacks. He talks about his faith in a non-preachy way. Many of his points apply to challenges that we all face.
June 10, 2012
I am a die hard Braves fan but have stopped watching in the last few years when all of my favs retired/went to other teams.. I enjoyed reading this book by Smoltz, esp the parts about the joking around!
June 7, 2013
You don't have to be a baseball fan to read John Smoltz's book. I've been a fan of his, and the Braves, for a long time but learning personal things about him just intensified my respect for him as a man as well as an athleete. If you are a fan, you'll love the book.
May 10, 2015
HOFer
Precedent. Stoltz takes the reader through out his career in MLB. The highest highs of winning a world championship and the surgeries that took him to his lowest lows. Good read.
Precedent. Stoltz takes the reader through out his career in MLB. The highest highs of winning a world championship and the surgeries that took him to his lowest lows. Good read.
February 18, 2013
Good book if you are a fan of baseball and especially John Smoltz. A little slow in places, but always returned to an interesting or funny side. The last third of the book was especially good.
September 30, 2021
Being a long time Braves fan, I was looking forward to reading John Smoltz's autobiography. I've enjoyed the previous autobiographies of Tom Glavine (two books actually if you include the excellent John Feinstein's Living on the Black) and Dale Murphy. But, Smoltz's just didn't quite live up to expectations. I think there were a couple of reasons for it. One, for being a Brave for 21 years, he really didn't go into that much detail on his career there. He shares his friendships with Glavine and Greg Maddux and respect for Bobby Cox, but I just felt like he still was a little resentful that he didn't get to finish his career there and glossed over those years too much. He put more detail into his one season with St. Louis than really any season with Atlanta. Maybe if he'd have written this a little longer after his career was done and after his Hall of Fame induction as a Brave, he'd have viewed things differently.
Also, Smoltz really focuses on his religion being a born again Christian. His thoughts on his faith and mission regarding this encompass a large portion of the book. It's a part of him and that's fine, but if you're looking for reminiscing about his playing days, rather than him talking about creating a Christian school after his playing days were done, you'll likely be disappointed.
If you're a Brave's fan, I'd check it out as it's a really quick read, but I can't recommend it too highly.
Also, Smoltz really focuses on his religion being a born again Christian. His thoughts on his faith and mission regarding this encompass a large portion of the book. It's a part of him and that's fine, but if you're looking for reminiscing about his playing days, rather than him talking about creating a Christian school after his playing days were done, you'll likely be disappointed.
If you're a Brave's fan, I'd check it out as it's a really quick read, but I can't recommend it too highly.
March 28, 2022
I'll be honest: I didn't pick this off the shelf looking for any life lessons. I just wanted an inside look at life in the clubhouse in the sublime days of the Big Three. I got that inside look, but, more significantly, I grew to respect Smoltz even more as a person and athlete.
Despite being "about" his last year in Major League baseball, Smoltz's book goes way back in time, and covers a lot of pretty big ideas. What struck me hardest were the things he found himself clinging to as the years passed, sort of his personal big three:
3. Working to master a game he loved and felt such conviction to play
2. Fond memories with men to whom he grew profoundly close
1. Seeing the way the Lord has worked in his life to serve His own purposes in spite of Smoltz's humanness.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good nonfiction Bildungsroman.
Despite being "about" his last year in Major League baseball, Smoltz's book goes way back in time, and covers a lot of pretty big ideas. What struck me hardest were the things he found himself clinging to as the years passed, sort of his personal big three:
3. Working to master a game he loved and felt such conviction to play
2. Fond memories with men to whom he grew profoundly close
1. Seeing the way the Lord has worked in his life to serve His own purposes in spite of Smoltz's humanness.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good nonfiction Bildungsroman.
October 3, 2023
fun to read john’s words, but also john is a better pitcher than a writer, ya dig?
Read
June 26, 2012I'm usually not into autobiographies but once I seen this book in my local library I had to pick it up. Being a fan of Smoltz and the Atlanta Braves, I knew this would be a good read. This book also drove me to write my first review here on goodreads so here it goes.
John Smoltz - Starting and Closing
The author, John Smoltz, was one of the best pitchers in baseball in my opinion. He pitched for the Altanta Braves from 1991 to 1999 and won the Cy Young Award in 1996 and a World Series Title in 1995. This book isn't all about baseball; its an overall account of Smoltz's life. In the book, Smoltz talks about his desire to play in the major leagues, his dealings with the media, his marriage, the passion for golf and his relationship with Jesus Christ. Smoltz's aim for writing this book is simply to tell the truth about his life and use it as an example to help others.
I think a lot of readers can relate to most of the things that Smoltz speaks of in this book. He talks about growing up with his parents and being a kid with a dream. His parents had plans for him to become a professional accordion player but once Smoltz picked up a baseball his destiny was set in stone. Not to spoil it for future readers but Smoltz goes into detail how this dream came about and the struggles he endured to get to the top.
As Smoltz worked his way up into the major leagues, he had a driving passion for pitching in the postseason (which is the Division and National games as well as the World Series). Smoltz does go into detail about the game of baseball but he makes it easy to understand for those who are not familiar with the sport. A reader doesn't have to know baseball inside and out to enjoy this book.
Smoltz also talks about the day he became a Christian. Being a full-time pro baseball player there wasn't much time for worshipping, but the Braves had their own Chaplain, or preacher, that would come down to the field and worship with them. Smoltz goes into detail about his views of God and how he came to know Him personally. The choices he made, the outcomes and his will to hand over his problems to God and put all his trust in Him truly inspired me. Now, Smoltz doesn't try in no way to persuade a reader to make a choice between believing and not believing. He simply tells his own personal story.
Going any further, I believe, would spoil it for other readers so I will conclude my review. I really enjoyed this book. After reading it, as a fan of baseball, I have a deeper understanding of the struggles that a pitcher could be going through on and off the field. As a casual reader I walked away with a better understanding of life in general. When an author writes a book about his life that you can relate to, you start to see your life in other ways and perhaps gain a wider perspective on things. I particularly enjoyed the part about his journey that God led him on, the challenges he faced and overcame and his spiritual connection with God. I think many people today face similar issues and this book can be a real eye opener.
I like a book to move me, help me to see life in other ways, inspire me, make me laugh at times and be able to say "wow!" on occations. This book did all of these. If you're a person seeking guidance in your life or you're just an avid reader of baseball or autobiographies, I highly recommend this book. I fully enjoyed it. There's not many books out there that once I finish it I want to turn back to page one and start over again. This book is one of them. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Happy reading...
John Smoltz - Starting and Closing
The author, John Smoltz, was one of the best pitchers in baseball in my opinion. He pitched for the Altanta Braves from 1991 to 1999 and won the Cy Young Award in 1996 and a World Series Title in 1995. This book isn't all about baseball; its an overall account of Smoltz's life. In the book, Smoltz talks about his desire to play in the major leagues, his dealings with the media, his marriage, the passion for golf and his relationship with Jesus Christ. Smoltz's aim for writing this book is simply to tell the truth about his life and use it as an example to help others.
I think a lot of readers can relate to most of the things that Smoltz speaks of in this book. He talks about growing up with his parents and being a kid with a dream. His parents had plans for him to become a professional accordion player but once Smoltz picked up a baseball his destiny was set in stone. Not to spoil it for future readers but Smoltz goes into detail how this dream came about and the struggles he endured to get to the top.
As Smoltz worked his way up into the major leagues, he had a driving passion for pitching in the postseason (which is the Division and National games as well as the World Series). Smoltz does go into detail about the game of baseball but he makes it easy to understand for those who are not familiar with the sport. A reader doesn't have to know baseball inside and out to enjoy this book.
Smoltz also talks about the day he became a Christian. Being a full-time pro baseball player there wasn't much time for worshipping, but the Braves had their own Chaplain, or preacher, that would come down to the field and worship with them. Smoltz goes into detail about his views of God and how he came to know Him personally. The choices he made, the outcomes and his will to hand over his problems to God and put all his trust in Him truly inspired me. Now, Smoltz doesn't try in no way to persuade a reader to make a choice between believing and not believing. He simply tells his own personal story.
Going any further, I believe, would spoil it for other readers so I will conclude my review. I really enjoyed this book. After reading it, as a fan of baseball, I have a deeper understanding of the struggles that a pitcher could be going through on and off the field. As a casual reader I walked away with a better understanding of life in general. When an author writes a book about his life that you can relate to, you start to see your life in other ways and perhaps gain a wider perspective on things. I particularly enjoyed the part about his journey that God led him on, the challenges he faced and overcame and his spiritual connection with God. I think many people today face similar issues and this book can be a real eye opener.
I like a book to move me, help me to see life in other ways, inspire me, make me laugh at times and be able to say "wow!" on occations. This book did all of these. If you're a person seeking guidance in your life or you're just an avid reader of baseball or autobiographies, I highly recommend this book. I fully enjoyed it. There's not many books out there that once I finish it I want to turn back to page one and start over again. This book is one of them. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Happy reading...
March 6, 2014
Title/Author:
“Starting and Closing: Perseverance, Faith and One More Year” by John Smoltz and Don Yeager
Tags:
Baseball, autobiography, Braves
Published:
May 8, 2012
Length:
304 pages
Rating:
3 of 5 stars (good)
Review:
John Smoltz was an integral part of the Atlanta Braves franchise that won 14 consecutive division titles between 1991 and 2005. For a portion of that stretch he was considered one of the “Big Three” in the Braves starting rotation of Smoltz, Greg Maddox and Tom Glavine.
As is the case for many pitchers, injuries forced him to rethink his priorities in life and what he wanted to do. One of them was whether he should transition to the bullpen and become the closer for his team instead coming back from injury as a starting pitcher.This autobiography shares that decision Smoltz made, as well as his life and baseball career.
The book does not follow the typical timeline of a biography or memoir that starts with childhood, the revelations and decisions made during the teenage and young adult period, then the accomplishments and struggles during adult life. This book does take you through many of those times, but at different points. Most of the book deals with Smoltz’s baseball trials and tribulations. Those are good passages, and some of the ways he deals with his numerous injuries are good lessons for us all.
Included in handling those situations are Smoltz’s dedication to his faith so readers who are not comfortable with that topic may want to steer clear of it. He also talks about other aspects of his life such as fatherhood, divorce, finding love again and how he handles those while trying to keep his baseball career going after his surgeries.
I just couldn’t get into a nice rhythm trying to read this book. I did finish it, and I was always a fan of Smoltz while he was pitching. In fact, I was hoping he could make it to 150 saves during his time as a closer so that his numbers would be helpful in a future Hall of Fame vote. However, that didn’t help me while trying to piece everything together while reading the book. Fans of Smoltz or the Braves will like this book, but overall, it falls a bit short when compared to other baseball biographies I have read.
Did I skim?
No.
Pace of the book:
Uneven. The book skips around between Smoltz’s baseball career, youth, personal life and faith stories too much without much connection or a good chronological line. His baseball career mostly followed that, but even there it skipped at times and as a result, I had a hard time following it.
Do I recommend? Fans of Smoltz or the Atlanta Braves will enjoy this book. For those who are baseball fans in general or like biographies, this has possibilities.
“Starting and Closing: Perseverance, Faith and One More Year” by John Smoltz and Don Yeager
Tags:
Baseball, autobiography, Braves
Published:
May 8, 2012
Length:
304 pages
Rating:
3 of 5 stars (good)
Review:
John Smoltz was an integral part of the Atlanta Braves franchise that won 14 consecutive division titles between 1991 and 2005. For a portion of that stretch he was considered one of the “Big Three” in the Braves starting rotation of Smoltz, Greg Maddox and Tom Glavine.
As is the case for many pitchers, injuries forced him to rethink his priorities in life and what he wanted to do. One of them was whether he should transition to the bullpen and become the closer for his team instead coming back from injury as a starting pitcher.This autobiography shares that decision Smoltz made, as well as his life and baseball career.
The book does not follow the typical timeline of a biography or memoir that starts with childhood, the revelations and decisions made during the teenage and young adult period, then the accomplishments and struggles during adult life. This book does take you through many of those times, but at different points. Most of the book deals with Smoltz’s baseball trials and tribulations. Those are good passages, and some of the ways he deals with his numerous injuries are good lessons for us all.
Included in handling those situations are Smoltz’s dedication to his faith so readers who are not comfortable with that topic may want to steer clear of it. He also talks about other aspects of his life such as fatherhood, divorce, finding love again and how he handles those while trying to keep his baseball career going after his surgeries.
I just couldn’t get into a nice rhythm trying to read this book. I did finish it, and I was always a fan of Smoltz while he was pitching. In fact, I was hoping he could make it to 150 saves during his time as a closer so that his numbers would be helpful in a future Hall of Fame vote. However, that didn’t help me while trying to piece everything together while reading the book. Fans of Smoltz or the Braves will like this book, but overall, it falls a bit short when compared to other baseball biographies I have read.
Did I skim?
No.
Pace of the book:
Uneven. The book skips around between Smoltz’s baseball career, youth, personal life and faith stories too much without much connection or a good chronological line. His baseball career mostly followed that, but even there it skipped at times and as a result, I had a hard time following it.
Do I recommend? Fans of Smoltz or the Atlanta Braves will enjoy this book. For those who are baseball fans in general or like biographies, this has possibilities.
May 21, 2017
I was tempted to give this book 5 stars, but there were a few things I wish John Smoltz had done differently. First, he touches on divorce and his new marriage but never discusses how it came about.
The other difference I wanted to see was a little about the Braves. There were anecdotes, but it seemed to be equal time reading about Atlanta as about Boston and St Louis. I understand those last years were more defining as a person, but I would have liked a few more stories with the Braves.
It is hard to find pro athletes who are open about their religion and willing to share it. It is harder to find athletes who can write about such topics in a book. I really appreciated Smoltz's ability to convey his story and talk about faith as a professional athlete. It was a little hard to comprehend the overlapping timelines, but the book gave a good example of the type of person Smoltz has become.
As a Braves fan, this was an easy read. John Smoltz is one of the best pitchers in team history. His book seemed like it could have been much longer, being drafted by his favorite childhood team, to being traded for a veteran all-star, to having as many injuries as he did while still being a top notch pitcher, to his post playing days as a broadcaster.
You wouldn't have known Smoltz is a HOF caliber pitcher from his own telling. He sounds as if he was hurt so much he hardly ever played. But that's him being humble. What made this book different (better) was the fact that there weren't many game situation stories. It was about John Smoltz, who happens to be a pitcher in baseball.
Baseball fans should enjoy it. Smoltz is a hard person to not like and respect.
The other difference I wanted to see was a little about the Braves. There were anecdotes, but it seemed to be equal time reading about Atlanta as about Boston and St Louis. I understand those last years were more defining as a person, but I would have liked a few more stories with the Braves.
It is hard to find pro athletes who are open about their religion and willing to share it. It is harder to find athletes who can write about such topics in a book. I really appreciated Smoltz's ability to convey his story and talk about faith as a professional athlete. It was a little hard to comprehend the overlapping timelines, but the book gave a good example of the type of person Smoltz has become.
As a Braves fan, this was an easy read. John Smoltz is one of the best pitchers in team history. His book seemed like it could have been much longer, being drafted by his favorite childhood team, to being traded for a veteran all-star, to having as many injuries as he did while still being a top notch pitcher, to his post playing days as a broadcaster.
You wouldn't have known Smoltz is a HOF caliber pitcher from his own telling. He sounds as if he was hurt so much he hardly ever played. But that's him being humble. What made this book different (better) was the fact that there weren't many game situation stories. It was about John Smoltz, who happens to be a pitcher in baseball.
Baseball fans should enjoy it. Smoltz is a hard person to not like and respect.
Read
January 26, 2016Full disclosure: my daughter attends Kings Ridge Christian School, which is the school in Alpharetta that Smoltz helped start. So I began the book with a favorable impression of the author.... that being said...
I found this book a pleasant surprise - I expected to get the simple chronological biography with tales of great success, blah blah blah.... Instead, the book focuses on the very end of his career (brief stints with the Red Sox and the Cardinals). Very personal look at that experience - the confidence, frustration, disappointment. Smoltz openly shares his values - competition, faith, team. You definitely feel like you know the guy better after the read.
Probably most interesting to Braves fans... you learn how he LOVES Bobby Cox and NOT John Schuerholz. Surprising perspective there.
I found this book a pleasant surprise - I expected to get the simple chronological biography with tales of great success, blah blah blah.... Instead, the book focuses on the very end of his career (brief stints with the Red Sox and the Cardinals). Very personal look at that experience - the confidence, frustration, disappointment. Smoltz openly shares his values - competition, faith, team. You definitely feel like you know the guy better after the read.
Probably most interesting to Braves fans... you learn how he LOVES Bobby Cox and NOT John Schuerholz. Surprising perspective there.
May 20, 2019
In my childhood, I was a huge fan of the 90's Atlanta Braves. This book give insight into the life of John Smotlz, his drive to compete, his weird double-jointed body, and his hope like every Brave fan to win one more championship. I never noticed the constant injuries Smotlz was battling and it seems that is they way he wanted it with other teams and the media. John personal faith in Christ roots him in the life and provides clarity for his many ups and downs. They later chapters are a delight to a Braves fan to get john's take on the 14 years playoff run and what went wrong in the playoffs to where the Braves only won the 1995 World Series.
The book starts out a little rough because I had to get used to John's demeanor as a competitive professional athlete, but once the reader adapts it is a fun read for a baseball fan.
The book starts out a little rough because I had to get used to John's demeanor as a competitive professional athlete, but once the reader adapts it is a fun read for a baseball fan.
August 4, 2013
In the years I covered the Braves, two things would be certain in an interview with John Smoltz after a game he pitched: a little whining and a lot of explanation. This book is a little like that. There's some "if only this, then this," but a lot of thought-out reasoning for why things happened the way they did. I've always like Smoltz, admired him being openly Christian and liked his doggedness. While the book purports to be about his final up and down season with Boston and St. Louis, it's more about his career as a whole, though not necessarily chronologically. There are good anecdotes about his career with the Braves and breakdowns of how he dealt with (lots of) adversity throughout his career. A good read for a Braves fan and a Smoltz fan.
January 12, 2013
Mostly Smoltz' view of his final years in baseball. Interesting and semi-entertaining although he seems be using this as a bit of a defense in some areas. John Smoltz was a hall-of-fame calibre pitcher and a top-drawer man of faith off the field, so that alone makes the book an interesting read. I would've liked to read more of his relationship with next=door neighbor and friend Jeff Foxworthy... there HAD to be some cool practical jokes in that neighborhood!
I felt that the book could have been a little better but I'll always be a Smoltz fan and look forward to his induction into Cooperstown.
I felt that the book could have been a little better but I'll always be a Smoltz fan and look forward to his induction into Cooperstown.
May 31, 2012
This was not a very good "baseball" book. John gets too caught up in his religious views and in his talk about his golf game. I just want plain old talk about pitching and/or talk about other Braves players. He did have a lot of good things to say about the St. Louis Cardinal organization.
May 27, 2024
I always liked John Smoltz. After reading this book I like him more. A great person who is a great baseball player.I have not watched a Braves game since the mid 2000. Just hearing about the behind the sceens thing, contracts,personel.
Really a great read.
Really a great read.
September 25, 2012
This was an enjoyable read, but not as much baseball as I expected. A diehard Braves fan would probably find this more enjoyable.
October 23, 2012
Very quickly into this book, I realize I didn't like it or the author.
November 3, 2012
I live John Smoltz but just didn't find the auto-biography very interesting. For all of the great accomplishments that he had, I was expecting a more interesting read.
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