From Rookie of the Year to two-time Manager of the Year, with three World Series rings in between, Lou Piniella's story is as compelling as the man himself. From a boyhood in Tampa that shaped, in every way, the athlete and person he would become; to his years with the Kansas City Royals, an experience that would teach him about the business of baseball; to his wild years in New York that would give him his first two World Series rings and thrust him into George Steinbrenner's infamous revolving door; his many varied experiences all set him on course to finding his true calling. Sweet Lou brings the story of one of the most intriguing managers in the game to life, relives history with those who were there, and probes the man himself: his great loves, his great losses, and his greatest successes. Author Melissa Isaacson explores Piniella's background, his parents, his friends, and his roots in Tampa that explain not only his hot-headedness but also reveal a very down-to-earth family man. Along the way, she charts his ascension to become the beloved skipper of the Cubs, setting his sights on his sixth pennant and the possibility of leading the Cubs to their first world championship in 100 years. She examines the personal losses he has absorbed, including good friends and mentors who died prematurely, as well as the passing of his father after he came back to Tampa. In one chapter she looks at his life outside of baseball, which reveals a multifaceted and highly active businessman. And another chapter, devoted to the famous temper, tells some of the stories that at times have made him the bane of umpires around both leagues. Sweet Lou is a riveting portrayal of a consummate andcontroversial larger-than-life baseball personality whose full impact on the game has yet to be measured.
