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Tony Oliva: The Life and Times of a Minnesota Twins Legend Kindle Edition

by Thom Henninger (Author), Patrick Reusse (Foreword) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 out of 5 stars 52 ratings

If not for the botched Bay of Pigs invasion, Minnesota might never have known one of its most popular baseball players, Twins three-time batting champion and eight-time All-Star Tony Oliva. In April 1961, the twenty-two-year-old Cuban prospect failed to impress the Twins in a tryout, but the sudden rupture in U.S.–Cuba relations made a return visa all but impossible. The story of how Oliva’s unexpected stay led to a second chance and success with the Twins—as well as decades of personal and cultural isolation—is told for the first time in this full-scale biography of the man the fans affectionately call “Tony O.”

With unprecedented access to the very private Oliva, baseball writer Thom Henninger captures what life was like for the Cuban newcomer as he adjusted to major league play and American culture—and at the same time managed to earn Rookie of the Year honors and win the American League batting title in his first two seasons, all while playing with a knuckle injury. Packed with never-before-published photographs, the book follows Oliva through the 1965 season, all the way to the World Series, and then, with repaired knuckle and knee, into one of the most dramatic pennant races in baseball history in 1967. Through the voices of Oliva, his family, and his teammates—including the Cuban players who shared his cultural challenges and the future Hall of Famers he mentored, Rod Carew and Kirby Puckett—the personal and professional highs and lows of the years come alive: the Gold Glove Award in 1966, a third batting title in 1971, the devastating injury that curtailed his career, and, through it all, the struggle to build a family and recover the large and close-knit one he had left behind in Cuba.

Nearly forty years after Oliva’s retirement, the debate continues over whether his injury-shortened career was Hall of Fame caliber—a question that gets a measured and resounding answer here.

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  1. Print length
    437 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Univ Of Minnesota Press
  4. Publication date
    April 1, 2015
  5. File size
    21.3 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The value of this book resides in the portrait Henninger paints of the man himself: a ceaselessly positive and selfless person who adapted admirably to his adopted country while never forgetting the needs of family members left behind in Castro-ravaged Cuba."—Spitball Magazine

"An entertaining read."—Sports Book Guy

"This is a story that was worth telling and one that is in many ways well told."—Sport Literature Association

"Henninger nicely summarizes the crucial moments without getting bogged down in baseball-book minutiae. "—SB Nation

"Tony Oliva: The Life and Times of a Minnesota Twins Legend is an enjoyable book, one that Twins fans and baseball history fans will relish. "—The Writer’s Journey



"Thom Henninger did a marvelous job telling Tony’s story. It will remind readers what a special person he is and how he had to deal with so much adversity to find his way to the major leagues. I am so proud to have been his teammate and be his friend. All of us who played with Tony know he is a Hall of Famer and was the best hitter of his era."—Jim Kaat

About the Author

Thom Henninger, a St. Paul native and lifelong Twins fan, is associate editor at Baseball Digest. His work has appeared in ESPN Insider, and for more than seventeen years he wrote for STATS LLC, where his column “Thom’s Take” ran weekly. He has authored player profiles for Baseball America and contributed to Play It Again: Baseball Experts on What Might Have Been.

Patrick Reusse is a sportswriter and radio personality in the Twin Cities. He writes weekly columns for the Minneapolis–St. Paul Star Tribune.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00VY1OSTS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Univ Of Minnesota Press (April 1, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 1, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 21.3 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 437 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 52 ratings

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
52 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Joe G.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic read!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Tony O. has a fascinating life story from growing up in Cuba to coming to the USA to pursue his dream of playing baseball. This book really delves into all the things that this man has endured to make his dream happen. Unfortunately that dream came to an end sooner than he would have liked and was published before he received a long overdue honor of getting into the Hall of Fame. A must read for any Twins or just baseball fan in general.
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  • Jeff Alderson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Despite being a great baseball player
    Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    what a book this is! If you want to know a lot of the non baseball side of Tony Oliva. His time spent away from family. During the Cuba- US missle crisis. And how lonely he was. Despite being a great baseball player! I recommend this to anybody!
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  • B. Strand
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, Oliva should be in the Hall of Fame.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The book was very good, it explains what some of the ball players went thru when Cuba was in turmoil. Not only the history was very interesting but the great stories of his team mates and the history of the Minnesota Twins. If you are a fan at all of Minnesota Twins, this is a must read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Stephen R Christensen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Love the Twins, but great to know a little more about the man and his life.

    My eleven year old son is a sports fan and loved it too.
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  • scar1rave1
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
    Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    One feels like they are living vicariously through Tony Oliva while reading this book. Worthy.
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  • doris everhard
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a great guy that tony Olivia was and is.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I found it interesting as tony went through the minor leagues up through the major leagues all the facts that I wasn’t aware of.
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  • Review King
    3.0 out of 5 stars A Thoroughly Researched Piece of Work, But....
    Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2015
    A thoroughly researched piece of work on a man who in my opinion was one one the 60's best pure hitters. As a Yankee fan, there has probably never been a hitter (except maybe David Ortiz) who I'd less like see batting against the Bombers in a big spot. It is a shame that for the most part,except for the Twin Cities this man has been largely forgotten.

    There is a fair amount of excellent world and baseball history with regards to the plight of the Cuban baseball players at the time of Castro's takeover.

    Unfortunately the book tends to be tedious and repetitious and therefore I've rated it no more than average
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Luis Fernandez
    5.0 out of 5 stars Number 6 is Numero uno!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Nostalgic, accurate, great history of historic Cuban!
    Great baseball player!
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