Tripleheader: Tales, Memories, and Notes from the Shadows of Cooperstown
by Gene "Two Finger" Carney, Scott Fiesthumel & Bob Palazzo

Reviewed by Craig Muder

The book is a series of columns written by the three authors during the last decade. For fans of Mohawk Valley baseball, it is an interesting, informative and sometimes-poignant read that can be digested slowly (if one desires) because of the essay format.

Fiesthumel and Carney were especially attached to the Blue Sox, which were sold to Cal Ripken Jr. and moved to Aberdeen, Md., in February after a 25-year run in Utica. All three authors are members of the local chapter of the Society of American Baseball Research.

Fiesthumel's essays deal mostly with the baseball history of the Mohawk Valley, including such legendary characters as Billy Mills, Mike Griffin and Dave McKeough. He also writes about old-time area softball, as well as interesting stories about the origins of women's baseball and black baseball in Utica.

Fiesthumel draws on newspaper research for much of his information, using simple, declarative sentences to impart reams of information. He also deals with modern subjects like the Blue Sox and the Baseball Hall of Fame - a favorite subject of all three authors.

Some of the stories captured my attention more than others, but that was the beauty of this book: if you don't like a particular essay subject, you move on to the next.

Palazzo's writing is the best of the three authors. The rabid New York Yankees fan spends nearly all of his space describing his interaction with former players like Goose Gossage, Clete Boyer and Phil Rizzuto. Palazzo details his attempts to get autographs and photos from his heroes, honestly recounting times in which he amused and annoyed Yankees from five decades. But he also weaves his own personal memories into the essays, sharing a particularly touching tribute to the late Mickey Mantle - Palazzo's idol - and a somewhat edgy visit with Yogi Berra.

Carney lived for the Blue Sox, soaking in the short-season atmosphere at Murnane Field while griping about the lack of promotion by the owners. Many of his essays are virtual game stories from years gone by, describing the exploits of ersatz prospects like T.J. O'Donnell, Hilario Perez and Damien Sapp - players whose careers peaked in Utica.

His essays are often very specific, and at times present the reader with obscure references to people like former New York Giants mascot Charles "Victory" Faust. But Carney's love for the game seeps through all the statistics and rain-delay descriptions to give the reader a clear picture of minor league baseball in Utica.

What once was taken for granted is now gone. "Tripleheader" captures that history well.

This article originally appeared in the Utica Observer-Dispatch, where Craig Muder is the sports editor. Muder can be contacted via e-mail at sports@uticaod.com