For a Perfect Summer Read Pack Your Beach Bag with a Good Sports Book

Summer in Southern New England: beach, umbrella, sand, sun, blanket, pool, fried clams, Del’s Lemonade, grilling, sailing, ice cream, Bristol’s 4th of July Parade.

And a good book.

Graphic novel, thriller, mystery, biography, historical fiction, science fiction, romance. It makes no difference so long as you can lose yourself in the pages — and occasionally doze with the open book slowly rising and falling on your chest with every breath.

Of course, we have sports books as well to read. Here are my suggestions for these lazy, hazy days. Pack one for your next trip to the beach or to the lounge chair in your backyard. Let me know what you are reading at mszostak@ripr.org.

Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose and the Last Glory Days of Baseball Keith O’Brien, Pantheon Books, 440 pages, 2024

O’Brien, a New York Times best-selling author, takes us on the long and winding road of Pete Rose’s baseball, gambling and philandering careers. From his childhood in Cincinnati to his seasons with the hometown Reds to his banishment from baseball, it’s all here. The good, the bad and the ugly.

Rose, baseball’s all-time leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053) and singles (3,215), is also the game’s most flawed hero. He should be in the Hall of Fame, but his gambling addiction — he started pitching pennies as a kid and later wagered on horses, dogs, and games — led to his betting on baseball, an unpardonable transgression that slammed the door to Cooperstown in his face.

Rose surrounded himself with a colorful cast of groupies, bookies, gofers. O’Brien interviewed dozens of relatives, friends, teammates and opponents. Tommy Gioiosa of New Bedford, like Rose a scrappy ballplayer, was among them. Gioiosa met the Reds star by chance at spring training. Before long he was part of Rose’s inner circle living a life beyond his wildest fantasies. He drove Rose’s expensive cars, picked up his mistresses and placed his bets. He also served time in federal prison.

Rose, 83, is a regular at card shows, living off his autograph. How did he come by his nickname? Read the book.

This story was reported by The Public’s Radio. You can read the entire story here.