108 Stitches

Loose Threads, Ripping Yarns, and the Darndest Characters from My Time in the Game

By: Ron Darling, Daniel Paisner - contributor

Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

This is New York Times bestselling author and Emmy-nominated broadcaster Ron Darling's 108 baseball anecdotes that connect America’s game to the men who played it.

In 108 Stitches, Ron Darling offers his own take on the "six degrees of separation" game and knits together a collection of wild, wise, and wistful stories reflecting the full arc of a life in and around our national pastime.

Darling has played with or reported on just about everybody who has put on a uniform since 1983, and they in turn have played with or reported on just about everybody who put on a uniform in a previous generation. Through relationships with baseball legends on and off the field, like Yale coach Smoky Joe Wood, Willie Mays, Bart Giamatti, Tom Seaver and Mickey Mantle, Darling's reminiscences reach all the way back to Babe Ruth and other turn-of-the-century greats.

Like the 108 stitches on a baseball, Darling's experiences are interwoven with every athlete who has ever played, every coach or manager who ever sat in a dugout, and with every fan who ever played hooky from work or school to sit in the bleachers for a day game.

Darling's anecdotes come together to tell the story of his time in the game, and the story of the game itself.

©2019 by Ron Darling. (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

108 sNitches

interesting stories, a bit mean spirited at times, self reflecting at others. Ron Darling has always seemed very intelligent but I dont know that his "stitching the game together" with stories that weren't related approach held up. overall I enjoyed it well enough

Interesting insider view

A pretty interesting look inside the game of baseball from a players point of you. A little harsh Times, but also self depreciating in a humorous kind of way. Thoroughly enjoyable and worth a read.

Terrific Read!

In the tradition of Roger Kahn or Jimmy Breslin, Darling’s work transcends “baseball writing” and is simply “great writing.” Moving, informative and even sentimental in moments, I tip my Met’s cap to him. And —yes— there IS crying in baseball!

Not Just About 86 Mets

First wished that Ron Darling did his own narration, just one of my preferences. Great overall story telling of his career from rookie to booth. Gave this listener good insight of the path he travel and the choices he made along with encounters he came across with. Great Book to listen to for baseball fans.

love the stories

being a life long mets fan I enjoy hearing the stories from the players perspective