Legendary Star-Ledger sportswriter and Hall of Fame author Jerry Izenberg returns to SportsJam with Doug Doyle to talk about his new book Damn You, Josh Gibson: A Ghost Story.
Jerry Izenberg, Newark's favorite son, is the only media member who has covered every Super Bowl (for The Star Ledger) -- the first 53 in-person, an achievement accomplished by only Jerry Izenberg and the late Jerry Green.
Now this week, Jerry released Damn You, Josh Gibson: A Ghost Story (Admission Press), his 16th book and second novel. Izenberg is also celebrating 75 years as a newspaper writer.
Writing this book brought some emotions for the Hall of Fame writer who used to sneak into Ruppert Stadium in Newark to watch the Newark Eagles play baseball.
"There were sections when I became the only little white kid in short pants in the ballpark. A lot of memories there. A lot of memories with Monte (Irvin), Larry (Doby) and Max (Manning). My goal was to tell the black story through a series of black ghosts. I don't think anybody has every tried to do it that way."
The novel's main characters are the old man, a former baseball player named Jeffrey Jefferson Jr. and his grandson. The little boy and his "Pop Pop" are visited by several ghosts of the Negro Leagues in a wonderful journey into a time when many experts say the greatest players inhabited the diamonds.
Izenberg admits the movie A Christmas Carol did give him some inspiration to create some of the scenes in Damn You, Josh Gibson: A Ghost Story.
"There is no "Tiny Tim" in my story, (he laughs), that movie pushed forward the ideas in my head. I loved A Christmas Carol when I was a little kid.
The Hall of Fame author did get to see Josh Gibson play once or twice and gave his comparison of the Negro Leagues star catcher and Yankees great Babe Ruth.
"Ruth was the white Josh Gibson. Josh Gibson was the only man ever to hit a ball out of the original Yankee Stadium. Ruth couldn't do it. (Mickey) Mantle couldn't do it. (Roger) Maris couldn't do it. Then he became the first man, and only two men ever did it, to hit a home run in the center field bleachers at the Polo Grounds 510 feet away."
In the novel, "Pop Pop" tries to score while Josh Gibson is blocking the plate. The old man's leg gets crushed in the confrontation and never plays again. Thus the title of the book.
During this SportsJam interview, Jerry Izenberg also talks about covering every Super Bowl. His stories will make you laugh and appreciate what this writer has witnessed and experienced.
You can find out who Jerry picks to win Super Bowl LX here.
You can SEE my entire SportsJam interview with Jerry Izenberg below:
