Table of Contents
Foreword David Dombrowski vii
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction xi
Chapter 1 The Minors: Paying My Dues 1
Pass the Toilet Paper 2
Initiation 4
Nice Effort! 5
I'm Not Terry Clark 7
That's Not What I Said 9
Chapter 2 Climbing the Ladder 11
Can I Really Do This? 12
You Can't Do It Alone 13
Chapter 3 California Dreamin' 15
Not Getting On That Cruz 16
My First Time 17
Rudy Pemberton? Really? 19
Colossal Collapse 20
Congratulations!
Now Go Beat Randy 24
Incoming! 26
Slump Buster 28
9/11 30
Chapter 4 Heading Home 33
Landing the Dream Gig 34
A Dream Come True 35
Running from History 39
Big Market Transformation 41
Center Field 43
Why Tigers Fans are the Best 46
Number Six 50
The Bird Is the Word 52
Detroit's Holiday 56
Tiger Killers 58
Mr. Nice Guy 60
Mr. Nice Guy 2 62
Prince and Miggy 63
Legends Among Us 65
Trading Places 67
Making the Most of a Moment 69
The Real Sparky 71
View from the Studio 76
Chapter 5 Game Day 81
It's All in the Prep 82
Hey, You Got a Second? 84
Don't Judge a Book 86
Wait a Second. We're Live? 88
Together, But Separate 90
Step Away from the Scorecard! 92
Chapter 6 Magic Moments 95
Maggs' Homer 96
The Kid 98
All Night Long 100
2,131 102
Greatness Meets Greatness 106
The Triple Crown 111
Chapter 7 No-Hitters 113
Must See JV 114
28 Up, 28 Down 117
A No-Hitter Like No Other 121
Chapter 8 Managers 123
The Skippers 124
The Man Behind the Growl 127
My Lineup Is My Lineup 131
Chapter 9 Life in the Booth 133
On the Road Again 134
Listen and Learn 136
Jinxes and Curses 138
The Grind 140
Nervous Energy 143
The Corner 146
TV or Radio? 148
Rotating Partners 150
W.A.R., What Is It Good For? 152
The Designated Hitter 157
Beyond the Numbers 159
Postseason Randomness 160
A New Season 163
I've Got to Be Me 165
The Real Heroes 167
The Big Time 171
Support, Not Illumination 173
This Is Going to Be a Long Day 174
The Love of the Game 176
A Spooky Home-Field Advantage 179
Closing Time 181
All-Star Effort 186
Culture Shock 190
Weighty Expectations 193
Announcer Speak 196
Chapter 10 Chasing the Prize 199
The Final Exit 207
Timing Is Everything 209
Sources 211
About the Authors 212
