Sports Fact and Book Rec of the Day 9/27/2007

9/27/1953:
Third baseman Al Rosen of the Cleveland Indians is thrown out at first base by an eyelash in his final at bat of the season and loses the American League batting title to Mickey Vernon of Washington, .337 o .336. Even more painfully, Rosen loses out on a chance for a rare Triple Crown, having led the AL in homers (43) and RBIs (145). It's the second batting crown for Vernon-he also won in 1946 with a .353 mark.

Birthdays:
Johnny Pesky b. 1919
Kathy Whitworth b. 1939
Mike Schmidt b. 1949
Monte Towe b. 1953
Steve Kerr b. 1965

HISTORICAL FICTION

A mother-daughter story and a tale of loss and reckoning, Graver’s first novel, after her acclaimed short story collection (Have You Seen Me?; Ecco Press, 1993), is lovely and memorable. A 19th-century New Hampshire woman looks back on her life and her choices, including her decision to work in a Lowell, Massachusetts, mill and carry a baby out of wedlock. Graver’s writing is quiet and assured, and her story will stay with you.

UNRAVELLING, by Elizabeth Graver (Harvest Books, 1999)