Sports Fact and Book Rec of the Day 10/15/2007

10/15/1997:
Veteran Cleveland infielder Tony Fernandez hits his first home run in 133 postseason at bats to give the Indians a 1-0 victory over Baltimore in 11 innings, clinching their ALCS in six games at Camden Yards. It's the second game-winning homer given up by Armando Benitez in the series. Ironically, Fernandez is in the lineup only because his line drive in batting practice injured Bip Roberts, Cleveland's regular starting second baseman.

Birthdays:
John L. Sullivan b. 1858
Mel Harder b. 1909
Bobby Morrow b. 1935
Jim Palmer b. 1945
Joe Klecko b. 1953

THRILLERS

Military thrillers don’t come much better than those of W.E.B. Griffin. His latest will delight fans of flying. It concerns a Boeing 727 that is hijacked in Angola. Every government agency is jostling to lead the investigation, but the president of the United States chooses Charlie Castillo, special assistant to the secretary of Homeland Security. Castillo’s thorough investigation sheds light on government procedure and aircraft maneuvering while delivering top-notch suspense. Publishers Weekly calls Griffin “the dean of American war adventure.”

BY ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT, by W.E.B. Griffin (Jove, 2005)