Sports Fact and Book Rec of the Day 11/13/2007

11/13/1997:
Outfielder Larry Walker of the Colorado Rockies becomes the first Canadian-born player to win baseball's Most Valuable Player award as he receives 22 of 28 first-place votes to easily defeat Mike Piazza and Jeff Bagwell in the National League voting conducted by the BBWAA. Walker's raw statistics were quite impressive (.366, 49, 130), and he led the league in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and extra-base hits. Additionally, his 409 total bases were the most in one season since Stan Musial posted 429 in 1948.

Birthdays:
Steve Bilko b. 1928
Gil Perreault b. 1950
Vinny Testaverde b. 1963
Pat Hentgen b. 1968
Ron Artest b. 1979

“A suspense story as gripping as any Hitchcock classic.”—The Washington Post

“This book is breathless, and surprising, to the last word.”—Baltimore Sun

“Exciting, provocative.”—The New York Times

Michele, a boy from a small Italian village, discovers a boy his own age who appears to have been kidnapped and left for dead in an abandoned old house. Michele decides to help the boy, a decision that results in suspense and terror. A stunning, frightening read.

I’M NOT SCARED, by Niccol˜ Ammaniti, translated by Jonathan Hunt (Anchor, 2004)