Big Cat: The Life of Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Mize is more than simply a biography of a sports star; it brings to life the glory years of majorleague baseball.
From Mize’s early days in the North Georgia mountains, through the St. Louis farm system, to barnstorming in the Caribbean, to his stint in the major leagues, and finally to Johnny’s longawaited and overdue enshrinement in Cooperstown, author Jerry Grillo relates an honest and compassionate portrait of one of the game’s finest pure hitters.
You can almost hear and feel the crack of the bat and the echo of the crowd as Grillo relates the man and the game to the reader. The titans of the game during the golden age of baseball — Stan Musial, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ralph Kiner, Satchel Paige, and Bob Feller — each have their place in the story of Mize, as do Johnny’s cousins, Babe Ruth, and Ty Cobb.
Grillo’s writing is rich in detail but never monotonous, and he doesn’t shy away from societal issues of the day that impacted the game, touching on the Negro Leagues, baseball’s integration, player military service, and the imbalance of power wielded by ownership.
Always at the center of the story is Mize.
Grillo’s account will satisfy baseball junkies, fans of Americana, and anyone who appreciates hard work and perseverance. Big Cat is more than a sports biography; it’s a labor of love from baseball fan Grillo, and it’s a powerful tribute to an underappreciated baseball great.
If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the golden age of baseball or discover one of its most overlooked stars, Big Cat is for you.
On June 3 at 7 p.m., with doors open at 6:30 p.m., Grillo will present his book, Big Cat: The Life of Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Mize.
Tickets are $40 each or $35 each for two or more, and the event will include a dinner created by Chef Brent.
Grillo has been a journalist and sportswriter for almost 30 years. He is the current editor and publisher of the White County News. A science writer for Georgia Tech for a number of years, his work has appeared in Georgia Trend, Atlanta magazine, Paste, and Newsday, among other publications.
— Reviewer Drew McCandless is the treasurer and a board member of Georgia Writers Museum.