Dick Bremer: Game Used: My Life in Stitches With the Minnesota Twins
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Dick Bremer's distinctive baritone has served as the soundtrack of Minnesota Twins baseball for over three decades. Millions of fans have enjoyed his observations, insight, and magical storytelling on television broadcasts. Now, in this striking memoir, the Minnesota native and lifelong Twins fan takes fans behind the mic, into the clubhouse, and beyond as only he can.
Told through 108 unique anecdotes—one for each stitch in a baseball—Bremer weaves the tale of a lifetime, from childhood memories of the ballfield in smalltown Dumont, Minnesota, to his early radio days as "The Duke in the Dark," to champagne-soaked clubhouses in 1987 and 1991, and his encounters with Twins legends ranging from Calvin Griffith and Harmon Killebrew, to Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek, to Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau.
This honest and engaging autobiography gives fans a rare seat alongside Bremer and his broadcast partners, including Killebrew, Bert Blyleven, Jack Morris, Jim Kaat, Tom Kelly, and other Twins legends.
Reviews (45)
Best 9 innings I’ve ever read!
There were inning that had me in stitches and innings that had me in tears. The stories and behind the scenes musings had me riveted. I read straight through the first 8 innings, when I decided to pause because I wasn’t ready to have it end. (The delay lasted until the next morning when I grabbed it before my coffee was even ready.). I’ll likely re-read this several times! I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves the Minnesota Twins!
Fellow Twins fans will love this book
Dick Bremer has been the primary voice of Minnesota Twins telecasts since 1983. In those 37 seasons, he has been able to collect a lot of memorable stories about the team, broadcast partners, adventures on the road and even some about his personal life. He shares 108 of them in this memoir – 108 to match the number of stitches on a baseball. The book is a walk through Bremer's life, from his childhood when he was raised in rural western Minnesota by adoptive parents, to their move to Missouri and back to the Midwest. The reader will also learn about Bremer's early adventures into broadcasting when he was getting his early experience in college and smaller games. Through them all, he shares his stories with equal parts of humor and fondness at the memories. Anybody who is a fan of not only the Twins, but of Minnesota sports will recognize Bremer's deep baritone voice as he has done not only the Twins games, but has also broadcast games for the Minnesota North Stars (hockey) and University of Minnesota (football and basketball) as well as provide coverage for many other sports as well. But it is clear to the reader that Bremer's first love is baseball, especially with his stories about watching Twins games before he became their broadcaster. The humor Bremer is noted for in the broadcast booth is clearly evident in his broadcasting and baseball stories as well. One of the funniest stories in the book is when he feared that when trying to pull a prank on his long-time booth partner Bert Blyleven, he lost Blyleven's wedding ring. Another great story involves Blyleven as Bremer tried to explain that the cheeks of a walleye are the best tasting part of the fish. He invited former Twins player Kent Hrbek, who had retired for several years when this took place, to join them. When Bremer had the food that he had earlier prepared brought to the booth, Hrbek thought they were all for him and he gobbled them up leaving none for Bremer to share with Blyleven. While this may not sound so funny, to read it in the book (especially to imagine Bremer's voice while reading) is hilarious. The baseball memories Bremer shares are excellent as well. Twins fans will love to read about the championship seasons of 1987 and 1991 with a special fondness for the unexpected rally for the 1987 team when they returned to Minnesota after winning the American League pennant in Detroit. The struggles of the team in the early '80s and mid '90s are also shared, in sharp contrast to the good memories of the teams in the 2000's that won several divisions but just couldn't go farther in the postseason. Issues affecting the team off the field, such as two different threats to move the team, contraction talk in 2001 by the Commissioner and finally the opening of Target Field and some of the better memories of games there complete Bremer's thoughts on the team and his career. If the reader is a Twins fan, as this reviewer has been his entire life, then this book is one that must be added to the bookshelves It is an excellent reflection of not only Twins baseball, but the man who has been the voice of the team for almost four decades.
Required reading for all Twins fans
I was expecting yet another book from a ghost writer who had interviewed the subject and then gave us mostly stories we had heard before. Not so with this highly entertaining book. It reads as if Dick Bremer himself wrote it with maybe a little help. In almost every stitch (chapter) there is an anecdote that the public has never heard. My favorite might be the one about Dick’s son, Erik, and former Indiana basketball coach Bobby Knight. Kirby Puckett provided a number of them too. My only qualm is Dick’s admiration for legendary Yankees announcer Mel Allen. One of Dick’s regrets is that network announcers take over the broadcasting for post season games. He tells about the time years ago when a team announcer would be added. Like many others, I can clearly recall running the two blocks home from school to catch the end of a Series game. One of those times Mel Allen described a left fielder as leaping high against the wall and making a great catch. Mel had forgotten he was on TV, not radio. The left fielder was standing on the edge of the warning track. I always had a hard time watching This Week In Baseball after that. I’m glad I purchased this terrific book online rather than going to the local library. I know I’ll be going through it again.
A Memoir by Twins Broadcaster Dick Bremer
This is an informative and enjoyable book for anyone, and especially for baseball fans and followers of the Minnesota Twins. Dick Bremer has, for nearly four decades, been the television voice for the Twins; and is regarded by many to be one of the best and most knowledgeable sports announcers anywhere for his insightful play-by-play coverage and commentaries on his broadcasts. This memoir is filled with colorful anecdotes, many of which are laugh-out-loud humorous incidents; and he also writes about the sad memories, such as the passing of Twins icons Harmon Killebrew and Kirby Puckett. The book gives baseball fans an inside look from the broadcast booth and other behind-the-scenes accounts of the many activities which go into the development of a professional sports team--like the Twins, a team which won baseball’s World Series championships in 1987 and 1991. Dick Bremer, who grew up in small towns within Minnesota, has written a memoir which gives baseball fans, and others, a nostalgic look back, providing a greater appreciation of the sport’s many challenges and the outlook ahead. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ! --Ron Howe / Erskine, MN 56535 / E-Mail: rchowe@gvtel.com
Fantastic read!
For any Twins fan who has followed the team from the 70s to today, this is an absolute gem. I worked for the Twins for some 13 seasons, 6 of them in the front office. It was so great to hear another point of view to things I’d experienced during my time there. The concept of “stitches” coming together to deliver a complete story about this great game is just great. Dick always treated me with nothing but respect when we would encounter each other at the Dome and he is an absolute class act in every way. We even got to hang out with Harmon Killebrew on Caravan in 2001. I’ll never forget driving back from Winnipeg with Dick and Harmon and the look on the border agent’s face when I told him who was in the car with me. A priceless moment for me. Thank you Dick for taking me on a great journey from your childhood to the great broadcaster you are today. During this time when there are no games being played I certainly needed it.
I Laughed, I Cried
The author's uncanny skill at remembering the detailed events in his history with the Twins is just the beginning. This book is a great read in so many ways. It is set up in 108 short vignettes. Like Lays potato chips, you want to keep reading them. Each "stitch" tells a different story, yet the author skillfully weaves them together seamlessly. Bremer is a talented storyteller. He shows us his heart in times of sorrow and gratitude. His ability to laugh at himself and share his foibles with readers leads to countless belly laughs throughout the book. Just what we need right now.
Dick Bremer is a wonderful storyteller.
I am a fan of the MN Twins, and a big fan of Dick Bremer's. The book is written in 2-5 page "strings" and there are 108 strings/stories. (A baseball has 108 holes to string the leather cover onto the ball.) Dick's style of writing is wonderful, both in being descriptive and showing his personality. His wonderful, gentle sense of humor comes through clearly. There are also many very poignant, touching stories. His descriptions of various games brought back lots and lots of good memories. This is a great book for any fan of baseball, in general, and a wonderful book for any Twins fan.
Game used.
I am a champion little leaguer, and this book covers nothing about baseball, unless you're a MN Twins fan. Mr. Bremer writes 108 stories about his life through the lens of baseball and television sportscasting. Interesting read, and great for any MN Twins fan to get their fix of baseball while the COVID suspends play.
Such a great read for a Twins fan
In a typical year, I probably hear Dick Bremer's voice more than anyone outside my immediate family. I tend to watch every televised Twins game, so to hear some fun personal and behind-the-scenes stories from Dick was a great treat. I laughed out loud so many times. A must-read for any Twins fan.
A GREAT BOOK BY A GREAT GENTLEMAN
Really enjoyed reading this book. Dick Bremer and Twins baseball have been a part of my life since moving to Minnesota in 1997. Especially liked reading about the stories from 1997 to present because I remember seeing many of the games talked about and the incidents in the broadcast booth. Who could forget Dick serving Bert Blyleven night crawlers on a silver platter which Bert agreed to eat in order to raise money for Parkinsons disease. Also, Dick is every bit the gentleman that you see on TV. After a game at the old Metrodome when Dick was leaving the broadcast booth with briefcases in both hands my son asked him if he would sign a baseball for him. I remember Dick immediately saying "Sure" and setting down the briefcases to sign the ball. I highly recommend this book.
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