I am happy to announce that the biography of Williamsport’s own Boots Poffenberger on which I have been working for two years will be published by Summer Game Books, with a scheduled release date of some time this summer. Boots Poffenberger was one of baseball’s all-time great characters as I have written about in the past on this blog. Click on this link to see what I mean. If you do, you’ll also note that I’m only one year behind the very unrealistic schedule that I set for myself! It worked out well, however, because Summer Game Books is a newly formed publisher and I am very happy to be working with Walter Friedman and the entire staff.
Boots at Sulphur Dell Stadium in Nashville, 1940. Trust me, he’s well-placed under a sign advertising beer.
The current title, One Man Gas House Gang: The Baseball Life of Boots Poffenberger is being debated. My original title was I Ain’t Even Started Thinkin’ Yet: The Life and Legend of Boots Poffenberger. Since then, I’ve come up with The First Baron of Baseball: The Crazy Career of Boots Poffenberger. (Boots was nicknamed “The Baron” when he pitched for the Detroit Tigers.) Of course, in this age of Internet searches, certain keywords are very important in helping to sell a book. If Walter determines that Dirty Socks and a Can of Beer will sell the most copies, then that is what the title will be. (Believe it or not, that title would actually apply to Boots.) If you have any suggestions, please let me know! You don’t even have to test-market them.
Austin Gisriel 
Well … certainly congratulations are in order for you at this time, Austin. We know what this means to you and how hard you have worked!
Jerry and I send you our congratulations and our very best wishes!
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Thanks, Bonnie. The test will be if a non-baseball person enjoys the book!
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Can’t wait. I’m getting interested in seeing how you treat a talent who preferred the bottle over the Bigs. Jerry
“In news from California, the State Supreme Court recently granted an illegal alien the right to practice law. At first I was outraged. Are these people insane? Then it occurred to me that of course they’re insane, but if these nitwits are entitled to practice law, why the heck shouldn’t Sergio Garcia?” Burt Prelutsky
>________________________________ > From: Austin Gisriel >To: jalan1964@yahoo.com >Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2014 5:02 PM >Subject: [New post] Boots Biography To Be Published > > > > WordPress.com >Austin Gisriel posted: “I am happy to announce that the biography of Williamsport’s own Boots Poffenberger on which I have been working for two years will be published by Summer Game Books, with a scheduled release date of some time this summer. Boots Poffenberger was one of bas” >
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Thanks, Jerry. Believe me, you’ll enjoy “meeting” Boots and you’ll probably recognize some of his San Diego haunts when he played in the PCL.
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Austin, looking forward to it. Safe at Home: A season In The Valley was a real treat, so I know that this endeavor will be as well. Hopefully I can get a copy, when we hook up in Frederick this summer, as I always look forward too. Congratulations!
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Thanks, Don! Who knows; maybe I’ll do a book signing in Frederick!
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If that takes place, it would be an honor to sit next to you, letting the fans know how real you are on and off the field. Who would know you better after 30 plus years!
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That would be great! Just don’t bring the fake hand.
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Sign me up! I feel like I already know this guy. Can hardly wait.
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Ha! Well, you’ve heard enough about him, Al. I’m anxious for you to read the finished product.
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