A star of the 1950s Red Sox recounts his career and his battle with mental illness
When Jim Piersall first donned a Boston Red Sox uniform, he quickly distinguished himself as one of baseball’s most colorful figures. Prone to wild rages, he argued with umpires, managers, and his fellow teammates, showing off an unpredictable personality that fans and sportswriters ate up, but which infuriated his club. His behavior became more erratic until he suffered a violent breakdown that saw him institutionalized and diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Cowritten with Boston sportswriter Al Hirshberg, this is the story of Piersall’s collapse and his subsequent attempt to return to the major leagues. A shattering confessional of mental hardship, Fear Strikes Out is an unforgettable look at the difficulties of playing sports at the highest level.
