Clem Labine "Always a Dodger": Review

A book written by someone who is so smitten by it’s subject is never a good thing. Colin Gunderson was so in love with Tom Lasorda, his biography about the man was a cringeworthy experience. Richard Elliott’s Clem Labine “Always a Dodger” is more of the same. Which is a shame because it’s the only book on just Labine.

The writer is the son of the best friend and off-season employer of Clem Labine. They became good friends. That fact is visible in the writing. Labine is worshipped to the max. So much so that there is little room left to tell about the man himself. Now, I really believe Labine was a good guy, a great reliever and an important piece of the Dodgers puzzle during the 1950’s, but enough is enough. No negativity is tolerated. Even Roger Kahn gets smeared.

One of the lesser Dodgers related books I’ve read. A nice addition to the Woonsocket Public Library, but other than that... leave it on the shelve.