Ron Cey: Penguin Power: Review

This is Cey’s autobiography written together with Ken Gurnick, who was Dodgers beat writer for over 40 years. It’s an honest book, though not amazingly written. Take these lines from the book: “I always thought I would be the first domino to fall. It was a total surprise to everybody that Russell outlasted all of us with the Dodgers. Simply because through all of the articles, we had been brainwashed into believing that he was going to be the first one to go. I felt if push came to shove, they could get enough in return for me. I did not think Garvey would leave. I didn’t think they would push him out… So, I thought I was going to be the first one gone.”

I had to read that multiple times and am still not sure who was thought to be the first to go. Ken was either in a hurry of, if Ron wrote this himself, didn't proof read it.

Ron seems to be obsessed with who’s ‘in his corner’. On the other hand he is open and honest about Tom Lasorda (as opposed to the book ''My Way' which treats the subject as if he was a lovely kitten) and his relationship with Al Campanis.

As could be suspected there is mention of ‘The infield’, but in a book that’s 200 pages a chapter of 20 pages about the infield is a bit thin.

In the chapter about postseason results I was surprised to read Bill Buckner is (indirectly) to blame for another World series loss! In the 1974 World Series he..... I never knew that! According to Cey, Bill committed a 'cardinal sin'. there is an entire chapter on Bucker that's sweet and full of great memories of their friendship.

The chapter on Scully and Jarrin is fun and ties in with the book 'Perfect Eloqence' entirely about Vin Scully.

Finally something that always gets me: winning the world championship. It's not possible. Still, Peter O'Malley in his foreword as well as Ron refer to winning a world championship. Ow well...