Remember Who You Are: What Pedro Gomez Showed Us About Baseball and Life
Pedro Gomez of ESPN was a beloved figure in baseball. His death from sudden cardiac arrest on Feb. 7, 2021, unleashed an outpouring of heartfelt tributes. He was 58, both a hard-nosed reporter and a smiling ambassador of the sport. These 62 personal essays soar beyond sports to delve into life lessons.


Pedro, a proud Cuban American, was known for his dramatic reporting from Havana. Fully and fluidly bilingual, he did as much as anyone to bridge the wide gap that had existed between U.S.-born players and the Latin Americans now so important to the game’s vitality and future growth. He was also a family man who loved to talk about his three children, Sierra, Dante and Rio, a Boston Red Sox prospect.
Pedro was universally known as a smiling presence who brought out the best in people. His humanity and generosity of spirit shaped countless lives, including one of his ESPN bosses, Rob King, who was so moved by Pedro’s advice to him—“Remember who you are”—that he printed up the words and posted them on the wall of his office in Bristol. King is one of a diverse collection of contributors whose personal essays turn Pedro’s shocking death into an occasion to reflect on the deeper truths of life we too often overlook. Part The Pride of Havana and part Tuesdays With Morrie, part The Tender Bar and part Ball Four, this is the rare essay collection that reads like a novel, full of achingly honest emotion and painful insights, a book about friendship, a book about standing for something, a book about joy and love.


Former New York Times writer Jack Curry writes about Pedro’s passion for live music, and former Sports Illustrated writer Tim Kurkjian brings alive spring-training basketball games with executives like Sandy Anderson and Billy Beane and Pedro right in the mix. Detroit manager AJ Hinch and formers Texas manager Ron Washington both reveal that in their darkest hours Pedro gave them some of the best advice of their lives.


Hall of Famers Dennis Eckersley, Tony La Russa, Peter Gammons, Ross Newhan, Tracy Ringolsby and Dan Shaughnessy are among the contributors. So are likely future Hall of Famers Max Scherzer and Dusty Baker. Pulitzer-Prize-winning Washington Post war correspondent Steve Fainaru, award-winning writers from Howard Bryant and Mike Barnicle to Tim Keown, Ken Rosenthal and Dave Sheinin also contribute. Rounding out the mix are current and former ESPN stars including Rachel Nichols, Shelley M. Smith, Peter Gammons, Bob Ley and Keith Olbermann.


This is a book to rekindle in any lapsed fan a love of going to the ballpark, but it’s also a wakeup call that transcends sports. To any journalist, worn down by the demands of a punishing job, to anyone anywhere, pummeled by pandemic times and the dark mood of the country in recent years, these essays will light a spark to seize every opportunity to make a difference, in your work and in the lives of people who matter to you.
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Remember Who You Are: What Pedro Gomez Showed Us About Baseball and Life
Pedro Gomez of ESPN was a beloved figure in baseball. His death from sudden cardiac arrest on Feb. 7, 2021, unleashed an outpouring of heartfelt tributes. He was 58, both a hard-nosed reporter and a smiling ambassador of the sport. These 62 personal essays soar beyond sports to delve into life lessons.


Pedro, a proud Cuban American, was known for his dramatic reporting from Havana. Fully and fluidly bilingual, he did as much as anyone to bridge the wide gap that had existed between U.S.-born players and the Latin Americans now so important to the game’s vitality and future growth. He was also a family man who loved to talk about his three children, Sierra, Dante and Rio, a Boston Red Sox prospect.
Pedro was universally known as a smiling presence who brought out the best in people. His humanity and generosity of spirit shaped countless lives, including one of his ESPN bosses, Rob King, who was so moved by Pedro’s advice to him—“Remember who you are”—that he printed up the words and posted them on the wall of his office in Bristol. King is one of a diverse collection of contributors whose personal essays turn Pedro’s shocking death into an occasion to reflect on the deeper truths of life we too often overlook. Part The Pride of Havana and part Tuesdays With Morrie, part The Tender Bar and part Ball Four, this is the rare essay collection that reads like a novel, full of achingly honest emotion and painful insights, a book about friendship, a book about standing for something, a book about joy and love.


Former New York Times writer Jack Curry writes about Pedro’s passion for live music, and former Sports Illustrated writer Tim Kurkjian brings alive spring-training basketball games with executives like Sandy Anderson and Billy Beane and Pedro right in the mix. Detroit manager AJ Hinch and formers Texas manager Ron Washington both reveal that in their darkest hours Pedro gave them some of the best advice of their lives.


Hall of Famers Dennis Eckersley, Tony La Russa, Peter Gammons, Ross Newhan, Tracy Ringolsby and Dan Shaughnessy are among the contributors. So are likely future Hall of Famers Max Scherzer and Dusty Baker. Pulitzer-Prize-winning Washington Post war correspondent Steve Fainaru, award-winning writers from Howard Bryant and Mike Barnicle to Tim Keown, Ken Rosenthal and Dave Sheinin also contribute. Rounding out the mix are current and former ESPN stars including Rachel Nichols, Shelley M. Smith, Peter Gammons, Bob Ley and Keith Olbermann.


This is a book to rekindle in any lapsed fan a love of going to the ballpark, but it’s also a wakeup call that transcends sports. To any journalist, worn down by the demands of a punishing job, to anyone anywhere, pummeled by pandemic times and the dark mood of the country in recent years, these essays will light a spark to seize every opportunity to make a difference, in your work and in the lives of people who matter to you.
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Remember Who You Are: What Pedro Gomez Showed Us About Baseball and Life

Remember Who You Are: What Pedro Gomez Showed Us About Baseball and Life

Remember Who You Are: What Pedro Gomez Showed Us About Baseball and Life

Remember Who You Are: What Pedro Gomez Showed Us About Baseball and Life

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Overview

Pedro Gomez of ESPN was a beloved figure in baseball. His death from sudden cardiac arrest on Feb. 7, 2021, unleashed an outpouring of heartfelt tributes. He was 58, both a hard-nosed reporter and a smiling ambassador of the sport. These 62 personal essays soar beyond sports to delve into life lessons.


Pedro, a proud Cuban American, was known for his dramatic reporting from Havana. Fully and fluidly bilingual, he did as much as anyone to bridge the wide gap that had existed between U.S.-born players and the Latin Americans now so important to the game’s vitality and future growth. He was also a family man who loved to talk about his three children, Sierra, Dante and Rio, a Boston Red Sox prospect.
Pedro was universally known as a smiling presence who brought out the best in people. His humanity and generosity of spirit shaped countless lives, including one of his ESPN bosses, Rob King, who was so moved by Pedro’s advice to him—“Remember who you are”—that he printed up the words and posted them on the wall of his office in Bristol. King is one of a diverse collection of contributors whose personal essays turn Pedro’s shocking death into an occasion to reflect on the deeper truths of life we too often overlook. Part The Pride of Havana and part Tuesdays With Morrie, part The Tender Bar and part Ball Four, this is the rare essay collection that reads like a novel, full of achingly honest emotion and painful insights, a book about friendship, a book about standing for something, a book about joy and love.


Former New York Times writer Jack Curry writes about Pedro’s passion for live music, and former Sports Illustrated writer Tim Kurkjian brings alive spring-training basketball games with executives like Sandy Anderson and Billy Beane and Pedro right in the mix. Detroit manager AJ Hinch and formers Texas manager Ron Washington both reveal that in their darkest hours Pedro gave them some of the best advice of their lives.


Hall of Famers Dennis Eckersley, Tony La Russa, Peter Gammons, Ross Newhan, Tracy Ringolsby and Dan Shaughnessy are among the contributors. So are likely future Hall of Famers Max Scherzer and Dusty Baker. Pulitzer-Prize-winning Washington Post war correspondent Steve Fainaru, award-winning writers from Howard Bryant and Mike Barnicle to Tim Keown, Ken Rosenthal and Dave Sheinin also contribute. Rounding out the mix are current and former ESPN stars including Rachel Nichols, Shelley M. Smith, Peter Gammons, Bob Ley and Keith Olbermann.


This is a book to rekindle in any lapsed fan a love of going to the ballpark, but it’s also a wakeup call that transcends sports. To any journalist, worn down by the demands of a punishing job, to anyone anywhere, pummeled by pandemic times and the dark mood of the country in recent years, these essays will light a spark to seize every opportunity to make a difference, in your work and in the lives of people who matter to you.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780960061518
Publisher: Wellstone Books
Publication date: 07/13/2021
Pages: 440
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Introduction Steve Kettmann

1 Like A Mike Tyson Left: Hook Frank Martin 1

2 The Day the Music Died Dave Sheinin 7

3 'Come On!' Tim Keown 15

4 When You Went Deep on Baseball Bruce Jenkins 21

5 A Bridge Rachel Nichols 27

6 Be Where Your Feet Are Mark Kreidler 33

7 Have Fun Every Single Day Max Scherzer 41

8 The Art of the Interview Bob Ley 47

9 An Open Letter to President Bill Clinton: March 1999 Pedro Gomez 55

10 'Know and Understand Cuba' Peter Gammons 59

11 Speechless Howard Bryant 65

12 Does Baseball Matter? Mike Barnicle 71

13 Always Grab the Corks Brian Murphy 79

14 At the Front of the Circle Chelsea Janes 87

15 A Man You Could Trust Dusty Baker 95

16 Remember Who You Are Rob King 101

17 He Was My Biggest Fan Rio Gomez 105

18 Countenance Ross Newhan 111

19 He Watched Out for Us Jon Daniels 115

20 Can You Believe We Get to Do This? Ken Rosenthal 119

21 Where's Pedro? Buster Olney 125

22 Our Colleague, Our Friend Shelley M. Smith 131

23 How Do You Want to Be Remembered? T.J. Quinn 135

24 Pedro Gomez Day Scott Boras 141

25 The Heart and Soul of Baseball Sandy Alderson 147

26 A Brotherhood Dan Shaughnessy 151

27 How a Professional Works Mike Swanson 157

28 Remember KGB Robin Carr 163

29 The Night We Traded Jose Tony La Russa 169

30 Let Enthusiasm Rule Jason La Canfora 177

31 Tell the Story Without Pandering to It Ray Ratto 183

32 He Listened Ron Washington 189

33 Our Colombia Connection Chuck Culpepper 195

34 With the Angels Tracy Ringolsby 201

35 He Made the Room Better Bud Black 205

36 The Walls Came Down Tim Kurkjian 209

37 The Music Never Stopped Jack Curry 217

38 Definitely a Stones Guy Michael Zagaris 231

39 Show Me Who Your Friends Are Paul Begala 241

40 'Gotta Love the Shooters' Brad Mangin 247

41 Those Yearly Glimpses of the Gomez Family Jeremy Schaap 257

42 The Big Question Jeff Passan 263

43 Don't Be Afraid to Go Out On a Limb Bob Melvin 269

44 What It Was Really Like on the Road Scott Ostler 273

45 The Gomez Glide George A. King III 277

46 His Eyes Lit Up Terry Francona 283

47 A Unifying Force Derrick Goold 289

48 Making Time for Empathy Alex Coffey 295

49 Let Me Tell You 'Bout Some Friends I Know Sean McAdam 301

50 Like a Good Bench Coach Brian Snitker 309

51 A Natural Teacher Brett Kurland 315

52 He Carved a Path for Me Alden Gonzalez 321

53 He Was My Idol Sarina Morales 325

54 A Beacon Marcos Bretón 331

55 Voice to the Voiceless John D'Anna 339

56 Cubanidad Steve Fainaru 347

57 Yo Soy de la Misma Tierra Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez 353

58 Do Right by People Dante Gomez 357

59 You Should Call Frank Bud Geracie 365

60 A Bright Light Dennis Eckersley 373

61 Deep Down a Tigers Fan AJ Hinch 379

62 All Friends Are Best Friends Keith Olbermann 387

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