"Sudden" Sam McDowell was a pitcher in Major League Baseball in the 60s and 70s. His potential seemed limitless, even drawing conclusions to future Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax. However, an addiction to alcohol got in the way and he eventually drank himself out of the game. This book tells the story of his life and his recovery, including what he's doing as he approaches his 80th birthday.

Honestly, I was a little bit disappointed in this book. McDowell tells his story, which is interesting, but it takes on the tone of a counselor in that it's very clinical, which made it drag at times. It was also pretty repetitive and the story was all over the place. He would talk about something happening in one year, then suddenly move back in time to tell another story. A little more of a chronological telling would have been beneficial to this reader.

He's very honest about his addiction, his extra marital affairs, and how his children felt about their alcoholic father. He has done a lot of good as a substance abuse counselor for many players and MLB teams, which is to be commended. As well as his decades of sobriety. I liked him telling his opinions on the modern game and what he feels needs to change. Its a worthwhile read.

My thanks to Rowman and Littlefield, authors Sam McDowell and Marty Gitlin, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

Thank you to Rowman & Littlefield and NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

Sam McDowell is a person I have heard and read about my whole life, mostly in relation to his pitching career and his battles with alcohol addiction. This new memoir is a raw and open look at his life in the same vein as some of my favorite baseball memoirs like Bob Welch's "Five O'Clock Comes Early," Rick Ankiel's "The Phenomenon," and Rod Carew's "One Tough Out."

McDowell spends the first half of the book recapping his life and career up to and through around 1980. Most of the second half of the book is spent discussing his experiences in recovery and his efforts to help others battling addiction. The final portion of the book is McDowell's thoughts on how to improve MLB as well as what he is doing with his life as he approaches 80.

McDowell does not want you to feel sorry for him, he simply wants you to know that everyone struggles and a lot of times we need help to get through. He is much more than a 6-time All-Star, and you will find out why in this book.