Several years ago, Glen Rock resident, Mark Braff, decided that writing a book would be his "retirement project." Having spent 40 years as a public relations professional and consultant, Braff began his career as a reporter for the Ridgewood Newspapers and later joined the Madison Square Garden Sports Network. Although he wrote various press releases, op-eds, and speeches, he had never written a book. Since it's almost Father's Day, we thought it was only fitting to spend some time with Mark to learn about his new book, Sons of Baseball: Growing Up with a Major League Dad.
Is this your first book?
Yes. I'm 67, so I figured it was now or never!
What led you to write this type of book?
I've always been a huge baseball fan, so the genre was natural for me, and the book-writing process was a labor of love. I don't recall what specifically triggered the idea, but I remember thinking about the great memories I have of playing catch with my dad when I was a young boy and wondering what it must be like for the sons of major league baseball players. I mean, would that dad really want to toss the ball around on his day off from playing the game—especially because he travels all spring, summer, and into the fall as a pro ballplayer? And what happens when the young boy plays organized rec ball or Little League, and everyone unfairly compares him to his dad? The pressure to be a great athlete must be enormous!
I thought this topic would make a good book, but it just wasn't realistic for me to travel around the country for interviews. However, after Covid hit, I realized I could do all the interviews via Zoom. That's when I decided to give it a try.
What was your process in researching these "intimate" stories between players and their sons?
There were many challenges in writing this book; the first and most critical one was connecting with the sons of former players. When I started working on the project, I did not know one single "son." Fortunately, I found a couple of leads that panned out into more connections. In the book's acknowledgments section, I describe, step-by-step, how this entire process played out. I think this summary has value as a great example of the power of networking.
Which story touched you the most?
I found a couple of stories in the book to be particularly moving.
One was that of Vada Pinson Jr., whose dad was an outstanding player--a borderline Hall of Famer-- mostly for the Cincinnati Reds in the 1960s. Vada Jr.'s parents divorced when he was young, and he never quite understood it or why his dad had become estranged from his kids afterward. Junior tells a very poignant story about when, as an adult, he visited his dad on his deathbed.
Another story is told by David Rodriguez, the son of Henry Rodriguez, an outfielder who mainly played with the Dodgers, Expos, and Cubs in the 1990s. David is gay, and he talks wistfully about how his dad, who is divorced from David's mom, has never acknowledged David's sexual orientation. David says that his dad is a good guy and that the two of them have a relationship, but that there's this barrier—"the pink elephant in the room," in David's words--that has never been overcome and prevents them from being truly close.
What do you hope to convey to your audience through these stories?
Sons of Baseball gives readers a look at pro baseball players not just as athletes, but also as fathers, and in some cases, grandfathers. We get to hear about the pressures and perks of being the son of a major-league baseball player. It provides insights into the family lives of these men, and I think the primary takeaway is that their lives are remarkably like ours. There are triumphs and tragedies, love and estrangements, complications, and normalcy. However, the backdrop is different. For example, most of us don't have family dinners at restaurants interrupted by autograph seekers. It's a unique way to grow up.
Do you have sons? What has this writing process taught you relative to them?
I have two sons, who are adults with families of their own. As I was told some of the sadder stories during my interviews for the book, it reinforced my thankfulness and appreciation for the fact that I am close to my boys.
Sons of Baseball is available on Amazon, target.com, and bn.com
Sons of Baseball gives readers a look at pro baseball players not just as athletes, but also as fathers, and in some cases, grandfathers.