Time for a little pluggorama:

Just in time for the holidays: My book, “Babe Ruth’s Called Shot: The Myth and Mystery of Baseball’s Greatest Home Run,” now is out in paperback. Here is the link on Amazon.

Frankly, I can’t think of a better gift for your favorite sports fan.

The book, which came out in 2014, examines all the angles of The Called Shot. It begins with an interview with former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, who was 12 when he attended the legendary Game 3 of the 1932 World Series at Wrigley Field.

Much of whether The Called Shot is true is left up to interpretation. When people ask me, I always reply it isn’t as simple as a yes-no, black-white answer. There is much gray area in there. Obviously, I have my own views. You’ll have to read the book.

One thing is for sure: Something of considerable magnitude occurred during the fifth inning of Game 3. There is a tendency by people who dismiss the the Called Shot to make it sound as if this was a normal at bat with Ruth merely facing Cubs pitcher Charlie Root.

Far from it. Ruth was being taunted by Cubs players who actually were standing on the field. The crowd was in a frenzy, as the Cubs finally seized momentum to tie the game at 4-4. Ruth responded vehemently with not one but several dramatic gestures, suggesting he was going to do something bad to the Cubs. Then he hit one of the longest homers in Wrigley Field history, which effectively sealed the World Series for the Yankees.

Quite simply, this was the most unique at bat in baseball history. A seminal moment by the greatest player and showman ever to play the game. There’s good reason why we’re still discussing it more than 81 years later.

*****

For more here is my interview with Harold Reynolds and Fran Charles on MLB Network.

A long write-up on the book in the New York Post.

A Q/A with Yahoo’s Post Game.