Charlie Hustle Author at the Book Fest
When baseball fans hear the name Charlie Hustle, one man comes to mind. Pete Rose is one of the most iconic and controversial figures in Major League Baseball history. His remarkable achievement is undeniable, compiling 4,256 hits, the most by any player in the history of the game. It’s a record that still stands today. He was renowned for his relentless work ethic and competitive spirit.
And then came the downfall when news broke that he had bet on baseball games while managing the Cincinnati Reds, leading to his lifetime ban from the sport.
Fans of a certain age remember him for his television appearances off the field. It seemed like he was a guest on dozens of shows, and he was always in a commercial selling something.
While Pete Rose spent a majority of his baseball career in Cincinnati, his path led him to our area in 1979. For five seasons, he played with the Philadelphia Phillies, when they earned three division titles, two World Series appearances and a World Series title in 1980.
In Charlie Hustle, author Keith O’Brien sums up our ongoing fascination with Pete Rose. “He was Icarus in red stirrup socks and cleats. He was the American dream sliding headfirst into third. He was both a miracle and a disaster, and he still is today.”
Keith O’Brien has written “a masterpiece of sports biography,” according to Kirkus Reviews. Filmmaker Ken Burns agrees, referring to the book as “a dazzling, soaring accomplishment.”
A native of Cincinnati, Keith will be heading from his current home in New Hampshire to join the author line-up at the Collingswood Book Festival this year. He is excited to be traveling to our area to meet readers.
“Writers often work alone, boxed up inside an office or an archive,” he said. “So meeting with readers—and talking about books—is like being released from captivity. It's one of the reasons why we do what we do.”
He’s also looking forward to seeing his friend and in-convo partner, Ellen Adair, the narrator of the Charlie Hustle audiobook. Ellen is an actor best known for her recurring roles on The Sinner, Homeland, Billions and The Slap. You can also find her talking about baseball on MLB Network, on podcasts, and in articles on Baseball Prospectus. Ellen will be moderating the conversation with Keith at the Collingswood Book Festival on Saturday, October 5 at 1:00 PM in the main tent next to the Collingswood Public Library. After the presentation, Keith will be signing his book. Charlie Hustle will be available for purchase at the Festival Bookseller tent nearby.