Book Review: If These Walls Could Talk

If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Oakland A’s Dugout, Locker Room and Press Box
By Ken Korach and Susan Slusser
Foreword by Dennis Eckersley
Triumph Books, 2019

Athletics radio voice Ken Korach and San Francisco Chronicle beat writer Susan Slusser combine on an intriguing volume telling inside stories from their experiences. In addition, they provide interviews with several of the behind-the-scenes staffers of the A’s who make the franchise function.

Noteworthy among these interviews is a discussion with Oakland’s innovative farm director Keith Lieppman, who tells how the A’s pioneered the new era of player development. Lieppman began his life in baseball as a minor league player for the A’s in 1971 and has spent nearly 50 years with the organization.

The book oozes with a love of the game, as Korach tells of his life-long passion for baseball. Particularly interesting is the foreword from Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley, who gives a personal insight into the franchise’s dynasty period from 1988 to 1992.

The book is a treat for A’s fans and will interest readers who enjoy good baseball stories. You can purchase it here.