Toy Cannon: The Autobiography of Baseball's Jimmy Wynn

Despite the pressures of racism and a troubled young adult married life, a compact little guy named Jimmy "The Toy Cannon" Wynn achieved remarkable success as a major league power hitter. In his fifteen seasons in the major leagues, he hammered 291 home runs, three of which still rank as some of the longest balls on record. Following his trade from the Houston Astros after the 1973 season, Wynn's slugging and leadership presence on the field guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to the 1974 National League pennant. His last major league home run came as a member of the New York Yankees. It proved to be a dramatic first homer on Opening Day of the newly renovated Yankee Stadium in 1977, but this story is so much more than a statistical accounting of Jimmy Wynn's many accomplishments on the field. It is the story of a man who overcame some long odds to become one of the best little-man power hitters of all time. Jimmy's honest, forthright, and wise storytelling abilities allow him to take you along for the spiritual ride and, implicitly, how he came to be known and loved as "The Toy Cannon." In June 2005, the Houston Astros retired Jimmy Wynn's uniform # 24 for all time. The book is also visual. It features twenty-four photos of Jimmy Wynn's life, from childhood to his current career as a sports analyst for Fox Sports in Houston. Please join Jimmy for this special trip too. The train departs every time someone cares enough to pick up the book and make the journey with one of baseball's special people.