It tells the story of a man with such love for a sport when a knee injury almost destroys his career and all the friends he didnt even know he had. Gale sayers book i am third, with al silverman, is a stirring, painfully honest account of his struggle to become the greatest running back in history and that. Once he came back from his injury, he would play his best but there was always something in the papers about how he wasnt as good as when he first started. The books title is from sayers motto, the lord is first, my friends are second, and i am third. Courageous piccolo never lost hope by gale sayers with al silverman from i am third. I am third i am third this photo shows africanamerican being put in jail.
Piccolos story is told in the book brian piccolo a short season1972. But, it was chicago bears hall of fame running back, gale sayers, who made the sentiment famous 48 years earlier, in his 1970 book, i am. May not include supplemental items like discs, access codes, dust jacket, etc. Sayers serves on the board of directors at american century mutual funds, located in kansas city, missouri. Silverman has also worked as an editor and publisher. I am third by gale sayers, al silverman, paperback. This is the book which was made into a tv movie which made every male in america bawl like a baby. The title comes from this anecdote, in the introduction to the book. In part 2 of i am third, sayers talks about his elementary and. In 1977, he was inducted into the pro football hall of.
The book is 238 pages long and has black and white vintage football pictures in it. When i was a sophomore at the university of kansas i had seen this sign on the desk of bill easton, who is my. Al silverman is a noted sports writer and the author of ten books and numerous essays published in. I am third by gale sayers viking press 1970 biography.
I first heard this saying in this biography of one of the greatest football players to ever play the game, sayers. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. In addition, his 1971 autobiography, i am third, was produced into an awardwinning television movie, brians song, starring james caan and billy dee williams. He was a running back for the chicago bears for 7 seasons during the 1960s and 1970s. Will be a good reading copy free shipping on all domestic orders home about view all products contact i am third by al silverman i am third by al silverman item specifics isbn10. You must know how great in addition to important the book i am third gale sayers. Sayers credo, the lord is first, my friends are second, and i am third, is the where the title of the book derives from. Gale sayers is a former nfl player known for his designation as the youngest person to ever be inducted into the.
The book i am third written by gale sayers is the best autobiography i have ever read. This book is compassionate, emotional, and sometimes comic. Book summary book summary quotation grew up in the ghetto lacked heat, food and attention from parents. Gale sayers was a running back in the 1960s for the nfls chicago bears.
They encouraged each other when both were having physical issues. Gale sayers book i am third, with al silverman, is a stirring, painfully honest account of his struggle to become the greatest running back in history and that agonizing moment between immortality and becoming a cripple. I am third gale sayers, al silverman mcnally robinson. Conclusion gale sayers is still living, he is 71 years old. The book is 1970 by gale sayers and al silverman, library of congress catalog card number 70119775 sbn 670389773 third printing december 1971. In the book, i am third, the main character gale sayers is a young man trying to find a way to become a pro football player. The inspiration for brians song by gale sayers 627 ratings, 3.
In 2007, he released a new book, gale sayers, my life and times. Two years ago i got this old beatup book as a gift from someone in my family. You can look for the internet sources or other social media. At first i knew nothing of gale sayers and brian piccolo, and the friendship the two had, or the saying i am third. His friendship with bears teammate brian piccolo, who died of cancer in 1970, inspired sayers to write his autobiography, i am third, which in turn was the basis for the 1971 madefortv movie brians song. Its easy to make a big deal out of the fact that he was white and im black and to wonder how we got along. This book was first published in 1970, and republished many times since the first 1971 film. Penguin books has reissued i am third and what follows is an excerpt from the new edition. I am third by gale sayers, 1970, viking press edition, in english. From 1951 to 1963, he was editor of sport magazine and from 1972 to 1988, he was ceo and chairman of book of the month club. About i am third gale sayers book i am third, with al silverman, is a stirring, painfully honest account of his struggle to become the greatest running back in history and that agonizing moment between immortality and becoming a cripple. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. I am third is the memoir of gale sayers, one of the best running backs in the history of the ncaa and pro football. Saw brians song as a kid and always had great respect for gale sayers.
It is also the story of his friendship with brian piccolo. I am third by gale sayers, 9780142000755, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Gale sayers book i am third, with al silverman, is a stirring, painfully honest account of his struggle to become the greatest running back in. I am third by gale sayers with al silverman i read this book, an autobiography of gale sayers, in november and december of 2010. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. He and a white teammate brian piccolo were bosom buddies. Meant to be the story of a major professional football star recovering from a devastating knee injury, the book. Sayers also went through a hard time with the media. I am third by gale sayers, bill cosby introduction, al.
He wrote, brian piccolo and i began rooming together in 1967 and we became close friends. I am third has 2 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace same low prices, bigger selection, more fun shop the allnew. As explains, sayers says in his book that the title is based on his lifes motto, that his god and his friends take priority over himself. I first learned of this book long ago after seeing brians song. I am third book by gale sayers 2 available editions.
Publication date 1974 topics sayers, gale, 1943publisher new york, bantam books. Edition notes 119,466 genre biography, juvenile literature. Nowadays reading books be a little more than want or need but also get a life style. Gale eugene sayers born 1943 was a famous running back for the chicago bears for seven seasons. Among his publications is i am third, cowritten with gale sayers, which was adapted for the 1971 television film, brians song. But, it was chicago bears hall of fame running back, gale sayers, who made the sentiment famous 48 years earlier, in his 1970 book, i am third. Among his publications is i am third, cowritten with gale sayers, which was. Gale sayers, the great chicago bears running back, wrote a hit book back in the 1970s, called i am third.
Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit. While sayers was a firstround pick of the bears in 1965, piccolo. Known also as a community leader and great friend to all, sayers s credo is, the lord is first, my friends are second, and i am third. From 1989 to 1997, silverman served as editor and publisher at viking press. Brians song is a 1971 abc movie of the week that recounts the details of the life of brian piccolo, a football player stricken with terminal cancer after turning pro, told through his friendship with chicago bears running back teammate and pro football hall of famer gale sayers, who helps him in his difficult struggle directed by buzz kulik. Al silverman is a noted sports writer and the author of ten books and numerous essays published in playboy, saga, and sport magazines. In his biography, i am third, sayers said god is first, others are second, and i am third. Buy i am third by sayers, gale from amazons fiction books store. I am third gale sayers book i am third, with al silverman, is a stirring, painfully honest account of his struggle to become the greatest running back in history and that agonizing moment between immortality and becoming a cripple. As he goes through high school and college he becomes a top running back who is still trying to find himself.
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