A home run for Hirsch

By Carol Beggy and Mark Shanahan, Globe Staff  |  September 24, 2007

Needham-based best-selling author James S. Hirsch has scored a deal to write the first authorized biography of baseball legend Willie Mays. A former reporter and author of four books, Hirsch told us he thinks the 76-year-old Mays finally consented to cooperating on a book because "enough time has passed to put his accomplishments in perspective." The Hall of Famer, who played from 1951 to 1973, had a career "that very much overlapped with the modern civil rights movement," Hirsch said yesterday. "He played an important role on the field, because so many fans - black and white - watched him play and that shaped how people viewed other players," Hirsch said of the iconic all-around player, who is described as being a very private person. The deal with Scribner's editor-in-chief Nan Graham was brokered by Todd Shuster of the Zachary Shuster Harmsworth literary agency of Boston and New York. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Mays announced he will donate his share of the proceeds to support his Say Hey Foundation, which advances children's causes. "He was not one to be out in front of the marches," Hirsch said. "He was more of a leader by example."

That's "doctor" Dirty Harry to you. A Berklee College contingent, including alumna Diana Krall, took over the stage at the Monterey Jazz Festival just before Krall's set on Saturday to give Clint Eastwood an honorary doctorate of music. Eastwood, long-time board member of the 50-year-old jazz fest, was recognized for his "efforts to popularize jazz through his films." (That work includes the Dave Brubeck documentary the "Mystic River" director and composer is currently working on.) Berklee's president, Roger Brown, let Krall place the doctoral collar around the Oscar-winner's neck. Also on hand were Berklee's senior veep Larry Simpson, trustee Bill Holodnak, and film composer Alan Silvestri, whose credits include "Forrest Gump" and "Beowulf."

Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis joined with several other members of the department in pedaling the route for the "Hub on Wheels" fund-raiser yesterday. The event supports the nonprofit Boston Digital Bridge Foundation, which provides technology training and computer equipment to underserved communities.

Patriots QB Tom Brady's folks - Tom Sr. and Galynn - enjoyed yesterday's win over the Buffalo Bills from the Bank of America suite, where they were hosted by former bank chairman Chad Gifford. The elder Brady got a few high-fives from Pats fans at The Razor, we're told.

Willie Alexander was among the lineup for the release party for Brett Milano's book, "The Sound of Our Town" at the Middle East in Cambridge Saturday. Several of the musicians who performed are featured in Milano's book about Boston's music scene.

Why does it not surprise us that Whitestarr frontman Cisco Adler missed this weekend's College Fest? But his bandmate, guitarist Rainbow Jeramy was at the Hynes Convention Center yesterday. We hope the coeds weren't too disappointed that Mischa Barton's ex wasn't in the house. The son of legendary LA music producer Lou Adler, the rocker was in San Diego for a side project and never got on the plane to Boston for the college gathering. One person who was drawing a crowd was Playboy's Miss October, Spencer Scott.

Jimmy Jay Frieden and Dan Cronin of the local production company National Boston couldn't have planned it any better: They filmed the pilot of their sports travel show "30 Minutes for Tripping" in Boston just as the Sox clinched a playoff berth. "It seemed like a natural thing to do," Cronin told us. "We were a little worried there for a while." Crews for the new show filmed at Abe & Louie's and the InterContinental Boston hotel, two locales that seem to draw more than a few fans from out of town. Hosts Mix 98.5 DJ Mike Vining and Wayne "Wayno" Soares of ESPN Radio will take viewers to other cities to find the local hot spots sought out by fans. (The show takes its name from the hockey penalty - two minutes for tripping - we're told.) "We'll branch out to other sports and other cities as soon as things cool down in baseball," said Cronin. "Let's hope that's not too soon."

"American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks and finalist Melinda Doolittle used their night off on the "Idol" tour to take in Friday's performance of "Wicked" at The Opera House.

That was "This Old House" host Kevin O'Connor doing his best to keep up with Boston Marathon winner Bill Rodgers on Heartbreak Hill the other morning. The two ran through Newton and up Heartbreak Hill - all near the Newton home being renovated on the upcoming season of the long-running Emmy Award-winning show that premieres on WGBH next month.

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