House of Nails: A Memoir of Life on the Edge

by Lenny Dykstra

Overview

Eclipsing the traditional sports memoir, House of Nails is a tale of Shakespearian proportions—a relentlessly entertaining ride that careens from the heights to the abyss.

Lenny Dykstra, nicknamed “Nails” for his hustle and grit, approached the game of baseball—and life—with mythic intensity.  During his decade in the majors as a legendary member of the 1980s Mets and 1990s Phillies, he was named to three All-Star teams and played in two of the most memorable World Series of the modern era.

Then came a second act no novelist could plausibly conjure: After retiring, Dykstra became “baseball’s most improbable post-career success story” (The New Yorker). But when the real estate bubble burst in 2008, Lenny lost everything. Then the feds moved in: convicted of bankruptcy fraud (unjustly, he contends), Lenny served two and a half harrowing years in prison.

Now, for the first time, Dykstra tells all about his tumultuous career on and off the field. House of Nails asks no apologies and leaves nothing left unsaid.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062440273
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/26/2016
Edition description:	Large Print
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Lenny Dykstra manned center field for the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies from 1985 to 1996. He was a three-time All-Star, and won a World Series with the Mets in 1986. Since his playing days ended, he has been active in a number of business ventures, including publishing a magazine geared toward professional athletes.

Table of Contents

Prologue 1

1 Freedom 5

2 In the Shadow of Angels 13

3 Climbing the Ladder 27

4 Breaking into the Bigs 45

5 Chasing the Pennant, 1986 NLCS: New York Mets vs. Houston Astros 53

6 1986 World Series: New York Mets vs. Boston Red Sox 67

7 Rednecks & Rifles 81

8 1988 NLCS: New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers 85

9 Play Me or Trade Me 93

10 A Shot in the Butt 97

11 The Politics of Steroids 105

12 The Big Blind 115

13 Brass Balls 123

14 Charlie Sheen 131

15 1993 NLCS: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves 149

16 1993 World Series: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Toronto Blue Jays 157

17 Ambassador Lenny 167

18 Car Wash King 179

19 Robes & Room Service 185

20 1994 MLB Strike: No More Kool-Aid for Me 195

21 Promised Land 201

22 Wheels Up 217

23 Richards & Rehab 227

24 Stock Market Guru 237

25 Players Club 249

26 Baseball Gods 255

27 Beginning of the End 263

28 I Fought the Law and the Law Won 271

29 Detained 281

30 In Custody 287

31 In the Hole 295

32 Legacy 303

33 To Be or Not to Be Lenny 307

Afterword: Whale Hunting with Lenny Dykstra 315

Acknowledgments 323

Index 331

Editorial Reviews

A memoir as brash and uncensored as the man himself. ... Dykstra’s life story is Shakespearian in scope.

Playboy

Astonishing. ... I got to read that f#ck*ing book!

Denis Leary

THIS BOOK IS GOING TO BLOW YOUR MIND! Obviously everyone has to buy it.

Howard Stern

It’s phenomenal. You got to get your hands on it.

Brandon Tierney

The book is as action-packed as an autobiography can be because that is how Nails’ life has always been, and how it continues to be.

Bookreporter.com

[A] gripping memoir. ... The man knows how to entertain.

Esquire

A memoir as brash and uncensored as the man himself. ... Dykstra’s life story is Shakespearian in scope.

Playboy

WOW! Hopefully they’ll make a movie out of this bad boy.

Adam Carolla

A fast-paced read with plenty of zany yarns. ... A very entertaining book.

Baltimore Post-Examiner

[An] unsparing chronicle. … pure, weapons-grade gossip. … a no-holds-barred success. … Dykstra is bleedingly, strikingly human. … Darkly funny.

The Ringer

A head-spinning trip. ... House of Nails is far more entertaining than your typical player memoir.

Vice

Tough, straight, upsetting, and strangely beautiful. ONE OF THE BEST SPORTS AUTOBIOGRAPHIES I’VE EVER READ. It comes from the heart.

Stephen King

A swaggering salute to a steroid-fueled career of exceptional excess.

New York Times

As far as sports autobiographies go, what can I say? NAILS NAILED IT!

Jack Nicholson

As far as sports autobiographies go, what can I say? NAILS NAILED IT!” — Jack Nicholson

“THIS BOOK IS GOING TO BLOW YOUR MIND! Obviously everyone has to buy it.” — Howard Stern

“A memoir as brash and uncensored as the man himself. ... Dykstra’s life story is Shakespearian in scope.” — Playboy

“A swaggering salute to a steroid-fueled career of exceptional excess.” — New York Times

“[A] gripping memoir. ... The man knows how to entertain.” — Esquire

“Tough, straight, upsetting, and strangely beautiful. ONE OF THE BEST SPORTS AUTOBIOGRAPHIES I’VE EVER READ. It comes from the heart.” — Stephen King

“A head-spinning trip. ... House of Nails is far more entertaining than your typical player memoir.” — Vice

“[An] unsparing chronicle. … pure, weapons-grade gossip. … a no-holds-barred success. … Dykstra is bleedingly, strikingly human. … Darkly funny.” — The Ringer

“Will rekindle memories for baseball enthusiasts and entertain nonfans. ... Tales of the author’s lifestyle are mindboggling.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Astonishing. ... I got to read that f#ck*ing book!” — Denis Leary

“It’s phenomenal. You got to get your hands on it.” — Brandon Tierney, Tiki & Tierney

“A fast-paced read with plenty of zany yarns. ... A very entertaining book.” — Baltimore Post-Examiner

“WOW! Hopefully they’ll make a movie out of this bad boy.” — Adam Carolla, The Adam Carolla Show

“The book is as action-packed as an autobiography can be because that is how Nails’ life has always been, and how it continues to be.” — Bookreporter.com

From the Publisher