What I'm Reading

Casey's generosity (he's heavily involved in charities such as the Cerebral Palsy Foundation and World Hunger Organization) and friendliness have earned him the nickname the Mayor from his fellow players. But the 10-year veteran believes that the quest for self-improvement never ends. In honor of the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson 's debut, Casey has started each day at the ballpark for the past two weeks by reading roughly a chapter of this 2005 book, which he keeps in his locker. He aspires to be like Robinson , "more as a person than a base stealer," says the lead-footed Casey (left), who has swiped 15 career bases—182 fewer than Robinson . "He was walking integrity and living proof that you can be a strong person, and you don't have to punch someone in the face. He changed America forever ... and it's bigger than baseball. It's about the man he was, how he carried himself, the things he stuck up for." Casey calls the book one of the best he's read (he also lauds No Greater Love by Mother Teresa ) and has promised to pass his copy along to teammate Craig Monroe , one of the Tigers who asked to wear number 42 for Robinson on Sunday. Says Casey, "Every baseball player should read it, and everyone else should read it too."