In 1955, his book "Fear Strikes Out", co-authored by Al Hirshberg, was published. It became the subject of a 1957 movie version, "Fear Strikes Out", in which Piersall was portrayed by Anthony Perkins and his father by Karl Malden, directed by Robert Mulligan. Piersall eventually disowned the film because of what he saw as its distortion of the facts, including over-blaming his father for his problems. Many years later, Piersall authored "The Truth Hurts," in which he details his ouster from the Chicago White Sox organization.