Books

The following is a review of books that we believe speak to the heart and soul of Baseballisms. They are true to the poetry of the game.

Summer of ‘49

David Halberstam’s Summer of ‘49 is a must read for anyone who can appreciate a true rivalry, in particular the Red Sox and Yankees epic. The year 1949 witnessed a classic pennant race fought all the way to the last day of the season, starring two of the games all time greatest heroes DiMaggio and Williams. Halberstam brilliantly details the emotional eb and flow of the season, while clearly painting the personalities surrounding the stars; Johnny Pesky, Dom DiMaggio, Mel Parnell, Bobby Doerr, Yogi Berra, Jerry Colemen, and Phil Rizzutto. Even the managers were classics, Joe McCarthy versus Casey Stengel. Many seasons have come and gone since then, but David Halberstam has captured the legacy of the Summer of ‘49 for generations.

The Boys of Summer

A baseball masterpiece. It must have been a great time to be a baseball fan in New York, with three teams in contention every year, each covered by the original poets of the sports pages. For some fans of the game today, the names of this era such as Robinson, Campenella, Snider can seem as if they are characters from a novel - read Roger Kahn’s Boys of Summer to get to know the real men of the historically significant Brooklyn Dodgers.

Wait Till Next Year

Famed historian and Pulitzer Prize winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin recounts how her passion was born as a six year old, when her father taught her how to score the game “in a bright red scorebook that opened my heart to the game of baseball.” She expertly recounts historical events from the period while weaving Brooklyn Dodger’s seasons throughout, including the impact of the destruction of Ebbetts Field on her family and the community. This is a memoir of a gifted writer with a deep love and respect for the game of baseball.

Ball Four

Oh Oh! Remember the one season wonders The Seattle Pilots? Here’s the groundbreaking book that gives you a first person peak into what it’s like in a big league clubhouse. Jim Bouton exposes some of the (tame by today’s standards) goings on with his teammates past and present, and chronicles his attempt at getting back to prominence with a knuckleball. When this book appeared in 1970 it was definitely controversial for it’s candidness.

BTW, kudos to Jim Bouton for his other contribution to the game, especially to youth baseball — Big League Chew!

Now I Can Die In Peace

The ultimate for the fans, by a fan book. It chronicles the Red Sox, leading up to the final achievement of what many believed was an “impossible dream”. Bill Simmons (The Sports Guy on ESPN) has grown up experiencing the ups and downs of the Boston sports scene, and articulates it with the humor and passion that you might find sitting beside you in a place called Sully’s or Darcy’s Pub.