It's the greatest sport ever, in my opinion. Even the heartbreak years, which, for us Phillies fans, has been the last few. There is nothing better than a couple of hours spent at the (any) ballpark, and I cannot wait for opening day! It's a bucket list dream to see a game in every single MLB park one day.
Exactly the way I feel about baseball. I guess this is why my wife sent me the link to this. I love everything about the game, except watching it. Live is much better, but I’d rather listen to a game on the radio. I find myself listening to games from the 50s and 60s to go to sleep sometimes. Hearing names like Koufax, Mantle, “The Great Roberto”, and the like is so thrilling, from an era I never got to experience.
And since other book recommendations are coming out, The Glory of Their Times is unrivaled. It goes back further, as it’s interviews with players from 1900 through the 1930s. And the audiobook is the old fellas telling the stories in their own words as elderly men in the 1960s.
I discovered Ball Four by Jim Bouton when I was way too young to read such things, and it’s the funniest damn book I ever read. I probably wouldn’t laugh so hard now, but at the time it was hilarious.
My first MLB game was at Yankee Stadium in the summer of ‘88. I had just turned 15 and I have the same exact memories as described in this piece, the dankness of the tunnel (and the Bronx as a whole really) and then an explosive of sunlight, color, and the greenest grass I’d ever seen. I believe I’ll still have that memory on my deathbed.
I joined here because I really enjoy the eloquence and political leanings. Finding out your Mother had a partner was a truly surprising and happy moment.
The Reggie! Bar was the greatest candy bar to ever exist. (And please note the use of the superfluous exclamation point long before Yahoo! claimed it as their own.)
Baseball was my first love as a sport, and it will be my last. I am still the seven year old kid who fell in love with the 1968 Cubs and despite decades of angst (and one that justified it all) I still loves my team. Baseball is my fountain of youth. Players who are forty years my junior are still the grownups and I'm a kid, listening in on summer afternoons in my back yard on the AM radio. God bless baseball.
Both of my kids work for our local minor league team, and I highly recommend the experience of attending minor league games. Also, Michael, you have maybe the greatest minor league team of all, the Savannah Bananas, in your current hometown. I hope you get a chance to attend one of their games and then write to us about the experience.
If you're looking for a GREAT historical book, you should consider reading October, 1964 by Halberstam. Soooo good. Really captures the times, crazy players, crazy ownership.
It's the greatest sport ever, in my opinion. Even the heartbreak years, which, for us Phillies fans, has been the last few. There is nothing better than a couple of hours spent at the (any) ballpark, and I cannot wait for opening day! It's a bucket list dream to see a game in every single MLB park one day.
Exactly the way I feel about baseball. I guess this is why my wife sent me the link to this. I love everything about the game, except watching it. Live is much better, but I’d rather listen to a game on the radio. I find myself listening to games from the 50s and 60s to go to sleep sometimes. Hearing names like Koufax, Mantle, “The Great Roberto”, and the like is so thrilling, from an era I never got to experience.
And since other book recommendations are coming out, The Glory of Their Times is unrivaled. It goes back further, as it’s interviews with players from 1900 through the 1930s. And the audiobook is the old fellas telling the stories in their own words as elderly men in the 1960s.
Thanks for the great read.
I discovered Ball Four by Jim Bouton when I was way too young to read such things, and it’s the funniest damn book I ever read. I probably wouldn’t laugh so hard now, but at the time it was hilarious.
My first MLB game was at Yankee Stadium in the summer of ‘88. I had just turned 15 and I have the same exact memories as described in this piece, the dankness of the tunnel (and the Bronx as a whole really) and then an explosive of sunlight, color, and the greenest grass I’d ever seen. I believe I’ll still have that memory on my deathbed.
I joined here because I really enjoy the eloquence and political leanings. Finding out your Mother had a partner was a truly surprising and happy moment.
Beautiful piece! ⚾️❤️ Here’s another fun way to celebrate a new season of baseball: https://youtu.be/k0hvV_ETDQ0?si=FdeocWgdnDTc0QCg
Huge shoutout to Dave Daignault- his work is amazing! www.bigbunnyart.com (he has no idea I’m posting this)
The Reggie! Bar was the greatest candy bar to ever exist. (And please note the use of the superfluous exclamation point long before Yahoo! claimed it as their own.)
Ooh, man: “86 Mets” triggers this Red Sox sufferer like a mofo.
Baseball was my first love as a sport, and it will be my last. I am still the seven year old kid who fell in love with the 1968 Cubs and despite decades of angst (and one that justified it all) I still loves my team. Baseball is my fountain of youth. Players who are forty years my junior are still the grownups and I'm a kid, listening in on summer afternoons in my back yard on the AM radio. God bless baseball.
Both of my kids work for our local minor league team, and I highly recommend the experience of attending minor league games. Also, Michael, you have maybe the greatest minor league team of all, the Savannah Bananas, in your current hometown. I hope you get a chance to attend one of their games and then write to us about the experience.
David Halberstam’s “October 1964” is also very good.
Wow, that's funny, same recommendation at nearly the same moment!
If you're looking for a GREAT historical book, you should consider reading October, 1964 by Halberstam. Soooo good. Really captures the times, crazy players, crazy ownership.
https://www.amazon.com/October-1964-David-Halberstam/dp/0449983676