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    Hammerin' Hank, George Almighty and the Say Hey Kid: The Year That Changed Baseball Forever
    Unavailable
    Hammerin' Hank, George Almighty and the Say Hey Kid: The Year That Changed Baseball Forever
    Unavailable
    Hammerin' Hank, George Almighty and the Say Hey Kid: The Year That Changed Baseball Forever
    Ebook451 pages4 hours

    Hammerin' Hank, George Almighty and the Say Hey Kid: The Year That Changed Baseball Forever

    By John Rosengren

    3.5/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    "The vivid story of a young Reggie Jackson on Charlie Finley's A's and the veteran Willie Mays on Yogi's Mets, both destined for the '73 series."—Library Journal

    This was the year that the national pastime underwent an extreme makeover.

    In 1973, baseball was in crisis. The first strike in pro sports had soured fans, American League attendance had fallen, and America's team—the Yankees—had lost more games and money than ever. Yet that season, five of the game's greatest figures rescued the national pastime.

    Hank Aaron riveted the nation with his pursuit of Babe Ruth's landmark home run record in the face of racist threats. George Steinbrenner purchased the Yankees at a bargain basement price and began buying back their faded glory. The American League broke ranks with the National League and introduced the designated hitter, extending the careers of aging stars such as Orlando Cepeda. An elderly and ailing Willie Mays—the icon of an earlier generation—nearly helped the Mets pull off a miracle with the final hit of his career. Reggie Jackson, the MVP of a tense World Series, became the prototype of the modern superstar.

    The season itself provided plenty of drama served up by a colorful cast of characters. The Mets, managed by Yogi Berra, performed another near miracle, rising from last place in the National League East to win the division and take the A's to seven games in the World Series. Pete Rose edged Willie Stargell as the National League's MVP in a controversial vote. Hank Aaron chased Babe Ruth's landmark 714 record in the face of racial threats. Reggie Jackson, the World Series MVP, solidified his reputation as Mr. October. Willie Mays, arguably the best player of the '50s and '60s, hit the final home run of his career and retired, no longer able to keep pace with the younger players of the next generation. Future Hall of Famers Dave Winfield and George Brett played in their first major league games; Luis Aparicio and Mays played in their last.

    That one memorable summer changed baseball forever.

    "It's a season-ticket to one of the greatest years in baseball history. John Rosengren has given us one of the most enjoyable baseball books to come along in years."—Jonathan Eig, author of Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig and Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSourcebooks
    Release dateApr 1, 2008
    ISBN9781402230318
    Unavailable
    Hammerin' Hank, George Almighty and the Say Hey Kid: The Year That Changed Baseball Forever
    Author

    John Rosengren

    John Rosengren is a SABR member with an MFA. He is the author of nine other books, including Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win, which chronicles a season with a Minnesota high school hockey powerhouse. A Pulitzer nominee for his journalism, Rosengren has written articles for more than 100 publications, including The Atavist, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Sports Illustrated, and The Washington Post Magazine. His work has been anthologized alongside that of Maya Angelou, Marlon James, Bill Moyers, George Saunders, and Meg Wolitzer. He earned his master's degree in creative writing at Boston University, where he studied under Leslie Epstein, Theo's father. A lifelong Twins fan, Rosengren lives in Minneapolis with his wife, their two children, and two golden retrievers.

    Read more from John Rosengren

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