October Men : Reggie Jackson, George Steinbrenner, Billy Martin, and the Yankees' Miraculous Finish in 1978 - Reviews and Prices
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October Men : Reggie Jackson, George Steinbrenner, Billy Martin, and the Yankees' Miraculous Finish in 1978 - Customer Reviews, Information, Ratings, and Prices
October Men : Reggie Jackson, George Steinbrenner, Billy Martin, and the Yankees' Miraculous Finish in 1978 - Reviews and Prices
The author of the modern classic The Boys of Summer brings his unparalleled narrative gifts to another unforgettable team On the morning of October 2nd, 1978, the World Champion New York Yankees found themselves tied for first place with the Boston Red Sox. That day these rousing ball clubs would meet at Fenway Park. Both had won 99 games. Only one would win 100. By any rational standard the Yankees should have been reaching for their golf clubs. They had feuded, barked, and roared all season, until by mid-July they were fourteen games out of first place. Then came the spectacular self-destruction of Billy Martin: The Yankees' fortunes turned and a fractious band of ballplayers finally became a team. They capped one of the most thrilling comebacks in baseball history by defeating the Red Sox that October afternoon in a game that many still remember as the greatest ever played. Richly lyrical and raffishly funny, October Men weaves the first in-depth account of the legendary season of '78. Transporting us into the midst of the Bronx menagerie, Kahn reviews New York's colorful baseball history; takes us to the clubhouses and hotel bars where the season's dramatics played out; and introduces us to the outsized October Men: imperious George Steinbrenner; force of nature Reggie Jackson; Bucky Dent, whose three-run homer in the playoff left Boston a wash of tears; and others from Bob Lemon to Thurman Munson. 1978 was a troubled year for America, not just for the Yankees, and the team reflected its ills: alcoholism, broken homes, social unrest and racism. But in rising above turmoil, the October Men became an inspiration for the country. Roger Kahn has rendered their story into a classic of American literature.
October Men reads like a night spent in the dugout with a veteran manager during a lopsided game. Roger Kahn sits beside you occasionally narrating the events of each inning as it unfolds while frequently digressing into anecdotes from his lifetime as a baseball writer. The digressions--everything from Yankees's VP Al Rosen's connections to the Las Vegas boxing scene to a brief history of the 1903 New York Highlanders (the "Pleistocene Yankees")--are all interesting, but one frequently loses track of the main reason for being there.
In this case, the main story is the tumultuous 1978 Yankees's season. What makes this particular season an interesting subject for a book is that it is not the story of a group of young heroes who rallied together to make a team that was somehow larger than its parts. Rather, the 1978 Yankees was a team patched together with aging stars (Reggie Jackson, Goose Gossage, Catfish Hunter) from other teams, held fast by George Steinbrenner's money, and piloted by the tempestuous Billy Martin. This was a team expected to win a world championship. The story Kahn tries to tell is how this boatload of talent nearly ran aground because of bickering, paranoia, and racism.
Kahn's breadth of knowledge is impressive, and the many insider tales he relates are entertaining; but October Men does not flow effortlessly as a narrative of the 1978 team. If one can excuse the digressions and occasional disjointed transitions, though, there is much pleasure to be had from this prime spectator's seat. --Patrick O'Kelley
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Atrocious proofreading in the hardcover edition:
I'm really appalled at the typos that show up in so many hardcover books these days. This one is about the worst. Call me weird, but I think that if a publisher expects you to fork over $25 for a harcover book, they should at least proofread it for typos. To wit: "(She) later became a a celebrity." That's just the tip of the iceberg. Typos aside, Kahn has picked a worthy topic for this book. It's a fast-paced, breezy read that will be enjoyed most by baseball fans who lived through the seasons... more info
A FINE REMEMBRANCE OF A REMARKABLE TEAM:
The author of The Boys of Summer has now written a book about the men of October. October 1978 to be specific. Roger Kahn gives us a rambling, desultory, non linear history of that remarkable comeback season for the Yankees. His prose wanderings take us back to the 1880s and forward, past 1978, to 2003. OCTOBER MEN is like sitting down with a grand uncle and listening to the colorful musings of his life, except that here, Mr Kahn is musing about baseball history. This can be frustrating to some who want a... more info
George, Billy, Reggie, Thurman and more:
"October Men" was one of a spate of books that came out in time for the New York Yankees' 100th anniversary. This time though, its focus is on another milestone -- the Bronx Bombers' 1978 championship run, especially their comback from 14 games out to win the American League East title. Roger Kahn ("The Boys of Summer") brings first-hand observations, strong research and a love of both sports and history to the batter's box. Kahn's insights into the insecurities of the key players are intriguing. He... more info
MUCH DETAIL:
THID BOOK IS ABOUT THE NEW YORK YANKEES 1978 SEASON. ROGER KAHN DOES A GOOD JOB OF DESCRIBING THE EVENTS WHICH LEAD UP TO THE ASTONISHING COMEBACK FROM NOWHERE TO WIN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE PENNANT IN A PLAYOFF GAME FROM THE BOSTON REDSOX. MUCH DETAIL AND TIME IS PUT TOGETHER IN THIS ENTERTAINING READ FROM THE MAN WHO GAVE US THE BOYS OF SUMMER. I ENJOYED THIS BOOK BUT FOUND IT OVER LONG AND BORING AT TIMES. OVERALL I DID LIKE IT AND RECOMMEND IT FOR ALL YANKEE FANS. BUT A BOOK OF PAIN FOR REDSOX FANS.
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