Cracking the Show
Books / Hardcover
Books › Sports & Recreation › Outdoor Skills
ISBN: 0385472862 / Publisher: Doubleday, March 1994
A collection of baseball writings by the syndicated Washington Post columnist shares observations and reflections on topics ranging from Fay Vincent's ouster and Pete Rose's gambling to Bo Jackson and the return of George Steinbrenner
Read More
Thomas Boswell, nationally syndicated Washington Post sports columnist, has been called "an astute observer of the human condition disguised as a first-rate sportswriter," and his three previous baseball collections have won wide praise across the country for their lucid and graceful perspective on America's favorite pastime. This new collection can only expand on that reputation while delighting everyone who just can't wait for Opening Day.In Cracking the Show, Boswell has handpicked his best baseball writing of the last five years - perhaps baseball's most tumultuous years of this century - to create what is arguably his best book yet. There are articles on the Pete Rose tragedy and the Nolan Ryan triumph. "The New Breed" covers the younger stars of "the show" such as Frank Thomas, Juan Gonzalez, Cecil Fielder, Barry Bonds, and Mike Mussina, while "Old Goats" pays tribute to Mike Schmidt, Dennis Eckersley, Orel Hershiser, Kirk Gibson, Robin Yount, and Jack Morris. "The First Worst-to-First" takes us inside the miracle of the 1989 Orioles, while "Five Octobers" brings us the pennant races and post-seasons of 1989 through 1993 in vivid detail. There are also moving personal pieces on the last game at Memorial Stadium and the first at Camden Yards; the death of Bart Giamatti; the ouster of Fay Vincent; and Boswell's discovery of his childhood baseball-card collection.Another splendid gathering of smart, witty, beautifully written pieces about our national pastime, Cracking the Show confirms that when it comes to baseball, Boswell is in a league by himself.
Read Less