The Glory of Their Times: The Story of the Early Days of Baseball Told by the Men Who Played It

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Summary: Baseball as pure as it can get
Review: Ritter spent six years tracking down professional baseball players from the early 1900s, then stepped aside to let them tell their remarkable stories in their own words. Virtually all of these men are gone now, but thanks to Ritter they'll never be forgotten. If you're a fan of baseball, you'll be a fan of this book!

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Summary: baseball as it should be
Review: I first read this book as an 11 year old and i have treasured it since. This is how all children should learn about the game. Mr. Ritter deserves a place in the Hall of Fame for preserving the storys of these players. At the time the book was written these men were elderly and most were long forgotten. Some had stayed in the game (Hans Lobert), some were successful in other fields (Fred Snodgrass) and some like Bill Wambgnass and Stan Coveleski barely scrapped by. But from their memories you understand that they are all intellegent men who were, in their youth, the best ball players in the nation. They paint a vivid picture, as only men who lived the llfe can, of what baseball was like at the turn of the century. The storys in this book are gems. You get to hear about the greats of the game not from some sportswriter (most of whom usually get it wrong) but by the players. And they pull no punches. Ty Cobb was a bastard, Bugs Raymond was a drunk. From their memories you get a REAL picture of what Hans Wagner, Babe Ruth, Chrisy Mathewson and Walter Johnson were like not just as players but as men. It should be noted that almost as a direct result of this book Goose Goslin, Rube Marquard and Stan Coveleski were elected to baseball Hall of Fame.

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Summary: A Priceless Collection
Review: Being a die hard baseball fan, I am always on the look out for great baseball books. And after reading numerous lists of favorite baseball books by Amazon.com readers, it seemed that there was one unanimous choice, The Glory of Their Times, by Lawrence Ritter. And let me say, that I wasn't dissapointed in the least. The beauty of this book is that you feel like you yourself are sitting down with the different players interviewed and having them regale you with stories about playing baseball in the early 20th Century or earlier. The players interviewed are not all household names which adds so much to it. Most of us know the exploits of Cobb and Ruth. Not as many know the stories of Harry Hooper, Wahoo Sam Crawford, and Paul Waner to name just a few. This book is a pleasure to read through and all I can say is thank God that Mr. Ritter wrote this book when he did as all of the players interview here have since passed on I believe. Don't miss this book!

Rating:
Summary: A Missed Opportunity
Review: While Ritter has deservedly received a great deal of credit for this groundbreaking book, being the first person to committ ballplayers from the early part of this century to tape and then present transcripts of those conversations, the great tragedy of this book in its various incarnations are the questions and topics that didn't get asked and were left unexplored. Had Ritter only known more about the history of the game and the careers of individual players at the time, he had an umatched opportunity to get right to the heart of the matter on any number of issues. But he spoke to them as a fan, and it shows. In the end the book teeters more toward nostalgia than hard core history. While it gives a wonderful sense of the times and of the personality of the players interviewed, one is left wishing for more and mourning the lost opportunity as most of these men have since passed on.

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Summary: "All these were honored in their generation"
Review: This is one of the greatest books I've ever read and may well be the best non-fiction book I ever read. The book is actually a collection of reminiscences of old-time baseball players compiled by their interviewer, Lawrence Ritter. The original book was written in 1966 with additional chapters added for the revised 1984 version that I read. What comes across first and foremost in all the recollections is the joy and dedication of the long-retired players. At a time when labor strikes, hold-outs and escalating salaries are standard sports stories, this book takes Baseball nostalgia to a new level. It isn't just about the joy of the game, however. This book brings to light a lot of forgotten Baseball history. I fancied myself a bit of a Baseball historian but there were a number of major events in Baseball's early history that I had never heard of before. I think the most memorable was Fred Merkle's "bonehead" play that cost the Giants the pennant in 1907. That was a situation where he forgot to touch second base and thereby cost the Giants the winning run. It is told (and referred to often) with better embelishment than I just gave it but, then, that's the point of my praise; the whole book is a poetic look backwards at the game we sometimes take for granted these days. It's no accident that the best parts of the book are the earliest recollections. You can almost see the corrupting effects of popularity creep up on the game in the 1920's. The stories that these veterans tell and the details that they give make you feel like you've been there yourself. If you're a Baseball fan, you'll love this book. If you're not a Baseball fan, reading this book might just make you one.

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Summary: I reread this book every spring
Review: Right around when pitchers and catchers report, I dust off my well-worn, oft-borrowed copy of Glory of Their Times. I've probably read it a dozen times all the way through and each time I'm charmed all over again. The beauty and genius of Glory is in the fact that Ritter had the sense not to interfere with the players' stories. You get a feel for their voices and personalities, and how their experiences helped shape them as individuals. In its own way, the book is a vivid and important portrait of American life at the beginning of the twentieth century. And it's a dang good baseball book.

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Summary: The Men Who Made The Game of Baseball
Review: I had the pleasure of first listening to the Cds during a car ride summer of 2001. We were heading for the AAABA National Baseball Tournament in Johnstown, PA. and was amazed that these existed and I did not know of them. I got myself a set and then came across the 1984 New and expanded book. I had met several of the gentlemen at different times at Old Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC. I remember going home in the late 50's and telling my Dad I had met an old ballplayer at the stadium who said he was "Big Poison". My Dad laughed and said, "Old Paul Waner, he wasn't very big but he could sure play Baseball." I now know the full story of Paul Waner and wish I did then. You are able to hear and read stories of the greatest players of their generation and players that are still known today. If you have a budding ballplayer or a budding baseball fan, do them a favor and get them this book as soon as possible. In a review on the back cover of my edition, Ted Williams summed it up for me as well when he said, "Warm, happy, exciting - what a great feeling I got as I read it. The day I finished it I started reading it all over again."

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Summary: Absolutely Wonderful!
Review: To be able listen to the actual players as they were interviewed by the author is flat out fantastic! I listened to the CD's and was spellbound. I can't recall any baseball item that I've enjoyed more and would highly recommend these CD's to anyone that enjoys the "inside" views of baseball history.

Rating:
Summary: Probably the Best Baseball Book Ever
Review: I read this as a teenager in the '70's, and wrote to author Larry Ritter as part of a school assignment. He sent me back an autographed version of the LP, which I believe is now available on CD. Both a history and a baseball lesson. Memorable.

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Summary: maybe the best,,,,,,
Review: this book may be the single best book i have ever opened. from page 1 till the last page it was almost impossible to put down. never have i felt so much love for a game and its players than i did while reading this book. pay what ever you have to it will be worth every penny!