Rating: 
Summary: A real gem
Review: A real treat. The characters became more interesting as the book went on, just like real people should. A touch predictable, but very satisfying.
Rating:
Summary: my favorite baseball book
Review: As an English teacher for over 25 years, I've read MANY great books - classics, modern, you name it; but The Dixie Association remains a favorite after about 10 years. There's just something about it - humour, swwetness, intelligence, not to mention BASEBALL!
Rating:
Summary: Not for the faint hearted
Review: As the others have said, I think this is just about the best fictional baseball ever written. The characters are brought to life by Mr Hays. These are some of the most memorable characters I have ever come to love in fiction. I do not agree in the slightest with the politics and world-view of Mr. Hays; however I must say that he presents his view of the world in such an engaging and humanistic way, that I find myself totally enthralled by these characters and thier trials and tribulations.The main character "Hog Durham" is an ex-con who is given one last chance by society. After having spent the last few years in the Oklahoma State Prison (I can't spell penitentiary) he is released to the care of the the Arkansas Reds. A minor league team mangaged by the oh so subltly named "Lefty" Marks. Lefty has assembled a team of has beens and wanna be's that by thier sheer oddness you just know that they will set the league on it's ear. The plot is predictable but the characterzations and humanizing of the players is incredible. The team consists of the ex-con Durham, along with Jeremiah Eversole (a Panamanian Native American, that psyches himself up by reading a history of how the Whites' raped Central America.) Bullet Bob Turner (A biggoted redneck has been major league relief pitcher) and the most important other character Lefty Marks himself. These charaters and many others bring this story alive. They are alive, aware, human and earthy. The language will offend some, but it is the language of ex-cons, and the down-trodden. A language that is rich in description and explitives. Do yourself a favor, read this book. If you are a fan of baseball, or a fan of the down-trodden masses, this will reach your heart and make you laugh and cry.
Rating:
Summary: Not for the faint hearted
Review: As the others have said, I think this is just about the best fictional baseball ever written. The characters are brought to life by Mr Hays. These are some of the most memorable characters I have ever come to love in fiction. I do not agree in the slightest with the politics and world-view of Mr. Hays; however I must say that he presents his view of the world in such an engaging and humanistic way, that I find myself totally enthralled by these characters and thier trials and tribulations. The main character "Hog Durham" is an ex-con who is given one last chance by society. After having spent the last few years in the Oklahoma State Prison (I can't spell penitentiary) he is released to the care of the the Arkansas Reds. A minor league team mangaged by the oh so subltly named "Lefty" Marks. Lefty has assembled a team of has beens and wanna be's that by thier sheer oddness you just know that they will set the league on it's ear. The plot is predictable but the characterzations and humanizing of the players is incredible. The team consists of the ex-con Durham, along with Jeremiah Eversole (a Panamanian Native American, that psyches himself up by reading a history of how the Whites' raped Central America.) Bullet Bob Turner (A biggoted redneck has been major league relief pitcher) and the most important other character Lefty Marks himself. These charaters and many others bring this story alive. They are alive, aware, human and earthy. The language will offend some, but it is the language of ex-cons, and the down-trodden. A language that is rich in description and explitives. Do yourself a favor, read this book. If you are a fan of baseball, or a fan of the down-trodden masses, this will reach your heart and make you laugh and cry.
Rating:
Summary: A great baseball novel for all readers!!!!
Review: Donald Hays is a excelent writer that shows the South how it really was. The Dixie Association is a novel about the Arkansas Reds a team made up of misfit players that range from young soon to be stars to ex-cons. Hays takes you through a rough season filled with law beaking, women bashing, and race hating issues. This book touches all the emotions and keeps you in suspense the whole time.
Rating:
Summary: A heck of a book about baseball and the subversive spirit.
Review: Hays' _The Dixie Association_ is by far my favorite baseball novel. The Reds (pun intended) are an Arkansas farm league team owned by a one-armed socialist and populated by ex-cons, American Indians, rednecks, Cubans, and fallen cheerleaders. Their battles are played out both on the field and in the streets, as the Religious Right tries repeatedly to run them out of town.While many baseball books are concerned with the glory of America and the game that has come to be held as its symbol, _The Dixie Association_ shows us the underbelly of that image. The members of the Reds, despite their fistfights, yelling matches, and general cranky demeanor, have one thing in common: each has been kicked around by America and left for defeated. Hays will have us know that baseball is for all Americans, as the Reds find salvation and self respect through the great game. _The Dixie Association_ is one heck of a book, about baseball, yes, but mostly about the subversive spirit of any country's people and the doors that a sliding fastball can open. Kinsella's _Shoeless Joe_ could be considered the National Anthem of baseball novels. Fine. _The Dixie Association_ is the taunts and jeers from the drunks behind the left field foul line. Much praise to LSU press for re-issuing this fine novel.
Rating:
Summary: Great, cynical baseball novel.
Review: I am in my fifth reading of this novel. It is simply the best baseball novel ever. The book was first published in mid-80's and it left no one unoffended then and it leaves no one unoffended now. The baseball part is depicted in accurate detail, and life in America is depicted in more detail than we might generally be conmfortable with. Memorable characters, great storyline, and humor out the kazoo. If Chomsky had decided to write a baseball novel, this would have been it. Great read, worth the price, and thanks to LSU Press for the reissue.
Rating:
Summary: This was my favourite book 10 years ago, it still is.
Review: I read this book for the first time when I was quite young and it became my favourite. Ten years later, and thousands of books later, it maintains it`s spot at the top of my list of the best books I`ve ever read because it clarified "freedom" for me when I was a kid and it still does today. I am THRILLED that LSU has re-published The Dixie Association and to Donald Hays: Thank You.
Rating: 
Summary: SPORTS SOCIOLOGY Dixie Association
Review: I thought the book was very well written. The author showed a great deal of knowledge in the sport of baseball. The characters were interesting and fun to read about. I enjoyed reading about the games and the way it was portrayed through the eyes of an actual ballplayer.This book is defenitly one of the best baseball books ever written, not only because of its portral of the game, but because of the conflicts its characters deal with off the field as well.
Rating:
Summary: Book Review
Review: If you are a baseball fan, player, or lover of the game, "The Dixie Association" is excellent reading material for enjoyment or inspiration. Donald Hays, author of the novel, enlightens the reader with a tale portraying a misfit baseball team in combination with the social issues surrounding this particular time. He used a variety of writing techniques to capture the focus of the audience and essence of the novel. The book gave an excellent account of an athlete's emotions or feelings toward their sport. For example, when Hog said, "I could've hit till dark," he expressed a love that all athletes share with their game. Some athletes feel their sport is life. Bullet Bob possesses this same feeling recognized in a quote saying, "Baseball mattered to him. Life on the other hand, was just something he had to tolerate between games." It also shows the athlete's warrior-like attitudes--"Eversole never gave up without a fight." I did not like some of the rude comments referring to Christianity. Obviously the author had a bad experience with religion or was not very religious in the first place. I felt some of these comments were unnecessary. I also felt that certain points of the book dragged. Some unnecessary information could have been excluded to keep the reader's undivided attention.
The battles the characters in this book faced were both on and off the field. Society turned against them and their only source for self-assurance was from the team and their belief in themselves. Most players seek the fame and glory; however, the majority of the Reds sought the love for the game. Their love for the game was their escape from society.
Overall, Ifeel it is a very enjoyable and entertaining book. The author did an excellent job with beautiful description illustrating a vivid picture for each scene of the book. If you are a sport fan or athlete you definately must read this book.
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