A Bittersweet Journey : America's Fascination with Baseball

Rating:
Summary: That Sensation Called Baseball
Review: A thoughtful and well-conceived book that transcends the several generations of its focus. While the pleasurable nature of this work should be shared by the reader with anyone having even a casual interest in baseball, the book should be kept close at hand for return perusals. "A Bittersweet Journey" is aptly named as it touches a broad range of emotions and memories, with the result being a more acute sense of appreciation on the part of the reader for why a trip to the ballpark, the play by play of a familiar announcer, or a simple game of catch in the backyard are experiences that are fondly recalled but frustratingly difficult to explain to those inexperienced in that sensation called baseball.

Rating:
Summary: A Sweet Read
Review: A wonderful book for anyone interested in pro baseball and its place in the social history of the past 50 years--as told by the people who lived it. Phalen is a well-informed, unobtrusive interviewer. He asks carefully targeted questions then steps aside while Jimmy Piersall, Bobby Thomson, Vin Scully, Jim Bouton, and dozens of others tell their stories. A Bittersweet Journey is not just for Father's Day, or Dad, or this year.

Rating:
Summary: A Bittersweet Journey
Review: Baseball fans: When you buy Bob Costas "Fair Ball" also buy Rick Phalen's new book "A Bittersweet Journey", America's fascination with baseball. Both books, in their own ways, reflect on the nostalgia we hold in our minds of baseball as it was, and as it should be, now and in the future. Both are must baseball reads.

Rating:
Summary: A Bittersweet Journey
Review: Just when I'm tempted to give up on baseball, along comes "A Bittersweet Journey" to remind me why I can't. Through his contacts and interviews with Hall-of-Famers, not-so-famous players, umpires, sportscasters, writers and observers, Rick Phalen shows why the sport still has an emotional hold on us, both because and despite itself. Some great stories told by the people who lived them, and they do run the full range from bitter to sweet. An enjoyable book to read, it leaves you wanting to go outside and play catch...

Rating:
Summary: A Bittersweet Journey
Review: Just when I'm tempted to give up on baseball, along comes "A Bittersweet Journey" to remind me why I can't. Through his contacts and interviews with Hall-of-Famers, not-so-famous players, umpires, sportscasters, writers and observers, Rick Phalen shows why the sport still has an emotional hold on us, both because and despite itself. Some great stories told by the people who lived them, and they do run the full range from bitter to sweet. An enjoyable book to read, it leaves you wanting to go outside and play catch...

Rating:
Summary: A Book Worthy of Your Time
Review: Larry Ritter started the trend of visiting former players in his classic entitled "The Glory of Their Times." The author of "A Bittersweet Journey" follows the same trend in visiting former players who are not necessarily stars. Some of the stories I have read about before. The best part of the book, at least for me, was the section entitled "The Media." Roger Kahn discusses visiting Brooklyn's Boys of Summer, Mike Royko tells us how he as a manager would deal with the modern ball player, Vin Scully relates the advice given him by Dodger broadcaster, Red Barber, and Robert Lipsyte tells us that baseball is not going to have the same place in our life that it once had. Bob Cain tells us of his experience in pitching to midget Eddie Gaedel, Jim Bouton revisits his book "Ball Four," Bobby Thompson reveals his thoughts just prior to entering the batter's box just before he and Dodger pitcher Ralph Branca marched hand in hand into history. I won't spoil it for you by giving you the answers to these experiences. The book is a quick read and is worthwhile. I went through it in two sessions.

Rating:
Summary: A Book Worthy of Your Time
Review: Larry Ritter started the trend of visiting former players in his classic entitled "The Glory of Their Times." The author of "A Bittersweet Journey" follows the same trend in visiting former players who are not necessarily stars. Some of the stories I have read about before. The best part of the book, at least for me, was the section entitled "The Media." Roger Kahn discusses visiting Brooklyn's Boys of Summer, Mike Royko tells us how he as a manager would deal with the modern ball player, Vin Scully relates the advice given him by Dodger broadcaster, Red Barber, and Robert Lipsyte tells us that baseball is not going to have the same place in our life that it once had. Bob Cain tells us of his experience in pitching to midget Eddie Gaedel, Jim Bouton revisits his book "Ball Four," Bobby Thompson reveals his thoughts just prior to entering the batter's box just before he and Dodger pitcher Ralph Branca marched hand in hand into history. I won't spoil it for you by giving you the answers to these experiences. The book is a quick read and is worthwhile. I went through it in two sessions.

Rating:
Summary: A Sweet Review
Review: Phalen's book is a wonderful oral history which includes interviews with some of baseball's most colorful characters. Included are interviews with offbeat characters such as Jimmy Piersall, Jim Bouton and Dock Ellis. The best interviews are the ones with more pathos that show those on the periphery of baseball or baseball success. The author clearly loves baseball and is able to communicate that love in this book. This will be thoroughly enjoyed by any fan of our national pastime.

Rating:
Summary: A Sweet Review
Review: Phalen's book is a wonderful oral history which includes interviews with some of baseball's most colorful characters. Included are interviews with offbeat characters such as Jimmy Piersall, Jim Bouton and Dock Ellis. The best interviews are the ones with more pathos that show those on the periphery of baseball or baseball success. The author clearly loves baseball and is able to communicate that love in this book. This will be thoroughly enjoyed by any fan of our national pastime.

Rating:
Summary: Bittersweet Journey: Baseball
Review: This book reflects the "grip" that baseball has onour lives as fans, and those involved in the game. Phalen provides uswith insights well beyond peanuts, popcorn and crackerjacks. A compelling look at the "cold hearted mistress", we call baseball.