Yogi Berra once said: “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.” But for lifelong baseball aficionado Emma Span, it hasn’t always been that simple. Now, in this winning collection of essays, Span chronicles her love of the sport, from childhood hobby to full-blown obsession, from big break (becoming The Village Voice’s first staff sports reporter in years) to heartbreak (getting a pink slip within a year). She recounts elbowing her way to get a quote from Yankees captain Derek Jeter and waiting for Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez to put some pants on for an interview. She literally gives her lifeblood to see the Mets and hops a plane to Taiwan, home to perhaps the largest concentration of Yankees fans outside of the five boroughs. But after getting laid off and being forced to leave her press pass behind, Span wonders if her passion for the sport will fade. Highly unlikely. Baseball helped Span forge a lasting bond with her father, connect with total strangers, and endure even the toughest times. With a fresh voice, a devastating wit, and an alarmingly encyclopedic knowledge of the game, Span offers a new perspective on America’s favorite pasttime—as a journalist, a baseball nerd, a daughter, and a fervent stay-until-the-last-out fan.
90% of the Game Is Half Mental
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Emma Span's 90% of the Game is Half Mental is one of the most enjoyable, satisfying sports books I have ever had the pleasure to read. In a modern journalistic era pocked by snark and sarcasm, Span offers up a riveting glimpse at the absurdity—and splendor—of modern sports. Were this book a mustache, it would be Don Mattingly's—circa 1988."—Jeff Pearlman author, Boys Will Be Boys and The Bad Guys Won!
"Emma Span likes bad movies ("Bats: Human Harvest"), terrible TV shows ("Walker: Texas Ranger"), and--from the perspective of this Red Sox fan—even worse baseball teams (the New York Yankees). But her zesty dispatches from the clubhouse and the bleachers signal the happy arrival of a new generation of baseball obsessives. I still can't bring myself to root for the Yankees, but it's easy to cheer for Emma Span." —Will Blythe, author of To Hate Like This is To Be Happy Forever
"An irreverent, affectionate look at the frequently obsessive, often irrational, totally committed mindset it takes to be a true baseball fan."—Johnette Howard, author of The Rivals
"Emma Span understands what it means to be a sports fan. She writes about baseball the way I wish everyone would write about baseball."—Will Leitch, contributing editor, New York magazine, author God Save The Fan
"Emma Span likes bad movies ("Bats: Human Harvest"), terrible TV shows ("Walker: Texas Ranger"), and--from the perspective of this Red Sox fan—even worse baseball teams (the New York Yankees). But her zesty dispatches from the clubhouse and the bleachers signal the happy arrival of a new generation of baseball obsessives. I still can't bring myself to root for the Yankees, but it's easy to cheer for Emma Span." —Will Blythe, author of To Hate Like This is To Be Happy Forever
"An irreverent, affectionate look at the frequently obsessive, often irrational, totally committed mindset it takes to be a true baseball fan."—Johnette Howard, author of The Rivals
"Emma Span understands what it means to be a sports fan. She writes about baseball the way I wish everyone would write about baseball."—Will Leitch, contributing editor, New York magazine, author God Save The Fan
About the Author
Emma Span has written about baseball for the Village Voice, Slate, the New York Press, and popular blogs like Bronx Banter, among many other publications; yet when she appeared on Jeopardy! in the fall of 2009, she missed an easy question about Mickey Mantle (claiming that "the buzzer timing was really tricky"). She graduated from Yale University in 2003 and now lives in Brooklyn. This is her first book.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you love baseball in its purest form, you'll love this book from Emma Span. I can't think of a better way for any fan of the game to get ready for a new season. I loved it.
Span's series of essays on the wonderful quirkiness of this sport; from the game's lovable and not so lovable characters, to the wild and wacky fans from coast to coast, to the strange customs (like sausage races in Milwaukee) seen in some venues; Span has a whimiscal spin on it all. This is a most enjoyable journey for any fan of the game to savor.
Span's series of essays on the wonderful quirkiness of this sport; from the game's lovable and not so lovable characters, to the wild and wacky fans from coast to coast, to the strange customs (like sausage races in Milwaukee) seen in some venues; Span has a whimiscal spin on it all. This is a most enjoyable journey for any fan of the game to savor.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A. Marsh
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a lifelong Philadelphia Phillies fan, and as such a longtime hater of all
things New York baseball, I am completely charmed by Emma Span and her love
of the game. Emma is a gifted writer and I look forward to much more by her
in the future. Her knowledge is deep, her anecdotes fun to read, and her
brutal honesty about how the game has impacted her life made me smile and
want to cry.
I can only hope that she is given yet another opportunity to channel her
passion into her day job again...even if it is in only in New York, where I
likely wouldn't be a reader. In the meantime I highly recommend this, her
first book, to everyone who has a love of the game.
things New York baseball, I am completely charmed by Emma Span and her love
of the game. Emma is a gifted writer and I look forward to much more by her
in the future. Her knowledge is deep, her anecdotes fun to read, and her
brutal honesty about how the game has impacted her life made me smile and
want to cry.
I can only hope that she is given yet another opportunity to channel her
passion into her day job again...even if it is in only in New York, where I
likely wouldn't be a reader. In the meantime I highly recommend this, her
first book, to everyone who has a love of the game.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Anyone who has been around me any length of time would tell you that I am not a sports fan, but I have found the lives of those who are to be fascinating as it almost creates a family within itself. I think books like Emma Span's 90% of the Game is Half Mental is a perfect example of how a game can not only bring people together, but break the ice and create a common ground that might not otherwise exist.
There is quite a bit of humor in the book, but there are serious topics discussed as well. One of them goes to the issue of sexism and if women need to be "talked down to" when it comes to understanding sports. Emma addresses this in a way that it doesn't take away from the story, but adds another layer to it.
Congrats, Emma, on a fun read. I'll be sharing it with sports lovers and book lovers alike.
There is quite a bit of humor in the book, but there are serious topics discussed as well. One of them goes to the issue of sexism and if women need to be "talked down to" when it comes to understanding sports. Emma addresses this in a way that it doesn't take away from the story, but adds another layer to it.
Congrats, Emma, on a fun read. I'll be sharing it with sports lovers and book lovers alike.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not Spam
Blogger Span collects short pieces previously written into 90% of the Game Is Half Mental.... Her aim, as stated by her publisher is to describe what it means to be a baseball fan... Read more
Published 2 months ago by John Durkee
5.0 out of 5 stars
cardfanforever
I read this a couple of years ago, and just downloaded it. It is about the best book I've read on baseball from the fan's view. Absolutely dead on and clever and hilarious. Read more
Published on April 18, 2011 by Martha L. Hodgden
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a Delight
I got the Kindle sample, was instantly hooked, and devoured the rest in one sitting. Hard to imagine any baseball fan who likes reading not loving this book.
Published on June 18, 2010 by Christopher Soderstrom
5.0 out of 5 stars
READ IT!
I don't love baseball (except for the stadium-procured garlic fries), but I loved this book. Even though fans seem a little psychotic, it made me feel like I was missing out on... Read more
Published on June 18, 2010 by Mara R. Altman
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Debut Book but has Some Flaws
This is a good debut book although the beginning was a little hard to get through as the author spends too much time convincing us that she is an awkward nerd. Read more
Published on June 9, 2010 by bronx book nerd
