The Era, 1947-1957: When the Yankees, the Giants, and the Dodgers Ruled the World [Paperback]

Roger Kahn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2002

Celebrated sports writer Roger Kahn casts his gaze on the golden age of baseball, an unforgettable time when the game thrived as America's unrivaled national sport. The Era begins in 1947 with Jackie Robinson changing major league baseball forever by taking the field for the Dodgers. Dazzling, momentous events characterize the decade that followed-Robinson's amazing accomplishments; the explosion on the national scene of such soon-to-be legends as Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Bobby Thomson, Duke Snider, and Yogi Berra; Casey Stengel's crafty managing; the emergence of televised games; and the stunning success of the Yankees as they play in nine out of eleven World Series. The Era concludes with the relocation of the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, a move that shook the sport to its very roots.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Kahn again returns to an era he categorically states is "the greatest" in baseball history. Central to his description are the three New York clubs and the spirited rivalries they produced. As in The Boys of Summer ( LJ 2/15/72) and Games We Used To Play ( LJ 12/91), he engagingly captures the flavor of the times by bringing to the fore the defining traits and relationships that added human dimension to the sport. His unique style is particularly evident in accounts of Jackie Robinson's entry into the major leagues, the events surrounding the shooting of Eddie Waitkus by an obsessed fan, and the migration of the Dodgers and Giants to California. On the whole, this is another fresh perspective on the game's golden age. For sports collections. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/93.
- William H. Hoffman, Ft. Myers-Lee Cty. P.L., Fla.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

An agreeably digressive and anecdotal trip, with a perceptive guide, down a remarkable span in baseball's memory lane. Drawing on experiences gained as a young sportswriter during the post-WW II period he resurrects here, Kahn (Games We Used to Play, The Boys of Summer, etc.) hits the high and low points of nearly a dozen seasons. The author's golden age began with Jackie Robinson's arrival as the first black to play in the major leagues and ended with the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants heading west to California, momentarily making the Yankees the only game in town. In between, the Big Apple's three clubs dominated the national pastime, winning nine out of eleven World Series (as often as not, from one another). During these years, moreover, triborough baseball had an almost perfectly marvelous cast of characters- -including Yogi Berra, Leo Durocher, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Walter O'Malley, Pee Wee Reese, Branch Rickey, Red Smith, Duke Snider, and Casey Stengel. In telling detail, Kahn recalls the notable achievements of lesser lights who frequently outdid their superstar teammates in championship contests. Cases in point range from Bobby Thomson's pennant-winning homer through Don Larsen's perfect game and the ninth-inning double by Cooky Lavagetto that broke up a no-hit bid by another Bronx Bomber (Bill Bevens). The author also sets the record straight on what the storied Joe DiMaggio was like off the field; the identity of the player who was Brooklyn's first choice to break baseball's color barrier; Larry MacPhail's alcohol-accelerated retirement; and the impact of the emerging medium of TV on ballpark attendance. While Kahn covers a lot of well-trampled ground here, he does so with an elegant authority that--without false sentiment or excessive nostalgia--puts certain of the diamond game's good old days in clear and compelling perspective. (Photographs--not seen) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 382 pages
• Publisher: Bison Books; First Thus edition (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803278055
• ISBN-13: 978-0803278059
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #579,909 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New York's Monopoly, April 23, 2004

By 

Rocco Dormarunno (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Era, 1947-1957: When the Yankees, the Giants, and the Dodgers Ruled the World (Paperback)

Roger Kahn has once again pulled a fresh reading of what could've been a nostalgic mess from a less skilled writer's pen. "The Era 1947-1957: When the Yankees, the Giants, and the Dodgers Ruled the World" is able to tread that fine line between admiration and hagliography, and presents us with an engaging history of the decade during which New York's baseball teams (yes, Brooklyn is technically part of New York City) dominated first place in their leagues.

Many of the anecdotes tread familiar paths, but it's worth hearing them again in Kahn's distinct voice. There are some funny, some grim stories that are not so well known. Unlike most baseball books, this one doesn't bog the reader down with buckets of stats which are usually included so that the author can impress you. Kahn is on a different level. Keep this book alongside your copy of "Boys of Summer" for a complete view of New York's baseball dominance during this era.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, although idiosyncratic, look at one of baseball's great periods, September 20, 2006

By 

dcreader (Washington DC area) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Era, 1947-1957: When the Yankees, the Giants, and the Dodgers Ruled the World (Paperback)

The Era is a wonderfully written account of New York's three baseball teams from 1947-1957. It provides strong coverage of that period's most important events and puts you into a box seat (no skyboxes then) for the most thrilling moments of that decade. Even though you know the outcome of the games, Kahn's writing leaves you on the edge of your seat.

In short, Kahn provides a strong narrative of the period's most important events and portraits of its most important personalities, but is uneven when recounting the seasons the book purports to cover.

Kahn is strongest on a few topics, such as Jackie Robinson's historic entry into the game and the abuse he suffered at the hands of many players, particularly those from the South. He pulls no punches, and clearly rebuts attempts at revisionism by those now rightfully embarrased by their conduct at the time. His portraits of Branch Rickey, Walter O'Malley, Leo Durocher and Casey Stengal are vivid and illuminating.

On the down side, much is missing from The Era, even given its confines to New York's teams. Kahn provides strong coverage of the 1947, 1948 and the 1949 seasons, but then skims quickly from 1950-1957, providing only the briefest summaries of the seasons and then short accounts of the World Series. He slows down during the 50s only to (brilliantly) tell the story of how Walter O'Malley obtained control of the Dodgers and then removed them to LA, forever breaking the hearts of Brooklynites.

Another minus is his occassional asides into the era's politics. While occasionally relevant on issues such as race, his comments on foreign affairs are totally out of place and add nothing to the narrative.

All told, however, The Era is a wonderful book that you'll read quickly and put down wanting more.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Baseball's best era through the eyes of its best writer, March 13, 2005

By 

Adam R. Bosch (New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Era, 1947-1957: When the Yankees, the Giants, and the Dodgers Ruled the World (Paperback)

"The Era" is a must read for anyone who loves baseball and great writing.

But there is no secret to why baseball's greatest era is told so well in this book. The formula is simple. Take a gaggle of the greatest players, dump them into the world's greatest city and let them play America's greatest game and you've got a story. The tricky part it telling that story. Luckily, baseball's greatest writer lived during "The Era," and has a personal handle on all its intricacies and tales. Roger Kahn's stories of our baseball heroes make me wish I lived during the times when New York had three superb teams. The Yankees, Giants and Dodgers have never been descirbed more precisely, vividly or enjoyably than they are in "The Era."

Kahn's ability to tell stories of baseball men away from the diamond is derived from his close relationships with them. He was friends with Pee Wee Reese. He knows Enos Slaughter. He dined with Leo Durocher. The great part about this book is that Kahn's lucid descriptions make you feel like you know them all too.

If you are a baseball fan you will love "The Era." And if you appreciate great writing you will love Kahn even more.

Start the 2005 baseball season the right way-- read "The Era."