High Fives, Pennant Drives, and Fernandomania: A Fan's History of the Los Angeles Dodgers' Glory Years (1977-1981) [Paperback]

Paul Haddad (Author), Jon Weisman (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2012

For scores of Dodger fans, the years 1977 to 1981 mark the team’s glory days, and this sports compendium chronicles the highlights and disappointments that marked those four tumultuous seasons. Told from lifelong fan Paul Haddad’s perspective, the story of the Dodgers during this time period is enhanced by transcripts of radio and TV calls that are woven into the personal recollections, capturing famed Dodgers sportscaster Vin Scully at the top of his game. From Jerry Ruess’s no-hitter and Rick Monday’s epic homer against Montreal to the magical rookie year of Fernando Valenzuela and the 1981 World Series, all of the great Dodger moments are commemorated in great detail. In addition to its portion of the chronological narrative, each chapter contains lists, trivia, sidebars, and interesting statistics that make the exciting culture and fan frenzy that surrounded the Dodgers’ last great dynasty come to life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"With Vin Scully's broadcasts as a touchstone, Paul Haddad revives the glory years of the Dodgers. His recollections are as rich and wonderful as Scully himself." —Chris Erskine, Los Angeles Times

"Warm and fuzzy time! Paul Haddad's account is the shirt from the back of the closet that still fits and never goes out of style. I enjoyed it thoroughly." —Jerry Reuss, Los Angeles Dodgers, 1979–1986

"An evocative, playful, exuberant tribute to the sunniest days of the Los Angeles Dodgers and to the unmatched purity, intensity, and hilarity of fandom as a child, High Fives, Pennant Drives, and Fernandomania is a crystal-clear signal breaking through the static of fading memories and the distance of time. Reading it is like somehow finding your hometown team's game on the radio while hundreds and hundreds of miles away."—Josh Wilker, author, Cardboard Gods

"We never forget our first loves—whether it was a fresh-grilled Dodger Dog, a double bag of salted-in-the-shell peanuts, or Tommy John's bionic arm. All my adult life I've wondered if someone could bring back to life those wonderful days of a childhood lost to Vin Scully on the transistor radio and the team that dared you to believe even when they crushed your heart. Now somebody has." —Les Carpenter, Yahoo! Sports

"As a fan of sharp writing, warm childhood memories, and all the visceral elements of baseball, this book left me exhilarated. As a die-hard Montreal Expos fan who'd love to never hear the name Rick Monday again, this book left me saddened and furious. I want to buy Paul Haddad a beer, shake his hand . . . then punch him in the face." —Jonah Keri, author, The Extra 2%

"If you bleed Dodger Blue and want to relive a championship time, this is an ideal read -- breezy, funny and unsparing in its praise of the Blue Crew and its criticism of all other teams." --Jim McConnell, Pasadena Star-News

"Haddad's sense of humor shines throughout the book, particularly when detailing some of the low points of the hometown team." --James Bailey, Baseball America

"Extremely unique...  The author does a good job of splitting [the book] up and giving the reader different topics about the Dodgers to focus on throughout each chapter.  Even if your team is not the Dodgers, all fans will be able to relate to Haddad's thoughts, actions and words throughout the book." --Bill Jordan, Baseball Reflections.com

"Haddad explores one of America's most important teams the way only a true fan can." --Larry Mantle, AirTalk, KPCC 89.3 FM

"It will invoke warm nostalgia among those who were present, and it is a purposeful guide to others who may not realize how dominant radio broadcasts were now that we live in a time when you can purchase and watch the entire baseball season on your television, computer, phone, even a watch...  Haddad has hit one out of the park." --Mike Terry, San Fernando Sun

About the Author

Paul Haddad is a television writer and producer who has worked with Discovery Networks, Fox Sports, Travel Channel, National Geographic and VH1, among others. His articles have appeared in magazines such as Filmmaker, LA Sports & Fitness, and the Los Angeles Times Magazine. He was featured in ESPN Films' Emmy-nominated 30 for 30 documentary series in an episode recapping the phenomenon of Fernandomania. He lives in Los Angeles.

Jon Weisman, who wrote the Foreword, is the proprietor of Dodger Thoughts, a popular weblog about the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is also a writer and editor for Variety, and has contributed to Sports Illustrated's SI.com. Weisman has published two books -- The Best of Dodger Thoughts and 100 Things Dodgers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Santa Monica Press (March 15, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595800670
• ISBN-13: 978-1595800671
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #473,912 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stop me if this sounds like you... Young boy becomes enamored with the Garvey-Cey-Lopes-Baker-Fernando Dodgers of the late 1970s and early '80s. Starts sneaking transistor radio under his pillow at nights to listen to the familiar, soothing tones of Vin Scully. Actually believes manager Tom Lasorda when he says if they cut him open, he'd bleed Dodger Blue.

I grew up in Los Angeles when the Dodgers were the face of baseball, along with the New York Yankees, whom they faced in the World Series 3 times in 5 years. I became obsessed with the team and Vin Scully, which propelled me in 1978 to extensively record their games off the radio so that I could save them and listen to them over and over. By the end of the 1981 season, when L.A. finally won the championship after the frenzy of Fernandomania, I retired the whole endeavor, leaving behind a treasure trove of magnificent (and not so magnificent) moments from the late '70s/early '80s seasons.

"High Fives, Pennant Drives, and Fernandomania" was born out of my desire to share those frozen-in-time moments of the Dodgers' last great dynasty with as large an audience as possible. On another level, I wanted to give back to the franchise as well for providing me with years of joy in my formative years. A percentage of proceeds from the book are being donated to ThinkCure!, the Dodgers' official charity. I also invite you to check out my website for more classic Dodger tidbits:

www.dodgerglory.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars High Fives is a Grand Slam! June 16, 2012

By Steve McEwen

Format:Paperback

As author Paul Haddad states on the cover of his book, 1977 though 1981 were indeed glory years for Los Angeles Dodger fans. Like Paul, I came to know and love the Dodgers during this wildly exciting era of World Series appearances and nail-biting pennant drives. Garvey, Cey, Baker, Fernando and company provided me with some of the most perfect moments of my childhood. For this reason, I thoroughly enjoyed High Fives, Pennant Drives, and Fernandomania. However, you do not have to be 40-something or older to enjoy this book. Paul's book allows Dodger fans of all ages to relive this wonderful five-season stretch in vivid detail.

I have read many wonderful books about the Dodgers (there is a lot to write about), but this book is the only one that I know of that specifically focuses on and chronicles this special period of Dodger history. Paul accomplishes this task brilliantly and enthusiastically. Not only does he cover the highlights of those years, but he weaves in the many ups and downs of each season. Like few books, High Fives puts you right back on that emotional roller coaster of winning streaks, losing streaks, crushing defeats, and soaring triumphs. When I read this book, I felt like I was nine years old again, sitting with my Mom and Dad at Dodger Stadium or listening to Vin, Jerry, and Ross on my bedroom radio. Paul adds to this exciting narrative with timely-placed sidebars that provide relevant and interesting facts about the Dodgers and the game of baseball.

What makes High Five even more special and exciting to read is Paul's use of his collection of recorded Dodger broadcasts to describe the key moments. What a treasure! Like so many other Dodger fans, I experienced the team through the brilliant trio of announcers - Vin Scully, Jerry Doggett, and Ross Porter. It's one thing to say that Steve Garvey or Davey Lopes hit a home run, but it is another thing altogether to read it in the words actually used by Vin, Jerry, and Ross! Paul's use of the broadcasters' words allows his readers to reconnect with those moments, and feel all of the goosebumps, in a way that few other Dodger books do.

I highly recommend this book. High fives for Paul Haddad!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars ESSENTIAL READING FOR DODGER FANS!! June 14, 2012

By Matt Jones

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I never write reviews, but this book sucked me right in. Haddad's approach is unique - a retelling of an underreported chapter of Dodger history ("Big Blue Wrecking Crew!") that is told through radio and TV announcers like Vin Scully, shaded through the author's recollections as a young fan. The writing is breezy, evocative and funny - at its best when he's reliving agonizing losses - with an acute attention to detail that can only come from someone who kept a meticulous tape collection. I had almost forgotten about the announcers punctuating each home run with "Union 76 Auto Script" sponsor copy until Haddad reminded me in one of many sidebars that add rich layers of information that bring this era to life.

I also like his approach of distilling each season down to 5 Games that are representative of that year. Some of them are pretty iconic - The Mother's Day Massacre of 1978, when Dave Kingman's 3 home runs led to Lasorda's epic post-game meltdown, or Jerry Reuss' 1980 no-hitter. But many of them are games that have been forgotten to time that marked a turning point in the season. Other highlights include the recurring "Fernando Watch" segments, in which Haddad gives "real-time" updates of each of El Toro's starts during his historic 1981 season. I lived through that awesome period, and this is the closest thing I've ever experienced since then that recaptures that magic.

At the end of his introduction, Haddad remarks his book was written "in the same spirit of idly chatting with a friend at Chavez Ravine itself." This about sums it up... You can almost smell the Dodger dogs off these pages (grilled, of course).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Recaptures That Wonderful Dodger Fan Experience Of Our Youth April 10, 2012

By David T.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

For every young kid of the 70's that couldn't get enough of their team (especially Dodger fans), this book is a warm, funny and accurate journey into our past. The Dodger team and community of the late 1970s to '81 had a near-symbiotic relationship that was rewarded with both heartbreak and joy, and Mr. Haddad recaptures those five years with an intimacy few fans can recall.

As a member of the Joe Ferguson "marching and chowder society", it brought back my personal glory and agony of cheering for #13. Fergie finally gets his due in this book, and I am grateful for this book's focus on him, and other supporting "cast" members that made the Dodger team both classy, and human.

This book brings out a longing for Helen Dell, John Ramsey, Usherettes in straw hats/short skirts, grilled Dodger dogs at every station (are you listening Magic?), and the comfort of listening to Vin Scully in the cozy confines of your parent's car's back-seat riding in the sunshine of those heady, happy 1970's days. Thankfully we still have Vin around (sorry McCourt...).

This partner in crime is most grateful for the author opening up many excellent memories, and a plausible argument that OUR Reggie was the superior player.

This book is a "way-back" experience for the reader, and a must for any Dodger and/or baseball fan.