Customer Reviews

Hornsby Hit One Over My Head: A Fans' Oral History of Baseball

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
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Chapter One is about my grandfather. Reading about him brought tears to my eyes as Mr. Cataneo did a brilliant job capturing his personality and re-telling his baseball stories. For me, what makes this book so unique is the fact that ordinary people were interviewed and this enabled me to better relate to their stories. Its a must read for all baseball lovers.

When the 1994 World Series was canceled, I publicly severed
my ties with baseball. Reading this book reminded me of why I loved
it in the first place. The voices of 45 "regular people" create
a chorus of affection and nostalgia, love for vanished ways of life
and hope for the future--and not just of the game.

I laughed, I cried. Read this book!<P

A perfect counter-point to Ritter's "Glory of their Times," these are the fans' stories. (Old, middle-aged, young, black, white, hispanic, female, male, blind, etc . . .) This is a brilliant collection of diverse points-of-view, experiences and relationships to our game, baseball.

Like a mosiac that blends individual pieces into a whole that's a much richer picture, Cataneo reminds us that the game of baseball, and our relationship to it, is more than what we think of the MLB product (too expensive!) or how our favorite team is doing (since Fox took over, it's been all down hill).

The game is still a perfect blend of tedium and urgency; heroics and teamwork. Somehow I was enchanted to again pick up a glove and play softball this weekend -- the 1st time in 4 years.

Out-of-shape and slow, I still fielded groundballs, caught (and missed) pop-ups, hit line drives and groundballs . . . I got another reminder of why baseball is (in Babe Ruth's words), "the only real game."

I am a huge baseball fan and this book truly defined what I think of baseball. It makes me think of my past memories in baseball. I have many strong memories about baseball and I love to hear other fans' stories about the game. If you are a true baseball fan, you must get this book. Since I have added this book to my collection, I have found myself wanting to open it up all the time.

Anyone who has ever met a passionate baseball fan such as myself and failed to understand the passion should read this book for comprehension. Fans of all ages, viewpoints, and backgrounds tell you why its such a wonderful game and why people have more deep feelings for baseball than for any other sport. For those of us who live and breathe the game, its an affirmation of that passion. I'm waiting impatiently for the sequel--its the only thing that gets me through the winter!

This is an absolutely beautiful book. A superb example of the oral history genre and a positively golden look at baseball, and how it has enriched and ennobled the lives of 45 fans. Sentimental but not mawkish. The perfect gift for any baseball fan.