Marge Schott Unleashed [Hardcover]

Mike Bass (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1993 | ISBN-10: 0915611732 | ISBN-13: 978-0915611737 | Edition: 1St Edition

Since the day she became the principal owner of the Cincinnati Reds, Marge Schott has been a woman surrounded by controversy. Allegations of her racist and anti-Semitic remarks made front-page headlines across the country. Mike Bass, the winner of the Associated Press Sports Editors Award for his series of articles on racism in sports, looks at the woman behind the Reds.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Schott has been the principal owner of the Cincinnati Reds since 1984. Last spring, she was temporarily suspended from her duties by the other major league owners. This book corroborates the general perception of Schott as a boorish liar, employee-basher, and cheapskate. In short, she fits in with a long line of similar baseball owners like George Steinbrenner and Charley Finley. Schott is also accused of having an alcohol problem, but again, that's not unusual in the world of baseball. The meat of the story and the reason for her suspension is her well-established propensity for racial and ethnic slurs (even extending to her own employees), and her supposed discriminatory hiring practices, a charge that is harder to prove. Bass, a longtime Cincinnati sportswriter, employs a breathless, journalistic style in detailing Schott's background. Of interest to sports collections for its topical look at racism in sports.
- John Maxymuk, Rutgers Univ. Lib., Camden, N.J.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 309 pages
• Publisher: Sagamore Publishing; 1St Edition edition (January 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0915611732
• ISBN-13: 978-0915611737
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,281,112 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still timely, still relevant, May 14, 2006

By 

Reds Fan (Cincinnati, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marge Schott Unleashed (Hardcover)

With the Reds' recent ownership change earlier in 2006, I began to wonder more about the Reds' past ownership changes. From the first businessmen who decided to pay professional ballplayers to the legendary reign of Powel Crosley, the subject continued to interest. However, it's impossible to really examine the history of the subject without considering Marge Schott, who is perhaps the most infamous of all Reds owners. So I picked up this book.

Although the book was released 13 years ago, it remains relevant today. The book will no doubt entertain, educate and shock Reds fans just as it did during its initial release. For any Reds fan to truly understand the history of the team, this is one of those must-reads.

For years, I was under the impression that despite her rough edges, underneath Marge was a person who had her heart in the right place. "She just didn't know better," I, and many others, thought. "She's just a product of her times."

However, Bass does an incredible job of reporting so that readers can understand Marge on a deeper level. What you find is not someone simply ignorant and flawed, but rather, a person who seemingly enjoyed terrorizing her employees, thrusting her racist and bigoted beliefs on others, and generally making the lives of people around her miserable. You learn how she sabotaged her own friendships, businesses and the Reds out of spite -- and drunkenness.

Although the book sometimes felt dry and textbook-like, the facts uncovered make it worth a read. Pick up a cheap used copy from Amazon, and learn why the excuse "That's just Marge" should never, ever be used in her defense again.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The plain truth of the matter, July 20, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Marge Schott Unleashed (Hardcover)

Mike Bass presents a finely written detailed account of this woman, that is shocking to read. Each carefully reported incident and anecdote informs the reader to an astounding degree. The reporter Mike has researched his material thoroughly, presenting words and stories directly from the mouths of the people who witnessed the truth of how this woman acted in her role as a team owner, a role we usually expect played by people with morals, a sense of justice, and manners. Though filled with many people, and following several years, the book is easy to read, and interesting to follow. Mike Bass has done an exceptional job recounting the tale of Marge. The information is presented without bias, but the reader's opinion will easily be formed by the truth of the matter. It takes a high degree of skill to report such incidents accurately, and quote so many individuals and their perspectives. The story is chock full of recollections and honest feelings that are clearly displayed by the recollections. Only certain kinds of writers can gain the confidence of those who hold the truths and are willing to share it. Mike Bass is one of those rare breeds.The book is an eye-opener. Books that tell the truth of how things really are, can truly allow us to judge for ourselves. I highly recommend this book .

5.0 out of 5 stars The plain truth of the matter, July 20, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Marge Schott Unleashed (Hardcover)

Mike Bass presents a finely written detailed account of this woman, that is shocking to read. Each carefully reported incident and anecdote informs the reader to an astounding degree. The reporter Mike has researched his material thoroughly, presenting words and stories directly from the mouths of the people who witnessed the truth of how this woman acted in her role as a team owner, a role we usually expect played by people with morals, and justice, and manners. Though filled with many characters and following several years, the book is easy to read, and interesting to follow. Mike Bass has done an exceptional job recounting the tale of Marge. The information is presented without bias, but the reader's opinion will easily be formed. The book is an eye-opener. Books that tell the truth of how things really are, can truly allow us to judge for ourselves. I reccoment this book, highly.