Customer Reviews

Numbelievable: The Dramatic Stories Behind the Most Memorable Numbers in Sports History

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is by far the best book I've read that compiles all the sports numbers that I've misquoted over the years and finally puts it all out there in an interesting and compelling fashion. We all know the basics; Maris' 61*, Earnhardt #3, DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak. But this book really highlights the little known numbers behind the game that we tend to forget about it or simply didn't know. Well done.

If you have a sports nut in your family, this will be their favorite present ever. It is solid from the 1st page to the last. What a great idea for a book. I have given this book to over 20 people. They all thanked me afterwards. A+

Turns out there are a few different books out there that delve into the wonder of sports numerology. But this is the only one that skillfully negotiates the balance between sports geek trivia and common facts. This is the book for Everyman. (Guys, I wouldn't recommend giving it to your girlfriend or wife, but rest assured you'll be able to get her to read your copy.) You know why you have that No. 18 decal on your SUV (I'm feeling you), but do you know the story of Martina Navratilova's 86-1 season? And what's the story with Philadelphia? The Phillies had the ignominious distinction of losing their 10,000th baseball game this summer, but who outside of Philly knew that decades ago the 76ers made "losers" history, too? As a lifelong sports fan (but far, far, far from being a geek), this is the book I've long waited for to help me be conversational with sports geeks.

What many sports books lack is perspective; they get lost beneath the hype of their own premise. What one looks for as a true fan of sports history is what REALLY happened, not what we remember, or what we have been told to remember. This book takes those well-remembered moments and not only places them in the perspective of the time they occurred, but brings us all the forgotten particulars of the actual event. The midget Eddie Gaedel, for example, did not walk in the winning run of a vital game (he appeared in the first inning of the second game of a meaningless doubleheader); Roger Maris had other great seasons besides 1961, and Wilt the Stilt's historic 100-point game was aided by a remarkable 28 for 32 at the free throw line. Written with authority and humor, this book has the "je ne say hey" that all true sports buffs crave. It seems the perfect solution to the annual "what should I get Dad this year for Christmas" quandary.

I bought this book for my 20 yr. old nephew, who's been crazy about all sports since he was about 3 minutes old and spent the evening reading through the book, enjoying the gorgeous photos and being amazed by the stats. I wound up ordering another one as a Christmas gift for my husband. It's a great coffee table book and a perfect gift for the sports fans in your life.

This book is great fun and is filled with so many "do you remember when..." and "where were you when this happened" moments. Some of the numbers I knew (whether by first-hand account or anecdotally) and there were also some surprises. Written with real wit and clear sports fanaticism - I cannot recommend this book enough.

PS- I'm buying this as a Christmas gift for my brother - I know that he, like any other sports fan, will get a real kick out of this book.