The Phillies Reader [Hardcover]

Richard Orodenker (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1996

In an era when television and professional sports are synonymous, baseball remains not only a sport to watch, but a sport to read about and study. Avid baseball fans linger over box scores, grumble through opinionated columns, and cheer-rousing headlines. Over the last hundred years baseball has generated more ink than any other sport. It is not only the favorite pastime of American sports fans, but also a considerable passion for American sports writers. If television is what brings the game into our living rooms, then it is the writers who bring the game to our hearts and minds. "The Phillies Reader" offers selections from some of the best writers to ever write about the woes and triumphs of the Philadelphia Phillies and their hard-ball fans. This collection covers over a century of the team's history, from the time Ed Delahanty hit a remarkable four home runs in a game, to the 1993 against-all-odds run at the World Championship."The Phillies Reader" not only documents the franchise but presents a history of the journalism that sometimes supported it, and other times sought to bring it down. The stories include the athletic achievements of such legendary Phillies as Chuck Klein, Richie Ashburn, Dick Allen, Mike Schmidt; the political turmoil surrounding the 'ok' from manager Ben Chapman to 'ride' Jackie Robinson about the color of his skin; the bizarre shooting of Eddie Waitkus; the heroics of the Whiz Kids; the heartbreak of '64; and, the occasional triumphs and frequent travails of controversial managers Gene Mauch, Frank Lucchesi, and Danny Ozark. From Red Smith to James Michener, "The Phillies Reader" presents for the first time an archive of Phillies literature that reveals what it is that makes legends. Author note: Richard Orodenker teaches English and American studies at Penn State University, Ogontz. He is author of "The Writer's Game: Baseball Writing in America".

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A rich collection of baseball literature that chronicles the dramatic history of the Philadelphia Phillies

From the Inside Flap

Praise for the First Edition:

"If you like baseball and good writing, chances are you'll find The Phillies Reader a good read, indeed." —The Philadelphia Inquirer --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 302 pages
• Publisher: Temple University Press (December 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566395038
• ISBN-13: 978-1566395038
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,594,630 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for any Phillies fan; could have been even better, June 6, 1998

By 

Tony McBeth ([e-mail]) (Harrisburg, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Phillies Reader (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful and educational chronological collection of newspaper columns written about the Phillies from the 1930's through the 1993 World Series. There is a pleasing array of writing styles, perspectives and events chronicled. I wish the book were bigger, though. For instance, I hoped for more detail about the infamous 1964 "stretch drive." I was born in 1958 and first started rooting for the Fightins in 1970. 1964 is not in my personal memory bank, thank goodness. But, even in the absence of material I had hoped to see, this book is very entertaining reading, and a must for any Phillie fan - or baseball fan - who appreciates the history of the Phils or the game itself.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one for the ultimate Phillies fanatic!, November 28, 1999

By 

Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Phillies Reader (Hardcover)

Some books I read for the history, some I read for the story, and then there is The Phillies Reader. Being a life long Philadelphia Phillies fan, this book allowed me to read about some of my boyhood heroes and bring out the kid in me once again.

Follow the 300-page trail of one of baseball's oldest and most storied franchises in this remarkable collection of Phillies archives. From the earliest days of Ed Delahanty and his four home run game to Billy Hamilton to the roaring 20's with Pete Alexander.

Travel back in time to watch the Whiz Kids like Robin Roberts and Ritchie Ashburn of the 50's to the Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton lead powerhouses of the 70's and 80's. You'll read about the Wheeze Kids with Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and Tony Perez of 1983.

I was amazed at the ups and downs, the trial and tribulations, the emotional roller coaster this book presented and how it all falls neatly into place. A true must have for any Phillies Fan at a price that should be of no objection. Congratulations on a spectacular job well done!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate For All Phillies Fans, June 8, 2001

By 

Chad Spivak (North Miami Beach, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Phillies Reader (Hardcover)

Yes, I am one of the few, the proud,.....the Philadelphia Phillies' fans. And was this book ever perfect for me.

I have always been a baseball fan, and my favorite team has always been the Philadelphia Phillies. This book allowed me to travel back through the wild history of the ball club. The stories are wonderful, but more importantly, most of them are written by top-notch newspaper reporters or well-known authors. Some of the more personal stories, written by players, etc., are also well-done, and give a nice human touch to the book.

This was an intersting and entertaining read, and one that could be enjoyed by all fans of America's Pastime.