Red Sox Nation: An Unexpurgated History of the Boston Red Sox [Hardcover]

Peter Golenbock (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2005

For baseball enthusiasts everywhere, the names of the greatest Boston Red Sox are synonymous with the game itself: Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove, Dom DiMaggio, Carl Yastrzemski, Johnny Damon, and so many more. And no other franchise can claim as many moments that have become indelible parts of baseball’s history: Williams’ last at-bat, Carlton Fisk’s Game 6 home run, Bill Buckner’s fatal error. Red Sox Nation is the finest, most comprehensive history of this storied franchise, told from the point of view of the people who lived it. From every disappointment to each triumph, culminating with the 2004 world championship, Red Sox Nation takes you into the dugout and onto the field to relive each moment.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"The best inside book on baseball yet. . . . Hundreds of often hilarious interviews with ballplayers and fans alike—all of them carefully woven into a taut, fast-moving text." —the late Cleveland Amory

From the Inside Flap

On October 27, 2004, the Boston Red Sox ended their 86-year championship drought by sweeping past the St. Louis Cardinals in front of a packed house of disbelieving, awestruck fans at Fenway Park. The victory capped one of the most unforgettable, unlikely postseason runs of all time, and it was instantly declared one of the greatest moments in the franchise’s storied history. Red Sox Nation is a fun, frolicking, and comprehensive look at that history, a history that includes such immortals as Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Lefty Grove, Jimmie Foxx, and so many more. No other franchise has been involved in as many indelible moments in baseball’s history, including Williams’ final at-bat, Carlton Fisk’s dance down the first-base line, Bucky Dent’s home run, Dave Henderson’s home run, Bill Buckner’s error, and the incredible 2004 World Series triumph that culminated under—of all things—a lunar eclipse. Best-selling author Peter Golenbock has created the best kind of baseball history, one told from the point of view of the players themselves, the fans, and the sportswriters of the day. Here, in their own words, are not only the joy of baseball and the bizarre twists of fate that always seem to accompany the Red Sox, but all the raucous behavior, feuds, and outrageous personalities that only those who were there could tell about. Red Sox Nation is a tale of triumph and heartbreak, of heroes and goats, injuries, miracles, and a devoted fan following that has lived and died for every minute of it. It is the most detailed history ever of a franchise for which hope, disappointment, and, finally, jubilation are inextricably joined.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Triumph Books (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572437448
• ISBN-13: 978-1572437449
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #384,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #57 in Books > Travel > United States > States > Massachusetts

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I learned a lot about being a Red Sox fan!!, July 17, 2005

By 

Michael Solakian - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Red Sox Nation: An Unexpurgated History of the Boston Red Sox (Hardcover)

My daughter gave me this book for my birthday-I am a 50 year old lifelong Sox Fan who has suffered a lot during my life. This book tells the history of the team without pulling any punches, and really explains a lot of why they have been a troubled franchise through the years. Yes, the Curse is finally over, but the stories about how the franchise started, why they really got rid of Babe Ruth, why they didn't sign Jackie Robinson or Willie Mays, well, it all makes sense.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Own Book If You're A Bosox Fan.., August 15, 2007

By 

Mark (Toronto, Ontario) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Red Sox Nation: An Unexpurgated History of the Boston Red Sox (Hardcover)

I've been a Red Sox fan since the early 1960's - around the time that Carl Yastzemski, my all time favorite player, came up - and in common with all Red Sox fans, have suffered through some of the most heart-breaking losses imagineable..

And, unfortunately, this book does not pull any punches or try to sugar coat the losses. It's all there - the loss to the Cardinals in 1967 after Yaz almost single-handedly carried the Red Sox to the Impossible Dream and took the Cards and the brilliant Bob Gibson to a 7th game.

Or the 1975 World Series against the Big Red Machine - the Cincinnati Reds. Again, the Sox went the distance only to lose in Game 7. But they gave us a win in Game 6 which, in my opinion, was the greatest game ever played in the best series ever played.

But it also brings back the heartbreak of the 1978 season when they blew a huge lead in August and ending up losing to the Yankees after Bucky F*****ing Dent's homerun.

Or the 1986 World Series against the Mets when they lost Game 6 after being just 1 strike away from winning. Thanks Bill Buckner / Calvin Schiraldi and Bob Stanley.

And let's not forget the 2003 "Cowboy Up" season..!!

You know, I never bought the "curse of the Bambino" nonsense and this book only confirmed what I always suspected / knew. The ONLY thing that the Red Sox were cursed with were Managers who, at times, were clearly brain dead - they were simply in over their heads and couldn't do the little things that separate the great coaches from the merely good or "mortal" ones.

For example, Don Zimmer sticking with Mike Torrez late in the one game playoff with the NY Yankees back in 1978 when he should have gone with Bill Lee's fresh arm. Unfortunately, Zimmer thought "Spaceman" Lee was a flake and so he decided to keep him on the bench. Between this bonehead play - and Zimmer's decision to get rid of one of the greatest pinch hitters around (remember Bernie Carbo's heroics in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series..??), is it any wonder that the player's couldn't get the job done..??

Or in 1986, John McNamara elected to keep a gimpy kneed Bill Buckner at first instead of pulling him for a healthier, better fielding replacement.
And we all know what happened..!!

And, of course, we can't forget Grady Little staying with Pedro Martinez late in the game in the 2003 ALCS when every Red Sox fan - alive and dead - was screaming at Grady through their TV to "pull this guy and get a fresh, strong arm in there..!!!??. After giving up a bunch of hits, Little pulled Martinez, but by then the damage was done..! And when Boone hit that home run, it was deja vu all over again..!

No - there never was a "curse" - just some of the most incredibly inept and stupid managing in the history of this great game. Some day, Zimmer and Little and McNamara should all get together and compare notes on who the biggest bonehead is..!

But enough of the negative stuff.

I loved the commentary from the players /fans / reporters etc that are sprinkled thorughout the book. It really gives you a flavour of the time and the emotions that we all experience when you're a Red Sox fan. The bookj talks about the beaning of Tony Conigliaro, who never properly recovered from that terrible accident. We can only wonder how great his numbers and career might have been had he been healthy.

Or the numerous stories of Ted Williams - or the Yawkey's (Tom and Jean), Luis Tiant , Jim Rice, Freddie Lynn and on and on it goes.

Of course, we all know that it has an incredibly happy ending with their World Series win in 2004. Yes,three years later in August 2007 as I'm writing this, it still feels great to be able to sit back and know that these guys won it all in our lifetime...!!

And to win it the way they did against the Yankees is still the BEST memory I will ever have in baseball. No matter how many incredibly painful ways the Red Sox found to lose throughout the years, ONLY the Yankees have been ahead 3 games to 0 in the ALCS and then proceed to lose the next 4 games. Yes - the Red Sox have had some bitter losses, but only the NY Yankees have choked so bad that no other team in baseball history has ever equalled it. The World Series win was the BEST cake in the world - and beating the Yankees the way they did was the best icing on the cake a Red Sox fan could possibly ask for..!!

I hope the Yankees and their fans still choke on that thought from time to time.

Anyways, if you're a Red Sox fan - and you should be if you're not - you MUST own this book. it's a great read from the first to last page and it's a pleasure to read about the teams and players that pre-dated your own interst.

It's a pleasure being a Red Sox fan..!!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read For All Sox Fans, August 7, 2005

By 

Michael S. Kun "author of 'You Poor Monster" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Red Sox Nation: An Unexpurgated History of the Boston Red Sox (Hardcover)

This is one of those books that you take with you to the beach or the pool. Before you know it, five hours have passed and you're sunburned and sore. A great, fun book that every Red Sox fan should read.