One of the nation's most popular sportscasters remembers what American sports were like in the era before big money, television, and drugs. 25,000 first printing. $25,000 ad/promo. Tour.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
This nostalgic volume will appeal mainly to sports fans over 50, for Gowdy, who was a broadcaster in Oklahoma, New York and Boston, and Powers ( Mary Lou ) reminisce about football, basketball and baseball in the post-WW II years. Their special fondness for dynasties is expressed by their focus on Bud Wilkinson's reign as football coach at Oklahoma University, the basketball regimes of Hank Iba at Oklahoma A & M and Adolph Rupp at Kentucky, the New York Yankees under Casey Stengel and the Boston Celtics managed by Red Auerbach. There are passing glimpses at George Mikan, Satchel Paige, Joe DiMaggio and Clair Bee, as well as in-depth looks at Ted Williams and Tom Yawkey. Although the book is a vivid recollection of the era, it won't much interest those who think of Walt Frazier and Stan Musial as old-timers. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
An unabashedly nostalgic, silky-smooth memoir spanning a 15- year period that fiftysomething or older people tend to regard as a golden age in American sports. With assistance from Pulitzer-winning journalist Powers (coauthor, One Goal, 1984, etc.), Gowdy makes unobtrusive use of his long career in broadcasting to recall notable post-WW II teams and events. He was at the local mike, for instance, when Bud Wilkinson began making Oklahoma a college-football power and Hank Iba's Oklahoma A&M basketball squads were beating almost all comers. Moving east in 1949 to become Mel Allen's junior partner in broadcasting New York Yankees games, the author was an eyewitness to the dynastic renaissance of the Yankees, who, under the quirky aegis of Casey Stengel, dominated pro baseball for much of the 1950's. Offered a chance to be number one, Gowdy decamped for Boston in 1951 to air Red Sox games, a job that let him become the first voice of the Celtics as well. While he focuses on his era's storied contests and notables (e.g., Red Auerbach, Doc Blanchard, Glenn Davis, Joe DiMaggio, Bill Russell, Tom Yawkey), the author doesn't shrink from recounting its low points--in particular the point-shaving scandals that cost college basketball a full measure of innocence. Gowdy nonetheless manages to end his anecdotal, episodic narrative with an upbeat, I-was-there account of the home run that Ted Williams belted out of Fenway Park during his final time at bat in the major leagues, in 1960. Manna for older fans who may have forgotten how sweet it was, and a fine reminder for younger generations that artificial turf, integrated squads, TV coverage, drug-testing, seven-figure contracts, platooning, and seemingly endless playoffs weren't always in the game. (Illustrations--not seen) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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