Stolen Season: A Journey Through America and Baseball's Minor Leagues [Paperback]

David Lamb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1992

Fans of our national pastime and books like The Boys of Summer and Men at Work will applaud this acclaimed bestseller celebrating baseball's minor leagues, by noted journalist David Lamb. He encounters enterprising owners, dedicated managers, die-hard fans, Hall of Fame instructors, and hopeful players. 8-page insert.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lamb discusses the nation's 15 minor leagues--their franchises, stadiums, owners, managers and, too infrequently, players--in this workmanlike book. Photos.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

After visiting Arizona training camps, the author of The Africans ( LJ 3/1/83) takes a motor home tour of the minor leagues. He makes a road trip with the Stockton Ports, then travels through such "lower league" towns as El Paso, Texas, Elmira, New York, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Along the way he visits with ex-big leaguers Warren Spahn and "Hurricane" Hazle. Serviceable nostalgia and local color that will complement large sports collections.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 283 pages
• Publisher: Warner Books (April 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446394157
• ISBN-13: 978-0446394154
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #212,999 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding book, August 23, 2002

By 

Christopher J. Martin (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stolen Season: A Journey Through America and Baseball's Minor Leagues (Hardcover)

David Lamb's summer through the minor leagues is one of the most outstanding baseball books I've ever read. He writes like a storyteller and really makes the reader care about every team and player he writes about. These players, particularly in the low minors, really play baseball for the love of the game and the chance they might make it big one day. Lamb also takes the time to make the local color of the towns he visited come alive. With all the problems of Major League Baseball now, this book will remind you why you care about baseball.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A kind of minor league baseball 'Travels with charley', September 12, 2002

By 

Todd Hawley (San Francisco CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stolen Season: A Journey Through America and Baseball's Minor Leagues (Hardcover)

As I read this book, I was reminded a bit of Steinbeck's old book, "Travels with Charley." In both books, the reader is treated to a commentary of "life on the road." However, in this case it's following the author as he travels across country in his RV to watch numerous minor league baseball games. How many of us as baseball fans secretly wish we could do just that? How many of us however actually have the time and more importantly the finances to do this?

While the book is dated, it still is well worth a read. The author describes the dreams of numerous minor league ballplayers to make it to "the Show," but points out only one out of every fourteen actually makes it to the big leagues. And not only is this book about their stories, but the stories of numerous minor league towns, and the people the author encounters. He also gets to meet and talk with several of his boyhood idols, players from the 1957 Milwaukee Braves. Some of the stories of these people are sad, some hilarious, but all of them are quite entertaining. I've recommended this book to a friend with a son who aspires to be a "big leaguer" someday, because it entails some of the hardships involved in getting there. This book is a travelogue of places where time has seemingly stood still and the players are gods, even if they are only minor leaguers pursuiing a dream.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tremendous Journey, May 1, 2002

By 

nusandman "nusandman" (Lincoln, Ne USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stolen Season: A Journey Through America and Baseball's Minor Leagues (Hardcover)

Stolen Season is a very enjoyable read that chronicles a Summer of writer David Lamb's life. Badly needing a break from his job as a foreign journalist, Lamb decides to fulfill a life long dream of driving accross the country visiting as many minor league baseball parks as he can. Although baseball games are the intended stops, his encounters with the people around the country are just as important, making this an enjoyable read whether you are a baseball fan or not. This book has inspired me to make an effort to visit more minor league parks where the game is still just a game. Make it a point to check this book out.