The classic inside account of a baseball year by a major league pitcher. It begins, appropriately, with the winter doldrums and "sweating out" a new contract, then follows the author and his family to spring training in Florida and through the full season’s schedule to October. "One of the best baseball books ever written. It is probably one of the best American diaries as well."—New York Times Book Review. "The greatest baseball book ever written."—Jimmy Cannon.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
...The best of its kind... timeless.... Over the years some players were even smart enough to grasp that The Long Season did them, and baseball, a favor, by capturing its human side and in so doing making them more, rather than less, interesting and admirable. (Review Of Higher Education)
One of the best baseball books ever written. It is probably one of the best American diaries as well. (The New York Times)
Rich and always interesting....This is the most authentic and convincing book about baseball I have ever read. (Robert R. Kirsch Los Angeles Times)
An honest book that furnished an insight into the ballplayer's life which no outsider could possibly get. (Red Smith)
The greatest baseball book ever written. (Jimmy Cannon)
Brosnan provides a dose of humor, a touch of self-deprecation and a shot of unvarnished reality. (The Plain Dealer)
One of the best baseball books ever written. It is probably one of the best American diaries as well. (The New York Times)
Rich and always interesting....This is the most authentic and convincing book about baseball I have ever read. (Robert R. Kirsch Los Angeles Times)
An honest book that furnished an insight into the ballplayer's life which no outsider could possibly get. (Red Smith)
The greatest baseball book ever written. (Jimmy Cannon)
Brosnan provides a dose of humor, a touch of self-deprecation and a shot of unvarnished reality. (The Plain Dealer)
About the Author
Jim Brosnan pitched in the major leagues for the Chicago Cubs, the Cincinnati Reds, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Chicago White Sox, and was a sports commentator for ABC. His books include Pennant Race and Great Baseball Pitchers. He lives in Morton Grove, Illinois, outside of Chicago.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I first read Mr. Brosnans book in the year it was published. My opinion of it has not changed in the last (could it be true) almost half a century. In "Long Season" Mr. Brosnan gives us what seems to be a very believable and accurate account of what major league baseball was like in the almost now forgotten days of the mid twentieth century. As a pitcher for the St Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds, Mr. Brosnan (I cant bring myself to call him Jim) gives what is a humorous and thoughtful insight what it is like to be a non-marquee player on teams that were quite frankly, less than steller. The Book, which is written in diary form, is an easy read. It flows from start to finish in a very readable manner. Mr. Brosnan has the talent to make everyone of his teamates and coaches come alive. As the reader, you feel that you are sitting in a bar, sipping on an adult beverage and listening to the author tell you of his everyday life in a now forgotten world of professional sports.
I guarantee you will become a fan of bullpen pitchers and oversized, bespeckled and hard-throwing righthanders within the first 10 pages.
My recomendation, is for you to grab this book and its sequal Pennant Race" before any other basebll books that are available anywhere. You wont be sorry, and once you have read it, you will be sucked into the history of baseball totally.
I guarantee you will become a fan of bullpen pitchers and oversized, bespeckled and hard-throwing righthanders within the first 10 pages.
My recomendation, is for you to grab this book and its sequal Pennant Race" before any other basebll books that are available anywhere. You wont be sorry, and once you have read it, you will be sucked into the history of baseball totally.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By K.A.Goldberg
Format:Hardcover
This insightful diary by pitcher Jim Brosnan recounts his struggles on the mound for the 1959 St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds. Jocks weren't supposed to write books, but this college-educated ballplayer (uncommon in the 1950's) wrote a very good one. Brosnan's mild irreverence annoyed the game's overseers in an era when ballplayers earned modest paychecks and rarely popped off. Older fans may enjoy reading about long-forgotten ballplayers playing in now-demolished ballparks like Forbes Field and Sportsmen's Park. Brosnan followed this book with "Pennant Race," a diary from the 1961 season. Some alledge that the Chicago White Sox tried to insert a clause in Brosnan's contract banning him from publishing anything, while others say he was blackballed from the game after 1963 for his writings. Readers may also enjoy "Ball Four," pitcher Jim Bouton's funny and more combative diary of the 1969 season.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By David Moss
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed this book, which is a milder, tamer, less controversial book written 10 years before Jim Bouton's Ball Four. Both books are written by good, but not great relief pitchers named Jim. Both are written in diary form while the pitchers toil for less than stellar teams. Funny, and at times irreverent, Brosnan's book is worth the time to read! Teaser: I love the nickname Brosnan's wife gave him. :-)
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty much what I expected
I found it interesting reading mainly because it dealt with personalities that I read about and remembered back in my youth when I avidly followed sports. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Hal Talley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Author
This is the kind of book that everyone should read. Especially if someone is interested in baseball. There is a lot of useful information here.
Published 14 months ago by Dorothy M. Dupont
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Real Story
As much as I enjoy Ball Four, I enjoy this book more. Not because it was written by a baseball player ten years before Ball Four was written by another baseball player, but because... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Ohioan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Baseball cards come to life!
What a joyous book for baseball fans. I've read it probably twenty times. Brosnan brought to life the players who were just pictures on baseball cards. Read more
Published 18 months ago by David Stallings
4.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific baseball diary by a literate and observant pitcher
Although "The Long Season" predates "Ball Four" by ten years, it's been all but forgotten by baseball fans in general. And that's too bad. Read more
Published on August 11, 2009 by Bruce Baskin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Groundbreaking Generously Written Baseball Diary
The Long Season by Jim Brosnan was the first of the baseball insider's diary type of books that was actually written by major league relief pitcher Jim Brosnan. Read more
Published on July 22, 2009 by Tom Without Pity
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not up to snuff
Eh. I was expecting more frankly. Guess I'm used to books like Ball Four which I would give 5 stars. Not real dishy (this was '59 after all) but not real interesting either. Read more
Published on March 30, 2009 by J. Levy
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but a little slow
I enjoyed Jim Brosnan's The Long Season. I didn't think that the book was quite as good as its reputation, however. Read more
Published on May 24, 2008 by stoic
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT
wonderful baseball expose of the era. fascinating, riveting and, best of all - true! not some Bernard Malamud fictional account, this author was a major league pitcher for 9... Read more
Published on July 22, 2007 by Shelly Lyons
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent book, not a stone left unturned
While Brosnan ruffled some feathers with this book, it isn't anywhere near as controversial or raunchy as Jim Bouton's "Ball Four. Read more
Published on May 17, 2005 by M. Johnson
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