You're Missin' a Great Game: From Casey to Ozzie, the Magic of Baseball and How to Get It Back [Paperback]

Whitey Herzog (Author), Jonathan Pitts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2007

At its best, baseball calls on a wide array of subtle skills, rewarding the teams that know how to play the game better than their opponents over the long 162-game season. Whitey Herzog learned those skills under the tutelage of Cesey Stengel in the Yankees' training camps of the 1950s: how to take a lead; which side of the cutoff man to aim for; when to take an extra base depending on whether the outfielder throws left-handed or right-handed; the best ways to turn or prevent a double play. These little things might make a difference in two or three games over the course of a season, but two or three wins are often what separates a pennant winner from the pack. As Whitey would personally learn playing alongside greats like Roger Maris and Yogi Berra -- and managing players like George Brett, Darrell Porter, and Ozzie Smith -- baseball should reward such attention to detail. That inside knowledge can create the chance for a less physically awesome team to beat its imposing adversaries -- and what is more satisfying in sports than David toppling Goliath through skill and guile?

But in the modern game, Herzog argues, players don't learn these skills, and the game no longer rewards them if they do. Expanded playoffs mean that more teams reach the postseason, so excellence over 162 games is less important than ever before. Players know that their agents will negotiate salaries based on their home runs, batting averages, and RBI counts; why learn the parts of the game that don't show up in the box scores? The richest teams can bash their way into the playoffs by signing the players they need to play a power game at bat and on the mound. The free-agent draft deemphasizes good scouting, and the bonuses being paid to untested rookies further widen the gap between rich and poor. For the majority of teams, the season is over before it's begun; their economic circumstances won't let them play the only style you can win with today.

But it would be wrong to lump Herzog in with the crowd that says things can never be as good as they used to be. Outrageous, thought-provoking, candid, and laugh-out-loud funny, You're Missin' a Great Game celebrates the game of baseball as it was, and as it can be again. For all the fans revitalized by the excitement and glamour of the home-run chase and the barrier-breaking '98 season, Whitey Herzog shows how -- with some intelligent planning and attention to the virtues of the game -- baseball's best days can and should be still ahead of us.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Herzog didn't earn his nickname as baseball's White Rat simply because of his hair color. Former manager of the Royals, Angels, and Cards, Herzog is one of baseball's great tacticians and blue-collar philosophers. He's tenacious and volatile; when the game's on the line, he's never held back, all of which is good news for the reader. For the fan, the color is less rosy. From Herzog's knowledgeable vantage point, baseball's integrity, despite a marvelous '98 season, is very much on the line these days, in danger of striking itself out as it loses touch with its fundamentals. Power is in, and subtlety's out. Singles hitters swing for the fences. Finesse, like bunting, is on the verge of extinction. Small-market teams can't compete. Free agency destroys loyalty. The wild-card, six divisions, and the extended playoffs undercut the pennant races. The game is in chaos.

Naturally, all of that--and more--has the Rat looking back at the good old days, gnawing over what worked; he's not afraid to show his teeth. His passionate screed raises questions, chews on problems, and spits out interesting solutions in a colloquial breeze that blows air more fresh than hot. Circling the bases of this personal-insider's journey, he examines why his baseball heroes--Casey Stengel, Ted Williams, Tom Seaver, and Ozzie Smith, for starters--are just that, and why the game needs more of them. "Baseball itself is a little nearsighted right now," he complains, "and there ain't any harm in riding it some. Maybe we can be the bench jockeys." Why not? Herzog's certainly shown a knack for bringing home winners from that position before, and the fun of Missin' is the ease with which it invites us all to join him for the ride. --Jeff Silverman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

What makes the book work is that Herzog wants to talk about the things that people don't like to talk about. -- The New York Times Book Review, Bill James --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (February 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416552057
• ISBN-13: 978-1416552055
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #210,727 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Preachy and Long Winded, December 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: You're Missin' a Great Game: From Casey to Ozzie, the Magic of Baseball and How to Get It Back (Hardcover)

After a promising start about his relationship with the "Old Perfesser", Casey Stengel, Herzog's account reads more like a long winded sermon. I expected more substantial content rather than a rambling diatribe about how much the game has deteriorated. After a while, I couldn't stomach Whitey's egoistic rants about his slant on baseball strategy. Yes, he was a great manager but he is not the sole proprietor of baseball genius. It is a meandering read and a major disappointment.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing but repetitive, September 18, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: You're Missin' a Great Game: From Casey to Ozzie, the Magic of Baseball and How to Get It Back (Hardcover)

Whitey tells it like it is. You gain the perspective of an old-school pro. You'll understand why the skill set of the modern-day player, and the control of today's pitcher, is so shoddy. You'll understand how the accelerating salary structure hamstrings GMs, especially in small markets. Finally, you'll see how the game could be improved. But, Whitey, do you need to tell us so many times? Where was your editor? Despite the repetitiveness, this is a must-read to see how the game has changed and how to heighten its quality.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A legend in his own mind......., August 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: You're Missin' a Great Game: From Casey to Ozzie, the Magic of Baseball and How to Get It Back (Hardcover)

I still cannot figure out which is larger....Whitey's opinion of himself or Whitey's perception of others' opinions of himself. He was an excellent manager but contrary to his opinion, he did not come close to revolutionizing the game. On more than one occasion I got the impression that Whitey believed his Cardinal teams of the 80's were the biggest dynasty in baseball history. For example he rants about the Braves and how they are basically a mediocre team with very good pitching yet the Braves in the 90's have accomplished just as much, if not more, than his beloved Red Birds. Basically, this book appears to be an aging sports figure's last chance to make some money by telling a few stories and reminiscing about how much better baseball was 40 years ago.