sweaver
07-16-2002, 11:56 AM
The first collection of Angell's essays from The New Yorker magazine, this book covers the years 1962-71, rather than the five-year spans of the later books. Angell is one of the "lyrical" writers of baseball, like Boswell, who followed in his footsteps.
Angell is a writer and a sports FAN, as opposed to a sportswriter. This informs his prose, and gives a pleasant perspective. This particular book sets the style for the later ones, which include mostly coverage of the pennant races and postseason (written with the benefit of hindsight, after the fact) but also some in-season views. Time is also devoted here to the beginnings of the New York Mets from the Amazin' days, and also to the Astros in the opening of the Astrodome. It is a look back at the time when the players LIKED astroturf!
The images of Sandy Koufax and Willie Mays, in particular, are striking. Lou Brock gets good play here as well, in three World Series performances. There is also a set of essays on spring training, when the Florida event was still unspoiled, and home mostly to the natives, rather than tourists. The 1967 pennant race, and the Red Sox improbable victory, are vividly retold in these pages.
Angell has been called baseball's "poet laurate." It is a fitting title.
Angell is a writer and a sports FAN, as opposed to a sportswriter. This informs his prose, and gives a pleasant perspective. This particular book sets the style for the later ones, which include mostly coverage of the pennant races and postseason (written with the benefit of hindsight, after the fact) but also some in-season views. Time is also devoted here to the beginnings of the New York Mets from the Amazin' days, and also to the Astros in the opening of the Astrodome. It is a look back at the time when the players LIKED astroturf!
The images of Sandy Koufax and Willie Mays, in particular, are striking. Lou Brock gets good play here as well, in three World Series performances. There is also a set of essays on spring training, when the Florida event was still unspoiled, and home mostly to the natives, rather than tourists. The 1967 pennant race, and the Red Sox improbable victory, are vividly retold in these pages.
Angell has been called baseball's "poet laurate." It is a fitting title.