The Long Season by Jim Brosnan

gyb13 · 01-09-2003, 01:28 PM

I have not read it, but here's a column from espn: http://msn.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/s...n/1489415.html

I know some of you (pwdennis, pathogan) are fans...

rcartman28 · 01-09-2003, 04:01 PM

I am pretty sure I have a paperback copy of it at home. It was pretty interesting reading. Actually, "Pennant Race" was pretty good, too, but I think I traded that book back in at a used book store, unfortunately.......

pathogan · 01-09-2003, 04:50 PM

...essential to any baseball literature.Ball 4 precursor,better written but not nearly as funny.or epochal.a good read.

SmedIndy · 01-09-2003, 09:41 PM

I just ordered it, but since one of the books I ordered is a special order from England - I'll get it in February.

pwdennis · 01-09-2003, 10:34 PM

This was my posting from 04/27/02:

"I think that the very first baseball book I read, other than the usual fluffy biographies found in school libraries was PENNANT RACE by Jim Brosnan, a very earthy book but extremely well written. Later when I read BALL FOUR, I viewed it as a logical extension of PENNANT RACE, only not nearly as well written, and given to cheap humor. I suspect the reason that PENNANT RACE did not receive the acclaim and notoriety of BALL FOUR was that it was written about the 1961 Cincinnati Reds rather than about a New York or Los Angeles team. Moreover, Brosnan faced repercussions for his writing activities, probably more so than Bouton, who was already over-the hill at the time BALL FOUR was written.

I have re-read both books with the last five years and my view of BALL FOUR remains the same. I enjoyed the book but it was neither the ground breaker it was touted as being nor was it the best written book of its type"

This is part of my posting from 07/09/02:

"Most baseball bios and autobios are garbage but I read them anyway. Other than books on baseball stats, my two favorites are PENNANT RACE and THE LONG SEASON, both by Jim Brosnan. Long before BALL FOUR became famous, these books were out there "telling it like it is" and they were far more interesting and better written than BALL FOUR."

At the time I made these posts, no one commented on them so I was somewhat gratified to see some one else recognize these remarkable books. They deserve to be read

01-20-2003, 05:28 PM

My brother & I devoured & loved Long Season & Pennant Race.

There is a classic line in LS. Brosnan's in a slump, in the midst of another pounding, has a famous/weak hitter up but is still resigned to his fate...and says, "Here, Sparky, hit it."...and .201-hitting George Anderson complies with a line-drive single.

Ever since then, whenever we both see a hopeless situation, it's time for our code phrase--"Here, Sparky, hit it." Great books.

OaktownTribeFan · 01-27-2003, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pwdennis
This was my posting from 04/27/02:

Brosnan faced repercussions for his writing activities, probably more so than Bouton, who was already over-the hill at the time BALL FOUR was written.

Bouton was called on the carpet by Bowie Kuhn, and could've faced severe repercussions, except he didn't say anything stupid, and he was defended there by Marvin Miller. Read Bouton's book I'm Glad You Didn't Take it Personally.

Quote:

I have re-read both books with the last five years and my view of BALL FOUR remains the same. I enjoyed the book but it was neither the ground breaker it was touted as being nor was it the best written book of its type

It was a groundbreaker in that it showed the way a clubhouse really is, with the language and jokes. There wasn't much of a feel for that in The Long Season. I haven't read Pennant Race, so can't comment about it.

Also, it was one of the first books to poke holes in the idolatry surrounding Mantle and the Yankees. Up until then, Mickey was thought to be a perfect blonde God.

And there was discussion of greenies, which particularly irked Kuhn. There was no discussion of drugs in any previous book that i'm aware of.

Doc Pontoon · 02-09-2003, 11:26 AM

Well, I liked Ball Four much better than The Long Season, but then I'm personally more into iconoclasm. Plus, as noted, BF is definitely funnier. TLS is good, but no classic.

SmedIndy · 04-01-2003, 02:12 PM

Just finished it. A quick, yet entertaining read. I can only imagine the waves it made in 1960. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

01-09-2003, 01:28 PM	#1
gyb13 NS Omnipresent Brasilian Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Crazy George's playground Posts: 10,903	The Long Season by Jim Brosnan I have not read it, but here's a column from espn: http://msn.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/s...n/1489415.html I know some of you (pwdennis, pathogan) are fans... __________________ Gustavo NDF Moderator Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin

01-09-2003, 04:01 PM	#2
rcartman28 NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Hudson, WI Posts: 1,408	I am pretty sure I have a paperback copy of it at home. It was pretty interesting reading. Actually, "Pennant Race" was pretty good, too, but I think I traded that book back in at a used book store, unfortunately....... __________________ I would have looked out for the water main. But that's just me..... Brett Favre

01-09-2003, 04:50 PM	#3
pathogan william Blake's Innkeeper Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 2,828	Yep ...essential to any baseball literature.Ball 4 precursor,better written but not nearly as funny.or epochal.a good read.

01-09-2003, 10:34 PM	#5
pwdennis NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Winter Springs, FL Posts: 2,503	This was my posting from 04/27/02: "I think that the very first baseball book I read, other than the usual fluffy biographies found in school libraries was PENNANT RACE by Jim Brosnan, a very earthy book but extremely well written. Later when I read BALL FOUR, I viewed it as a logical extension of PENNANT RACE, only not nearly as well written, and given to cheap humor. I suspect the reason that PENNANT RACE did not receive the acclaim and notoriety of BALL FOUR was that it was written about the 1961 Cincinnati Reds rather than about a New York or Los Angeles team. Moreover, Brosnan faced repercussions for his writing activities, probably more so than Bouton, who was already over-the hill at the time BALL FOUR was written. I have re-read both books with the last five years and my view of BALL FOUR remains the same. I enjoyed the book but it was neither the ground breaker it was touted as being nor was it the best written book of its type" This is part of my posting from 07/09/02: "Most baseball bios and autobios are garbage but I read them anyway. Other than books on baseball stats, my two favorites are PENNANT RACE and THE LONG SEASON, both by Jim Brosnan. Long before BALL FOUR became famous, these books were out there "telling it like it is" and they were far more interesting and better written than BALL FOUR." At the time I made these posts, no one commented on them so I was somewhat gratified to see some one else recognize these remarkable books. They deserve to be read __________________ "I would submit that if the world survives for a million years, perhaps its finest hour may be that in the last half of the 20th century, when the power to blow up the world rested in the hands of a few men in two very unsophisticated and suspicious countries, we didn't do it, and one American, Richard Nixon, moved the cold war away from permanent confrontation toward victory. How could any wrong that he did compare with that?" - John Sears Last edited by pwdennis : 01-09-2003 at 10:39 PM.

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01-09-2003, 09:41 PM	#4
SmedIndy NetShrine's Historian Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Zionsville, IN Posts: 10,569	I just ordered it, but since one of the books I ordered is a special order from England - I'll get it in February.

01-20-2003, 05:28 PM	#6
ourtime Posts: n/a	My brother & I devoured & loved Long Season & Pennant Race. There is a classic line in LS. Brosnan's in a slump, in the midst of another pounding, has a famous/weak hitter up but is still resigned to his fate...and says, "Here, Sparky, hit it."...and .201-hitting George Anderson complies with a line-drive single. Ever since then, whenever we both see a hopeless situation, it's time for our code phrase--"Here, Sparky, hit it." Great books.

02-09-2003, 11:26 AM	#8
Doc Pontoon Membership Termed 5/26/03 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 230	Well, I liked Ball Four much better than The Long Season, but then I'm personally more into iconoclasm. Plus, as noted, BF is definitely funnier. TLS is good, but no classic.

04-01-2003, 02:12 PM	#9
SmedIndy NetShrine's Historian Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Zionsville, IN Posts: 10,569	Just finished it. A quick, yet entertaining read. I can only imagine the waves it made in 1960. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

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