True Blue: The Dramatic History of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Told by the Men Who Lived It

by Steve Delsohn

Paper Book, 2002

Status

Available

Call number

796.357

Publication

Harper Perennial (2002), Paperback, 320 pages

Description

In 1957 the Dodgers broke the hearts of blue-collar Brooklyn for the embrace of booming Los Angeles. Thus began a new era for the fabled Bums, whose exploits inside -- and outside -- the white lines have intrigued generations of baseball fans. Based on scores of fresh and exuberant interviews, True Blue brings you into the dugout and the locker room, capturing the nearly half-century of clutch performances, World Series triumphs, blown pennant races, clubhouse brawls, contract disputes, stunning trades, and turbulent managerial changes -- all with a startling insider's perspective. In their own candid and provocative words, a who's who of Dodger legends and stars such as Duke Snider, Maury Wills, John Roseboro, Don Sutton, Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Davey Lopes, Reggie Smith, Tommy Lasorda, Bill Russell, Dusty Baker, Kirk Gibson, Steve Sax, and Eric Karros recall their years with the Dodgers. Also providing their unique commentary are a number of noted opponents, writers, and broadcasters, including Willie Mays, Sparky Anderson, Pete Hamill, Roger Kahn, Tim McCarver, and Bob Costas. Their voices, woven into a rich and fast-paced narrative, bring to life the rise and shocking retirement of Sandy Koufax, Kirk Gibson's dramatic 1988 World Series home run, the controversial trade of Mike Piazza, and so much more. It is the vivid story of how the Dodgers became one of the great successes in major league history, winning nine National League pennants and five World Series championships. A fascinating and colorful history of a team, an era, and baseball itself, True Blue is must reading for any baseball fan.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Stahl-Ricco
Best quote in this book - "Jay Johnstone: Tommy said to [Steve] Sax before the game, "Go with me for a walk around the field." So he and Sax started walking. Tommy said, "How many people in this country can play big-league baseball? How many big leaguers can hit .280? How many big leaguers can
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steal 40 bases?" Sax kept saying, "Not many." Then Lasorda said, "How many women can throw the ball to first base? Every f---ing one of them! So why the f--- can't you throw the ball to first base?"

That kills me because all of us Dodger fans said that last sentence over and over during Steve's throwing issues! Lol! Second best quote? Lasorda's rant about Kingman's 3 homer day against LA! I love the Dodgers, so this book was my cup of tea! And I started reading it on the first day of spring training games this year, so that felt even better! This book covers the Dodgers from 1957-2001, and it tells the story through quotes of those that were there! Good stuff all the way through, though Chapter 7, The Roseboro-Marichal Brawl, was my favorite! Roseboro's quotes are hilarious! And I had never known all of that detail about that day, 'till now!

I will take umbrage though with the author's description of Tim McCarver. He writes about Tim, "Now a brilliant TV analyst for Fox, ...". What the? Brilliant? I could not disagree more! McCarver was as bad as Joe Buck is now, if not worse. Delsohn, where did that come from? I hope you were forced to write that, otherwise I'm a bit suspicious of your ability to discern what the word brilliant means.

Besides that, a good book, and a great deal of fun for Dodger fans!
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Language

Physical description

320 p.; 8.02 inches

ISBN

0380806150 / 9780380806157

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