"Opening Day": the book

[KG Erwin]

"The Story of Jackie Robinson and His First Season", by Jonathan Eig (2007). I got this from the local library today, and have gotten through a couple of chapters. A few minutes ago I checked Amazon, and found a "bargain price" edition, so I ordered it. Including s&h, it cost $10.

These "bargain books" are new hardcover items, with a remainder mark on the outside edge and a sticker on the cover. Ok, sounds good to me.

In any case, as my PS 1947 season enters September, it seemed appropriate to add this title to my baseball library.

A few months back, I got a slightly used HC limited edition of "Bums:An Oral History of the Brooklyn Dodgers", by Peter Golenbock, from an Amazon-affiliated private dealer for just $5.

Wow! To get two highly-regarded hardcover books for $15 is a heck of a deal.

For you guys who want to add to your baseball collections, it's amazing what bargains you can find if you look around a bit.

[mking55]

I bought this book when it was released and it was well worth the money at the regular Amazon "bargain price". I had read one other book by Jonathan Eig (The Luckiest Man) about Lou Gehrig so I sort of knew the quality I was getting and I was not disappointed.

I don't know if it's me or if it's the writer's talent, but to take stories we all know so well (Gehrig and Robinson) and write a book about them that makes them sound new and fresh (and a little excited when you know the big things that are going to happen) just amazes me.

I also read the Golenbock book and some others of his. They are okay. I think he can do a better job. I buy a lot of sports books, mostly baseball, because baseball produces the best books, and I'm always amazed at the quality of the author's. I look forward to more books by Jonathan Eig.

If you haven't read Brad Snyder's 2 baseball books I would highly recommend them to you. I hate going out on a limb but from reading your posts I get the feeling you'd appreciate them. He wrote "Beyond the Shadow of the Senators" which is about the Homestead Grays and "A Well Paid Slave" about Curt Flood. When I read the first book I could have sworn it was written by a black man. There was basically no information about the author (I think the book was a thesis of his) and no picture. I was astounded when I learned a little from the cover notes of "A Well Paid Slave". The man is a lawyer and a white one at that.

Anyhow, give them a try and if you don't like them, I'll give you double your money back. Oh wait, if you don't like them I will give you double apologies.