![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baseballroundtable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Greatest-summer.jpg\")
<\/a>The Greatest Summer in Baseball History:\u00a0 How the \u201973 Season Changed Us Forever<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
By John Rosengren<\/strong><\/h4>\nSourcebooks, Naperville, IL<\/strong><\/p>\n$16.99\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n(To be released April 1, 2023 \u2026 May be pre-ordered at indiebound.org and amazon.com)<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
In \u00a01973, Major League Baseball appeared to be at a crossroads.\u00a0 The game was facing the blowback from 1972\u2019s first-ever players\u2019 strike; the balance of power between players and owners had changed dramatically; the American League had adopted a controversial rule change (the Designated Hitter); racial animus was coming to the forefront as Henry Aaron closed in on the iconic Babe Ruth\u2019s career home run record; Reggie Jackson was redefining the image of the baseball superstar; and George Steinbrenner and Charlie Finley were breaking the norms as baseball owners.\u00a0 Forbes Magazine<\/strong>, in fact, predicted major league baseball \u201ccould well vanish from the scene in twenty years.\u201d<\/p>\nIn The Greatest Summer in Baseball History: How the \u201973 Season Changed Us Forever<\/em>, award-winning author John Rosengren gives readers a vivid picture of the forces and individuals that helped redefine baseball in 1973 \u2013 putting the game on a new, more colorful (and, at times. more controversial) path.<\/p>\nIn his well-researched and well-written book, Rosengren provides the expected descriptions of the on-field action in pennant races, post-season games and record-chasing endeavors. He also takes readers behind the scenes (into the dugouts, clubhouses and executive offices), examining the personalities<\/em> who were reshaping the game. He also ties the course of the baseball season with the events of the times (like the Watergate Scandal, the withdrawal from Vietnam, the Billy Jean King\/Bobby Riggs Battle of the Sexes<\/em> and George Steinbrenner\u2019s legal troubles.<\/p>\nRosengren tells the tale of the 1973 MLB season without pulling any punches. For example, he details how\u00a0 a resurgent Orlando Cepeda successfully put his mark on the Designated Hitter position, as well as how a declining Willie Mays struggled through his final MLB season (with the Mets). When recounting Reggie Jackson\u2019s 1973 season, Rosengren reports that Reggie Jackson led the American League in home runs, RBI and game-winning hits, but also notes that Jackson was a new kind of superstar, one who played for the ego and the money.<\/p>\n
With his usual thoroughness, Rosengren traces the development of Jackson\u2019s ego all the way from his high school days (football scholarship offers from 48 colleges) until his trade to the Yankees, when he\u00a0 announced \u201cI did not come to New York to be a star, I brought my star with me.\u201d As he describes Jackson\u2019s approach to stardom – often irritating and even offensive to many (even his teammates) – Rosengren notes that Jackson also added a new level of excitement to the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cJackie Robinson changed the color of the game; Reggie infused it with color. He broke the duller barrier.\u201d \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The Greatest Summer in Baseball History<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nBaseball Roundtable Note: “The Greatest Summer in Baseball History: How the \u201973 Season Changed Us Forever\u201d was first published in 2008 under the title \u201cHammerin\u2019 Hank, George Almighty and the Say Hey Kid: The Year that Baseball Changed Forever.\u201d\u00a0 The book is being re-released this year, the 50th anniversary of the 1973 season. <\/em><\/p>\nWithout giving too much away, let\u2019s take a look at a few examples of how Rosengren approaches the stories of the 1973 season.\u00a0 We\u2019ll start with Hank Aaron\u2019s 1973 season, unfolding as he approached the iconic Babe Ruth\u2019s hallowed 714 career home runs (Aaron would close 1973 with 713 regular-season long balls). Rosengren details Aaron\u2019s on-field accomplishments, as well as the stress of the pursuit and the mountain of racially-based\u00a0 threats against not just Aaron himself, but also his family.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt (the pursuit of Ruth\u2019s record) should have been the most enjoyable time of my life, and instead it was hell.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Hank Aaron, noted in The Greatest Summer in Baseball History<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nWhat intrigued me was that Aaron was nearly as disturbed by Atlanta\u2019s indifference to his pursuit of the record as he was by the race-based hate mail. For example, on Hank Aaron Poster Day<\/em> at Atlanta Stadium (April 29, 1973) \u2013 when the Braves planned to give out posters to the first 20,000 youngsters – \u00a0a total of only 12,152 (youngsters and adults) were reported in attendance. After the game, Aaron commented that \u00a0\u201cAtlanta overwhelmed me with its indifference.\u201d Later in the season, when Aaron popped his 711th<\/sup> round tripper (September 17), only 1,362 fans showed up in Atlanta. \u201cThat was a pretty strong statement of what Atlanta though of me and my record,\u201d Aaron observed.<\/p>\nThere were, of course, positive moments \u2013 and Rosengren shares those as well. On August 6, \u201cHank Aaron Day\u201d was held in the former home of the Braves, as Aaron\u2019s Atlanta squad took on the Brewers in an exhibition game in Milwaukee. There, Aaron basked in an extended standing ovation from more than 33,000 fans. There was a similar response at the 1973 All Star Game and Atlanta fans did come around, putting 40,000 plus in the seats (and out of their seats for a five-minute\u00a0 standing ovation) for Atlanta\u2019s final home game of the season.<\/p>\n
The point here is that \u2013 as with other topics in the book \u2013 Rosengren enables us to relive the significant events of 1973, the good and the bad<\/em>.\u00a0 And, he does it with detail and accuracy, as well as with entertaining and active prose.<\/p>\nRosengren also gives readers a look at the Mets, who made won the NL East title and made it to the World Series, despite being in last place on August 30 and not topping .500 to stay until September 22.-<\/p>\n
\u201cExcitement for the Mets in New York seemed directly proportional to disgust for the Nixon Administration.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The Greatest Summer in Baseball History<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nRosengren shares a game-by-game account of the of the 1973 Mets\/Reds NL Championship Series \u2013 identifying the heroes and the goats. \u00a0Part of the tale that particularly grabbed me took place in Game Two. \u00a0In the fifth inning of that contest \u2013 with the \u00a0Reds up 9-3 \u2013 Pete Rose (breaking up a \u00a0double play) took out Mets\u2019 shortstop Buddy Harrelson.\u00a0 The action resulted in a bench-clearing brawl. \u00a0It was not your usual push-and-shove in-field match, but one marked by some pretty heavy punches. (Rosengren includes a blow-by-blow account, including Reds\u2019 pitcher Pedro Borbon\u2019s taking a bite out of a Mets player\u2019s cap.)\u00a0 Once the field was cleared, the excitement was far from over. When Rose took his place in left field the next inning, the fans greeted him with what Rosengren terms \u201da barrage of insults and an artillery of garbage.\u201d It took more than ten minutes and a visit to the outfield by peacekeeper Willie Mays to quiet the crowd.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m no damn little girl out there. I\u2019m supposed to give the fans their money\u2019s worth and try to bust up double plays \u2013 and shortstops.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be honest, I was trying to knock him into left field.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Pete Rose, after his NLCS collision with Bud Harrelson<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nRosengren tells the story of the 1973 World Champions A\u2019s\u00a0 and the deep rift between the players and owner Charlie \u00a0Finley. \u00a0 A rift so deep that, at one point, the A\u2019s players discussed going on strike during the 1973 World Series. Rosengren shares the story of Reggie Jackson flipping the bird at owner Charlie Finely after delivering a pinch-hit home run and gives readers a look at Finley \u2013\u00a0 defying post-heart attack doctors\u2019 orders \u2013 and continuing his meddling ways from a wheelchair (with a bottle of yellow heart pills in his pocket).<\/p>\n
And, there\u2019s much more in the book, including (but, as they say, not limited to):<\/p>\n
\n- Orlando Cepeda overcoming gimpy knees to be named 1973\u2019s first-ever Outstanding Designated Hitter of the Year;<\/li>\n
- The rift(s) between, Hank Aaron and Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn; Willie Mays and Mets\u2019 skipper Yogi Berra; George Steinbrenner and the Federal Court system;<\/li>\n
- The forces behind, skepticism surrounding and impact of the Designated Hitter rule;<\/li>\n
- George Steinbrenner\u2019s zealous efforts to prove Gaylord Perry was throwing spitballs;<\/li>\n
- Willie Mays\u2019 moments of struggle and moments of glory in his final season.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Ultimately, The Greatest Summer in Baseball History<\/em> is a highly informative and entertaining look at a watershed year for baseball. If you\u2019re a baseball fan, you\u2019ll enjoy the action and\u00a0 John Rosengren\u2019s take on the people, events and social forces that shaped the season and the future course of the National Pastime.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n____________________________________________________<\/p>\n
About the Author<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baseballroundtable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Rosengren-300x234.jpg\")
<\/a>John Rosengren is an award-winning journalist and author, whose articles have appeared in more than 100 publications, ranging from The Atlantic<\/em> to Sports Illustrated<\/em>. He is a lifelong baseball fan and a member of the Society for American Baseball Research.<\/p>\nHe has written ten books including:<\/p>\n
The Fight of Their Lives: How Juan Marichal and John Roseboro Turned Baseball\u2019s Ugliest Brawl into a Story of Forgiveness and Redemption<\/em><\/p>\nHank Greenberg: The Hero of Heroes<\/em><\/p>\nClassic Baseball: Timeless Tales, Immortal Moments<\/em><\/p>\nBlades of Gory: The Story of a Young Team Bred to Win<\/em><\/p>\nAlone in the Trenches: \u00a0My Life as a Gay Man in the NFL.<\/em> (With Esera Tuaolo)<\/p>\nLife is Just a Party<\/em> (short story collection)<\/p>\nClean Heart<\/em> (Novel)<\/p>\nRosengren is a Pulitzer Prize nominee.\u00a0 Among his many awards is the 2017 Donald Robinson Award for Investigative Journalism.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baseballroundtable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Rosengren-books-300x90.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n___________________________________<\/p>\n
A Brief Interview with the Author<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nRoundtable:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When did you first develop your passion for baseball?<\/strong><\/p>\nRosengren:<\/strong> I fell in love with baseball as a young boy. My father took me to Twins games at Met Stadium and passed along his love for the game through his stories and explanations of how the game was played. That love grew with my collection of Topps baseball cards, which I still have tucked into a few shoe boxes in my basement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Roundtable: Did you ever play organized ball \u2026 from Little League on? <\/strong><\/p>\nRosengren:<\/strong> I started playing T-ball in as a six-year-old and continued playing until my junior year of high school when I was an outfielder on the JV team. I returned to the game in my 40’s, playing catcher and outfield for the Richfield Rockets in the 35-over wooden bat Federal League.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Roundtable:\u00a0 What spurred you to delve so deeply in the 1973 season?<\/strong><\/p>\nRosengren:<\/strong> I wanted to write a book that chronicled a season and figured the \u201973 season, with all of the events that happened that year, was one of the most formative years in the history of the game. It also happened to be a significant year in the history of our country, so 1973 was a rich subject. It helped that I remembered the season fondly from my youth, because that increased my interest in learning more about it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Roundtable:\u00a0 How long did the research for The Greatest Summer take and were there any specific challenges to getting the full picture?<\/strong><\/p>\nRosengren:<\/strong> I spent about two years researching the season until I got to the point where I felt I could tell its story with authority.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Roundtable:\u00a0 Is there a specific goal or philosophy you bring to your efforts when putting together\u00a0 a book? <\/strong><\/p>\nRosengren:<\/strong> I want to be able to tell a story in a compelling way and to write about substantial subjects. The racial injustice exposed by the opposition Hank Aaron faced in his pursuit of Ruth\u2019s career home run mark is an example of the gravitas that makes this more than simply \u201ca baseball book.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nBaseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n![\"100\"](\"https:\/\/baseballroundtable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/100-1-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baseballroundtable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/est-site-300x236.jpg\")
<\/a>Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot<\/em> list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs.\u00a0 To see the full list, click\u00a0here.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nBaseball Roundtable is also on the Anytime Baseball Supply<\/em> Top 66 Baseball Sites list.\u00a0 For the full list, click here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nI tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT<\/h3>\n
$16.99\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n (To be released April 1, 2023 \u2026 May be pre-ordered at indiebound.org and amazon.com)<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In \u00a01973, Major League Baseball appeared to be at a crossroads.\u00a0 The game was facing the blowback from 1972\u2019s first-ever players\u2019 strike; the balance of power between players and owners had changed dramatically; the American League had adopted a controversial rule change (the Designated Hitter); racial animus was coming to the forefront as Henry Aaron closed in on the iconic Babe Ruth\u2019s career home run record; Reggie Jackson was redefining the image of the baseball superstar; and George Steinbrenner and Charlie Finley were breaking the norms as baseball owners.\u00a0 Forbes Magazine<\/strong>, in fact, predicted major league baseball \u201ccould well vanish from the scene in twenty years.\u201d<\/p>\n In The Greatest Summer in Baseball History: How the \u201973 Season Changed Us Forever<\/em>, award-winning author John Rosengren gives readers a vivid picture of the forces and individuals that helped redefine baseball in 1973 \u2013 putting the game on a new, more colorful (and, at times. more controversial) path.<\/p>\n In his well-researched and well-written book, Rosengren provides the expected descriptions of the on-field action in pennant races, post-season games and record-chasing endeavors. He also takes readers behind the scenes (into the dugouts, clubhouses and executive offices), examining the personalities<\/em> who were reshaping the game. He also ties the course of the baseball season with the events of the times (like the Watergate Scandal, the withdrawal from Vietnam, the Billy Jean King\/Bobby Riggs Battle of the Sexes<\/em> and George Steinbrenner\u2019s legal troubles.<\/p>\n Rosengren tells the tale of the 1973 MLB season without pulling any punches. For example, he details how\u00a0 a resurgent Orlando Cepeda successfully put his mark on the Designated Hitter position, as well as how a declining Willie Mays struggled through his final MLB season (with the Mets). When recounting Reggie Jackson\u2019s 1973 season, Rosengren reports that Reggie Jackson led the American League in home runs, RBI and game-winning hits, but also notes that Jackson was a new kind of superstar, one who played for the ego and the money.<\/p>\n With his usual thoroughness, Rosengren traces the development of Jackson\u2019s ego all the way from his high school days (football scholarship offers from 48 colleges) until his trade to the Yankees, when he\u00a0 announced \u201cI did not come to New York to be a star, I brought my star with me.\u201d As he describes Jackson\u2019s approach to stardom – often irritating and even offensive to many (even his teammates) – Rosengren notes that Jackson also added a new level of excitement to the game.<\/p>\n \u201cJackie Robinson changed the color of the game; Reggie infused it with color. He broke the duller barrier.\u201d \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The Greatest Summer in Baseball History<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Baseball Roundtable Note: “The Greatest Summer in Baseball History: How the \u201973 Season Changed Us Forever\u201d was first published in 2008 under the title \u201cHammerin\u2019 Hank, George Almighty and the Say Hey Kid: The Year that Baseball Changed Forever.\u201d\u00a0 The book is being re-released this year, the 50th anniversary of the 1973 season. <\/em><\/p>\n Without giving too much away, let\u2019s take a look at a few examples of how Rosengren approaches the stories of the 1973 season.\u00a0 We\u2019ll start with Hank Aaron\u2019s 1973 season, unfolding as he approached the iconic Babe Ruth\u2019s hallowed 714 career home runs (Aaron would close 1973 with 713 regular-season long balls). Rosengren details Aaron\u2019s on-field accomplishments, as well as the stress of the pursuit and the mountain of racially-based\u00a0 threats against not just Aaron himself, but also his family.<\/p>\n \u201cIt (the pursuit of Ruth\u2019s record) should have been the most enjoyable time of my life, and instead it was hell.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Hank Aaron, noted in The Greatest Summer in Baseball History<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n What intrigued me was that Aaron was nearly as disturbed by Atlanta\u2019s indifference to his pursuit of the record as he was by the race-based hate mail. For example, on Hank Aaron Poster Day<\/em> at Atlanta Stadium (April 29, 1973) \u2013 when the Braves planned to give out posters to the first 20,000 youngsters – \u00a0a total of only 12,152 (youngsters and adults) were reported in attendance. After the game, Aaron commented that \u00a0\u201cAtlanta overwhelmed me with its indifference.\u201d Later in the season, when Aaron popped his 711th<\/sup> round tripper (September 17), only 1,362 fans showed up in Atlanta. \u201cThat was a pretty strong statement of what Atlanta though of me and my record,\u201d Aaron observed.<\/p>\n There were, of course, positive moments \u2013 and Rosengren shares those as well. On August 6, \u201cHank Aaron Day\u201d was held in the former home of the Braves, as Aaron\u2019s Atlanta squad took on the Brewers in an exhibition game in Milwaukee. There, Aaron basked in an extended standing ovation from more than 33,000 fans. There was a similar response at the 1973 All Star Game and Atlanta fans did come around, putting 40,000 plus in the seats (and out of their seats for a five-minute\u00a0 standing ovation) for Atlanta\u2019s final home game of the season.<\/p>\n The point here is that \u2013 as with other topics in the book \u2013 Rosengren enables us to relive the significant events of 1973, the good and the bad<\/em>.\u00a0 And, he does it with detail and accuracy, as well as with entertaining and active prose.<\/p>\n Rosengren also gives readers a look at the Mets, who made won the NL East title and made it to the World Series, despite being in last place on August 30 and not topping .500 to stay until September 22.-<\/p>\n \u201cExcitement for the Mets in New York seemed directly proportional to disgust for the Nixon Administration.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The Greatest Summer in Baseball History<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Rosengren shares a game-by-game account of the of the 1973 Mets\/Reds NL Championship Series \u2013 identifying the heroes and the goats. \u00a0Part of the tale that particularly grabbed me took place in Game Two. \u00a0In the fifth inning of that contest \u2013 with the \u00a0Reds up 9-3 \u2013 Pete Rose (breaking up a \u00a0double play) took out Mets\u2019 shortstop Buddy Harrelson.\u00a0 The action resulted in a bench-clearing brawl. \u00a0It was not your usual push-and-shove in-field match, but one marked by some pretty heavy punches. (Rosengren includes a blow-by-blow account, including Reds\u2019 pitcher Pedro Borbon\u2019s taking a bite out of a Mets player\u2019s cap.)\u00a0 Once the field was cleared, the excitement was far from over. When Rose took his place in left field the next inning, the fans greeted him with what Rosengren terms \u201da barrage of insults and an artillery of garbage.\u201d It took more than ten minutes and a visit to the outfield by peacekeeper Willie Mays to quiet the crowd.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m no damn little girl out there. I\u2019m supposed to give the fans their money\u2019s worth and try to bust up double plays \u2013 and shortstops.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be honest, I was trying to knock him into left field.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Pete Rose, after his NLCS collision with Bud Harrelson<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Rosengren tells the story of the 1973 World Champions A\u2019s\u00a0 and the deep rift between the players and owner Charlie \u00a0Finley. \u00a0 A rift so deep that, at one point, the A\u2019s players discussed going on strike during the 1973 World Series. Rosengren shares the story of Reggie Jackson flipping the bird at owner Charlie Finely after delivering a pinch-hit home run and gives readers a look at Finley \u2013\u00a0 defying post-heart attack doctors\u2019 orders \u2013 and continuing his meddling ways from a wheelchair (with a bottle of yellow heart pills in his pocket).<\/p>\n And, there\u2019s much more in the book, including (but, as they say, not limited to):<\/p>\n Ultimately, The Greatest Summer in Baseball History<\/em> is a highly informative and entertaining look at a watershed year for baseball. If you\u2019re a baseball fan, you\u2019ll enjoy the action and\u00a0 John Rosengren\u2019s take on the people, events and social forces that shaped the season and the future course of the National Pastime.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n ____________________________________________________<\/p>\n About the Author<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n He has written ten books including:<\/p>\n The Fight of Their Lives: How Juan Marichal and John Roseboro Turned Baseball\u2019s Ugliest Brawl into a Story of Forgiveness and Redemption<\/em><\/p>\n Hank Greenberg: The Hero of Heroes<\/em><\/p>\n Classic Baseball: Timeless Tales, Immortal Moments<\/em><\/p>\n Blades of Gory: The Story of a Young Team Bred to Win<\/em><\/p>\n Alone in the Trenches: \u00a0My Life as a Gay Man in the NFL.<\/em> (With Esera Tuaolo)<\/p>\n Life is Just a Party<\/em> (short story collection)<\/p>\n Clean Heart<\/em> (Novel)<\/p>\n Rosengren is a Pulitzer Prize nominee.\u00a0 Among his many awards is the 2017 Donald Robinson Award for Investigative Journalism.<\/p>\n ___________________________________<\/p>\n A Brief Interview with the Author<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Roundtable:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When did you first develop your passion for baseball?<\/strong><\/p>\n Rosengren:<\/strong> I fell in love with baseball as a young boy. My father took me to Twins games at Met Stadium and passed along his love for the game through his stories and explanations of how the game was played. That love grew with my collection of Topps baseball cards, which I still have tucked into a few shoe boxes in my basement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roundtable: Did you ever play organized ball \u2026 from Little League on? <\/strong><\/p>\n Rosengren:<\/strong> I started playing T-ball in as a six-year-old and continued playing until my junior year of high school when I was an outfielder on the JV team. I returned to the game in my 40’s, playing catcher and outfield for the Richfield Rockets in the 35-over wooden bat Federal League.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roundtable:\u00a0 What spurred you to delve so deeply in the 1973 season?<\/strong><\/p>\n Rosengren:<\/strong> I wanted to write a book that chronicled a season and figured the \u201973 season, with all of the events that happened that year, was one of the most formative years in the history of the game. It also happened to be a significant year in the history of our country, so 1973 was a rich subject. It helped that I remembered the season fondly from my youth, because that increased my interest in learning more about it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roundtable:\u00a0 How long did the research for The Greatest Summer take and were there any specific challenges to getting the full picture?<\/strong><\/p>\n Rosengren:<\/strong> I spent about two years researching the season until I got to the point where I felt I could tell its story with authority.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roundtable:\u00a0 Is there a specific goal or philosophy you bring to your efforts when putting together\u00a0 a book? <\/strong><\/p>\n Rosengren:<\/strong> I want to be able to tell a story in a compelling way and to write about substantial subjects. The racial injustice exposed by the opposition Hank Aaron faced in his pursuit of Ruth\u2019s career home run mark is an example of the gravitas that makes this more than simply \u201ca baseball book.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baseball Roundtable is also on the Anytime Baseball Supply<\/em> Top 66 Baseball Sites list.\u00a0 For the full list, click here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
<\/a>John Rosengren is an award-winning journalist and author, whose articles have appeared in more than 100 publications, ranging from The Atlantic<\/em> to Sports Illustrated<\/em>. He is a lifelong baseball fan and a member of the Society for American Baseball Research.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n
Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n
<\/a><\/a>Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot<\/em> list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs.\u00a0 To see the full list, click\u00a0here.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nI tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT<\/h3>\n