The Boys Of Summer is split up into two books, The Team and The Return. The Team is about author Roger Kahn's experiences covering the 1952 and 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers for the Herald Tribune. Both years the Dodgers lose to the mighty Yankees, who are just ending their record streak of 5 years in a row of winning the World Series. In The Team also covers Roger Kahn's childhood growing up right next to Ebbets Field, the home of the Dodgers. If you read this book you will meet many different personalities on dem bum's as the Dodgers were known as. Preacher Roe, the pitcher who, in his words pitched, slow, slower, and slowest, acted stupid because he liked being called a "hillbilluh."
These teams are the Jackie Robinson Dodgers so Jackie even faced racism from teammates like Billy Cox, the 3rd baseman with a really smooth glove in the field. Billy was talking with Roger Kahn, and started talking about how much he hated Robinson, and then called him something that I can't write in this blog. Kahn knew that this wasn't right, so he wrote an article about it, without naming Cox's name. Cox found out, but just laughed it of. Years later, when Kahn visits Cox in The Return, he finds himself watching a bunch of racist movies.
There are plenty of other personalities, like the leader, Pee Wee Reese. Pee Wee, who got his nickname as a kid because Pee Wee means something in marbles, and he loved marbles. The nickname stuck, and he was on his way to a hall of fame career. But he will always be most remembered for what he would do for Jackie. In St. Louis, they didn't think blacks belonged in baseball. When the Dodgers were in town, the fans were yelling at Jackie all day long. Finally, Pee Wee had enough. He walked over from shortstop, his position, to first base, Robinson's position. Without a word Pee Wee simply puts his arm over Robinson's shoulder.
In The Return, Roger visits 15 former Dodgers, after dem bums move to LA. They are now the Koufax Dodgers, and are enjoying great success. He see's Hall of famers Duke Snider and Roy Campanella, who had been paralyzed in a near fatal car accident. I found The Return slightly dull, but The Team was jam packed with great tales from when baseball was in the glory years. Overall this is a great book, even for non baseball fans.
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ReplyDeleteI had pee wee marbles when I was in elementary school. The ones that we called pee wees were a little smaller than normal marbles.
ReplyDeleteBaseball has always had its fair share of colorful characters, and the Dodgers were no exceptions. From their manager (Branch Rickey) to the guys on the field, this was terrific team of players. I can see how the baseball part of this is completely compelling, but it's the people (not so much the game) that really make this fascinating history. I love baseball, and I feel like I NEED to read this book.