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 enlarge | Author: Joshua Prager
Publisher: Vintage
Category: Book
List Price: $15.95
Buy New: $9.01
You Save: $6.94 (44%)
New (29) Used (17) Collectible (2) from $5.82
Rating:  52 reviews
Sales Rank: 183203
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 544
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.3
ISBN: 0375713077
Dewey Decimal Number: 796
EAN: 9780375713071
ASIN: 0375713077
Publication Date: March 11, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: New! remainder dot
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| Customer Reviews:
 COULDN'T PUT THE BOOK DOWN June 1, 2008
The Echoing Green is simply the best baseball book I have ever come across. As a lover of the game and baseball lore, I simply couldn't put this book down once I started reading it. Detail after detail about the events leading up to and after "The Shot Heard 'Round the World" is beautifully described in Mr. Prager's book. It is obvious to any reader that this book was not written over night. Prager leaves no stone unturned as he tracked down some 20 odd living players from the NY Giants and others who were or could have been associated with the most memorable season in baseball history. Thomson hit the most famous homerun in history on October 3, 1951. Prager does likewise in his literary tour-de-force. Although I was not alive when this season took place, the vividness of the book, makes me wish I was.
I was so taken by this book that I turned Prager's story into a Mock Trial at my school. The premise being that the Dodgers were petitioning MLB to have the NYG 1951 season invalidated due to the Giants unethical means of procuring the National League Pennant. Some 47 students participated and presented cases for both sides. Needless to say most of all the information I used was from The Echoing Green. I had to read the book over at least 3 times to make sure I had the story and the events down right. The trial in my school went well. It was well received by friends, collegues, and even some members of the media. Many of the faculty, staff, and some of the students, purchased the book and all have thanked me for turning them on to a terrific read.
History shows the Giants won the pennant in 1951. Nothing will change that fact, not even a well written book. As a lifelong Giants fan for 40 years, I am not at all upset to read this story. In fact, it was enlightening to find out what really happened. The quote "Every picture tells a story," is so true. We now have to take into consideration that according to Prager's book ,Thomson's "Shot Heard "Round the World" homerun picture tells a different story. Kudos to Josh Prager for writing a terrific book on a terrific subject!!
 On and on and on,,,,,,And on. May 26, 2008
OMG. Let's get on with the story of "The shot heard round the world. "By chapter 9 I was so fed up with how the Giants used every possible technology known to man to steal the catcher's signals, I wanted to scream. No. I just stopped reading the book. I know the story of the "Miracle of Coogan's Bluff," but I don't care that Durocher spent 9 chapters trying to steal signs. Sorry. I love the game, my uncle was at the game and there are much better books on the market that tell what happened in this, one of the greatest sports stories of all time. Get on with it!!!!!!!
 Yikes--tough read. May 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I thought that the author uncovered some interesting 'side' stories to the drama that was the 1951 National League season. Prager's inclusion of the tragic electrician who suffered physically and morally as he listened to his Dodgers come undone was extremely interesting. But, the style of writing was horrendous. All I wanted was an interesting read to get me ready for baseball season. It is really a chore to read through this book. As stated in earlier reviews it is way to verbose.
Word Fillers May 4, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Overloaded with extraneous, and occasionally manufactured information. Jumps around regarding the main characters and emphasizes bit players far too much.
Why tell us that the electrician cheated on his wife, or that Bobby Thomson's mother was pregnant well before her marriage?
Thomson may well have been tipped off that a fastball ws coming, but he still had to hit it, with results similar to what he did against the same pitcher without the "advantage" two days before in another ballpark.
This matter should have been allowed to rest in peace. The whole thesis of the book is smarmy, as is the writing.
A PhD discertation on Branca and Thomson February 13, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I can overlook the verbose sentence structure, because I am a "bleed Dodger blue" fan of "da Bums". This is the second best baseball book I have read (The Boys of Summer is the best), but in order to enjoy it thoroughly, I think you had to have been a Dodger fan in the early 1950's. The detail and research was such that a real baseball fan could enjoy it and relate to the characters.
If you liked the Dodgers, and hated the Giants, this is a must read. If you are just a baseball fan, it is a good read.
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