Catfish, Yaz, and Hammerin' Hank: The Unforgettable Era That Transformed Baseball
FormerNew York Daily Newsbeat reporter Pepe considers the 1970s to be the decade that changed baseball, and he makes a strong case. In the seventies, the reserve clause was replaced by free agency (1975), leading to the first -million-dollar contract (Nolan Ryan, Houston, 1979); the designated hitter was established (Ron Blomberg, Yankees, 1973); and the first players' strike occurred (1972). These are among hundreds of examples sited in this impressive, well-illustrated compendium, which is accompanied by a DVD,Baseball Comes of Age.Chapters are called "innings," one for each year of the decade, and feature excerpts from conversations with notable sluggers, pitchers, base stealers, and managers, all held together by Pepe's own lively prose. Whether describing Reggie Jackson's amazing feat of hitting three back-to-back home runs in the 1977 World Series or recounting the poignant day when Frank Robinson became the first black manager in the majors (for the Indians in 1974), Pepe delivers an enticing piece of baseball history. A must for any sports collection.Mary Frances WilkensCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved