When the Game Changed: An Oral History of Baseball's True Golden Age: 1969-1979 - Hardcover

Castle, George

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1599219336 ISBN 13: 9781599219332

Publisher: Lyons Pr, 2010

Synopsis

An authoritative look back at the decade that brought
America’s favorite game into the modern era

Acclaimed baseball writer and radio host George Castle recreates the sport’s most revolutionary decade via the memories of those who played, managed, and covered baseball from 1969 to 1979. In addition to a remarkable array of Hall of Famers and budding stars, the era saw numerous major changes. Rules were tweaked to promote offense. Free agency, arbitration, the first players’ strike, the designated hitter, the first African-American manager, the first all-black and Latin starting lineup, baseball’s first $1 million annual salary, the rise of the closer and bullpen specialization, Tommy John surgery the list of topics discussed in this book by baseball’s participants of the 1970s goes on.

    

Contributors include: A-List players and managers like Fergie Jenkins, Billy Williams, Gaylord Perry, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Bruce Sutter, Brooks Robinson, Orlando Cepeda, Tom Seaver, Phil Niekro, Jim Rice, Jim Palmer, Bert Blyleven, Tommy John, Lou Piniella, Fred Lynn, Luis Tiant, Earl Weaver, and Sparky Anderson;  everyday” players; coaches; front-office staff; announcers; and sportswriters.

 

Praise for George Castle and his books:

I have read all of George Castle’s books, and I can say without hesitation that he is one of those rare individuals who is extremely gifted both as a reporter and a writer.”
Buzz Bissinger, author of Friday Night Lights and Three Nights in August

 

About this title

From the Back Cover

Acclaimed baseball writer George Castle recreates the sport’s most revolutionary decade via the memories of those who played, managed, and covered baseball from 1969 to 1979. During these ten years, baseball arose from a sport perceived as slow and old-fashioned (playing second fiddle to the booming NFL) to become faster-paced, more inclusive, and progressive. In addition to a remarkable array of Hall of Famers and budding stars, the era saw rules tweaked to promote offense, free agency, arbitration, the first players’ strike, the designated hitter, the first African-American manager, the first all-black and Latin starting lineup, baseball’s first $1 million annual salary, the rise of the closer and bullpen specialization, Tommy John surgery—and much, much more.
 
Contributors include: A-list players and managers such as Fergie Jenkins, Billy Williams, Gaylord Perry, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Bruce Sutter, Brooks Robinson, Orlando Cepeda, Tom Seaver, Phil Niekro, Jim Rice, Jim Palmer, Bert Blyleven, Tommy John, Lou Piniella, Fred Lynn, Luis Tiant, Earl Weaver, and Sparky Anderson; as well as “everyday” players; coaches; front-office staff; announcers; and sportswriters.

About the Author

George Castle has covered Major League Baseball and the Chicago Cubs for decades for various newspapers and magazines, including the Times of Northwest Indiana. The author of ten books, including Sweet Lou and the Cubs (Lyons Press), he hosts and produces a nationally syndicated weekly radio show about baseball, Diamond Gems. 

About this edition

• Publisher: Lyons Pr
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1599219336
• ISBN 13: 9781599219332
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 327