book data
265 ratings, 4.04 average rating, 65 reviews
(more data...)
edit
published
May 1st 2005
by Harper Paperbacks
binding
Paperback, 304 pages
isbn
0060507330
(isbn13: 9780060507336)
description
In The Bad Guys Won, award-winning former Sports Illustrated baseball writer Jeff Pearlman returns to an innocent time when a city wo...more
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »
friend reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 312)
Read in May, 2008
I've been a Mets fan since 1964, when I was 6. The 1986 season was, of course, Amazin'. While this book provides accurate descriptions of key moments in that championship season, and a literally gut-churning, pee-in-your-pants funny recounting of the various puerile shenanigans surrounding the '86 ballclub, the writing is geared towards your average 14-year-old male too young to identify with Jim Bouton's "Ball Four." There are more cheesy metaphors and similes on each page than mag...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in November, 2008
recommended to Ernest by:
Barnes and Noblerecommends it for: People who like sports.(Underdog teams)
This book is very funny and entertaining. I could never imagine how much kaos a baseball team could have made. The Mets are a fairly new team with pratically nobody, needing big time sluggers and Cy Young award pitchers. The Mets just established their new team in 1960. "From last place years to bone head drafts, the Mets will have the fully equiped team that they are" says Frank Cashen. His prediction comes true in 1986. The New York Metropolitans become the team to beat. Could the Me...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2008
Pearlman does an excellent job giving you a behind the scences glimpse at the 1986 Mets. Who could ever forget the comeback by the Mets with Boston on the verge of winning the World Series. Mookie Wilson hitting a ball through the legs of Bill Buckner to cap the comeback in game 6 and send the Series to game 7 which the Mets win is something I will never forget.
You get to really know the Mets circa 1986 and quite frankly they weren't a likeable group. Gooden and Strawberry were the young ...more
You get to really know the Mets circa 1986 and quite frankly they weren't a likeable group. Gooden and Strawberry were the young ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in September, 2006
recommends it for:
Mets fans, or any baseball fan.
Growing up a Mets fan was never easy. Even in their heyday, having your idol constantly compared to the jinx Donny Baseball, knocked because of a supposed cocaine habit. When your 8 years old, is that going to deter you? Well, at least my hero won two World Series rings, lets see Mattingly beat that!
Now here we are 20+ years later, and this book compiles all the dirty facts my young, innocent mind wasn't focusing on back in '86. Drug habits, wrecked planes, police brawls, cat decapitations,...more
Now here we are 20+ years later, and this book compiles all the dirty facts my young, innocent mind wasn't focusing on back in '86. Drug habits, wrecked planes, police brawls, cat decapitations,...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
recommends it for:
sports fans
A must read for any NY Mets fan with a vivid memory of their 1986 championship season. The 4-star rating I've given is probably a greater reflection of my fond memories than my opinion of the skill of the writer. Then again, this book did make for a lightning fast read so no doubt it was written adequately and perhaps even quite well. On the field of play they were amazing to watch and root for. As this book taught me, off the field they were even more entertaining. Apparently they managed ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2008
Obviously not an easy book for me to read (given the fact that my boys came out on the losing end of that world series), but it was interesting to recap the craziness that was going on that season. there were some things about the team and the sport that the book does a nice job of detailing. in terms of baseball books, last night of the yankees dynasty is better in my opinion (good result as well), but this was a great quick read. if you're into sports books, or just want to hear about how k...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2005
recommends it for:
baseball fans, sports fans
The 1986 Mets were brash, obnoxious, undisciplined and politically incorrect. Yet they managed to dominate baseball that season both on and off of the field. They were a crazy bunch of womanizing, boozing, brawling, egomaniacal cokeheads and epitomized many of the excesses of the age. Stories about this unlikely cast of characters seem mainly to come from second-hand sources, but the author smartly assembles them in a fast-paced, readable romp that follows the 1986 Mets season as it progresse...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2007
This book absolutely stomped my mindgrapes. I didn't realize it was possible for me to have a more irrational love for the 1986 New York Mets than I already did -- but then I found out what scumbags they were, and somehow loved them more. Pearlman's reporting, honesty and acerbic wit make a perfect match for the Mets' slimy pursuit (and achievement) of baseball immortality. Worth it for any sports fan, and if you're a Mets fan, you really have no excuse for not owning a copy.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
it's got a boring ending. but a couple of great stories.
kevin mitchell murdering a guy on the field during a brawl.
them stuffing flight attendants in the overhead compartment.
stuffing a football down the plane toilet
kevin mitchell kidnapping doc gooden while cutting off a cat head while the body is twitching on the ground.
passed out drunks and their cranks hanging out and spraying urine like a lawn sprinkler.
good stories. the first half is a must read.
kevin mitchell murdering a guy on the field during a brawl.
them stuffing flight attendants in the overhead compartment.
stuffing a football down the plane toilet
kevin mitchell kidnapping doc gooden while cutting off a cat head while the body is twitching on the ground.
passed out drunks and their cranks hanging out and spraying urine like a lawn sprinkler.
good stories. the first half is a must read.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2005
recommends it for:
Mets Fans
From this book I learned that memory is unreliable. Like, when I was in second grade, the Mets won the World Series and they were my heroes. They still are, but like all heroes, they were seriously messed up. Apparently they were a bunch of coked-up assholes who did nothing of value except, you know, win the World Series after dominating a whole season of baseball. Sometimes good things happen to bad people.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Pretty interesting, sometimes humorous, behind-the-scenes at the 1986 Mets. One cannot walk away from this book without thinking two things: (1) What a bunch of a--holes; and (2) How many more titles could this team have won had Strawberry and Gooden not squandered their immense talent or team management not broken them up.
We'll never know the answer to #2 and, as a Yankees fan, that suits me just fine.
We'll never know the answer to #2 and, as a Yankees fan, that suits me just fine.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
Mets fans
In 1986, perhaps one of the greatest baseball teams of my lifetime, the NY Mets won a memorable World Series against the Boston Red Sox. This book chronicles that season and the unique cast of characters on that team.
I learned from this book was Mets fans are insufferable and that the 1986 Mets, with the exception of Gary Carter, were a group of hard partying, pretty bad guys.
I learned from this book was Mets fans are insufferable and that the 1986 Mets, with the exception of Gary Carter, were a group of hard partying, pretty bad guys.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in November, 2006
Lets Go METS!!!
This book was great at showing a true mets fan such as myself the story of the 1986 Championship Mets. You think of winners and you think excellence. Unfortunately these Mets were nothing more than a bunch of drunks, druggies, and womanizers. Than again isnt that what athletes are all about. Recomend this book to all Mets fans.
This book was great at showing a true mets fan such as myself the story of the 1986 Championship Mets. You think of winners and you think excellence. Unfortunately these Mets were nothing more than a bunch of drunks, druggies, and womanizers. Than again isnt that what athletes are all about. Recomend this book to all Mets fans.
Read in January, 2008
I'm not a Mets fan, but it's an entertaining read. I have been spoiled by John Feintein's books, so this one left me wanting more details on events. I felt that, while Pearlman tells a great story, he speaks in generalities where as Feinstein gets into the specifics of his subjects. It's a quick read and I'd recommend it for baseball fans.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
this is probably the best book ive read in a while. not only is it about baseball, but its about my favorite team. ive always been curious about how players go about their daily business away from baseball, and this gave me a good idea of what they did while making me laugh at the same time. this was a book i really enjoyed.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Fantastic book. From frozen meat fights on an airplane to Keith Hernandez smoking in the dugout. This book has it all. A bunch of drunks, gamblers and drug addicts winning the World Series. A Met's fan will love this book but anyone who likes baseball should get a kick out of it.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2007
The Mets team that won the World Series had a lot of character, but was not made up of guys who had good character. Their adventures make for a fun read, even in light of how badly it turned out for some of them (most notably Darryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden).
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2007
I wish that this team could be assembled again in '08. Deadspin and The Big Lead would have fodder for the whole year, not just baseball season. This was truly a group of misfits. The title is perfect.
"I'm Keith Hernandez" - Keith Hernandez in the car with Elaine
"I'm Keith Hernandez" - Keith Hernandez in the car with Elaine
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in September, 2008
Only read if you were a fan of the '86 Mets. Even still: I'd recommend reading instead Keith Hernandez's If At First. That book is about the '85 Mets but the paperback version has an epilogue that covers the '86 team and does a better job than Pearlman's book.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
Baseball fans
If you like SNY's Keith Hernandez baseball stories, you'll love this one. This book retells the story of the 1986 Mets in Hunter Thompson fashion. Insanely entertaining and funny. A must for anyone who likes to laugh and remembers the time when Coke was it!
to-read
(on 40 people's shelves)
sports (on 14 people's shelves)
currently-reading (on 12 people's shelves)
non-fiction (on 9 people's shelves)
baseball (on 7 people's shelves)
baseball-fever (on 1 person's shelf)
decent (on 1 person's shelf)
books-i-own (on 1 person's shelf)
baseballbooks-read (on 1 person's shelf)
baseballbeenveryverygoodtome (on 1 person's shelf)
More shelves...
sports (on 14 people's shelves)
currently-reading (on 12 people's shelves)
non-fiction (on 9 people's shelves)
baseball (on 7 people's shelves)
baseball-fever (on 1 person's shelf)
decent (on 1 person's shelf)
books-i-own (on 1 person's shelf)
baseballbooks-read (on 1 person's shelf)
baseballbeenveryverygoodtome (on 1 person's shelf)
More shelves...
