Hammerin' Hank, George Almighty and the Say Hey Kid: The Year That Changed Baseball Forever

by John Rosengren

"The vivid story of a young Reggie Jackson on Charlie Finley's A's and the veteran Willie Mays on Yogi's Mets, both destined for the '73 series."— Library Journal This was the year that the national pastime underwent an extreme makeover. In 1973, baseball was in crisis. The first strike in pro sports had soured fans, American League attendance had fallen, and America's team—the Yankees—had lost more games and money than ever. Yet that season, five of the game's greatest figures rescued the national pastime. Hank Aaron riveted the nation with his pursuit of Babe Ruth's landmark home run record in the face of racist threats. George Steinbrenner purchased the Yankees at a bargain basement price and began buying back their faded glory. The American League broke ranks with the National League and introduced the designated hitter, extending the careers of aging stars such as Orlando Cepeda. An elderly and ailing Willie Mays—the icon of an earlier generation—nearly helped the Mets pull off a miracle with the final hit of his career. Reggie Jackson, the MVP of a tense World Series, became the prototype of the modern superstar. The season itself provided plenty of drama served up by a colorful cast of characters. The Mets, managed by Yogi Berra, performed another near miracle, rising from last place in the National League East to win the division and take the A's to seven games in the World Series. Pete Rose edged Willie Stargell as the National League's MVP in a controversial vote. Hank Aaron chased Babe Ruth's landmark 714 record in the face of racial threats. Reggie Jackson, the World Series MVP, solidified his reputation as Mr. October. Willie Mays, arguably the best player of the '50s and '60s, hit the final home run of his career and retired, no longer able to keep pace with the younger players of the next generation. Future Hall of Famers Dave Winfield and George Brett played in their first major league games; Luis Aparicio and Mays played in their last. That one memorable summer changed baseball forever. "It's a season-ticket to one of the greatest years in baseball history. John Rosengren has given us one of the most enjoyable baseball books to come along in years."—Jonathan Eig, author of Luckiest The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig and Opening The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season

Genres: Baseball, Sports

355 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2008

About the author

John Rosengren is the award-winning author of eight books and hundreds of magazine articles.

Reviews

[Claire Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nineteen seventy-three was a memorable year for major league baseball. John Rosengren brings the outsized personalities who populated the game, on and off the field, back to life in the pages of this book. His subtitle, "The Year That Changed Baseball Forever," may seem a bit audacious, but a look at the developments of that remarkable season will back up that claim.

It was the year Willie Mays said good-bye to the game. It was the year Hank Aaron pulled to within one home run of Babe Ruth's cherished career home run mark. It was the year the American League introduced the designated hitter, and although the Yankees' Ron Bloomberg went into the books as the first official DH, it was Orlando Cepada, in the last great season of his career, who put his stamp on the job. It was the year when the Mets went from worst to first, manager Yogi Berra declaring "It ain't over until it's over" (sort of). It was the year the swaggering, brawling Oakland A's, resplendent in their green and gold uniforms, took their second consecutive World Championship. That World Series was the first for the A's' budding superstar Reggie Jackson (Reggie had been injured during the '72 series) who began putting together the performances that would earn him the title of Mr. October.

It was also a year dominated by two oversized personalities in the owners' box--the A's Charley Finley and the new Boss of the Yankees, George Steinbrenner. Older fans will recall (and younger ones will learn) why the A's won in spite of, not because of Finley. And Yankee lovers and haters will see how the early months of Steinbrenner's reign laid the path for what was to follow in the decades ahead.

The larger world of 1973 doesn't intrude too deeply into these pages, with the notable exception of the Watergate scandal that was beginning to engulf the Nixon presidency. However, the nexus with baseball is clear--Steinbrenner ended up being caught in the web of scandal for illegal campaign contributions.

Rosengren's narrative is engaging and holds the reader's interest from the first page to the last. His focus is as much on the colorful personalities as in the play on the diamond. Although he was only able to talk to a handful of players, executives and broadcasters from 1973, his research in newspapers, magazines and books has been exhaustive. The result is a must-read for any baseball fan who wants to relieve the memorable summer of '73.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Rosengren manages to bring to life one of the most pivotal years in MLB history. 1973 was the year the DH was introduced in the American League and Rosengren focuses almost entirely on the rebirth of Orlada Cepeda, a thought to be washed-up superstar who managed to win over the hardened Boston Red Sox fans with his hustle and desire and helped legitimize the DH as a vital part of American League baseball. Rosengren also traces Hank Aaron's pursuit of Babe Ruth's 714 career home run total (he would finish the season with 713)and details the racially charged death threats Mr. Aaron recieved, the indifference of his hometown Atlanta fans, and the extraordinary grace and courage he exhibited during his chase for the record. In contrast to Mr. Aaron's solid season the author portrays the sad, final year of Willie May's career, which culminates with a bumbling performance in the NY Mets eventual seven-game loss to the Oakland A's in the World Series. He also captures the arrogance (and unbelievable talent) of Reggis Jackson as he helps the A's to the second of what would be three straight World Series championships. That the A's were able to win with the meddling of owner Charles O. Finley is a testemant to manager Dick Williams as well as to the players, who routinely fought among themselves but managed to be united on the diamond. '73 was also the year George Stienbrenner took over the Yankees, and despite his promise to stick to shipbuilding by the end of the year he would have replaced his manager, the club president, and GM Lee Mcphail. Rosengren also deftly takes the reader through King George's illegal contributions (and cover-up) to the Nixon campaign which resulted in his suspension by commissioner Bowie Kuhn.

I loved this book. Growing up in East Texas I was an Astro fan but fell in love with the Swingin' A's in 1972 when they beat the Reds (and the hated Pete Rose) in the World Series. Rosengren's books reminds me of all the characters that were on those A's team. The book is solid and informative but the part that focused on the A's was by far my favorite.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I'm going to take away from this book is the stories. That's what I like about most baseball books, really. It's a chance to sit down and enjoy a piece of the game's rich history. Going through this book, I felt like I lived through the entire season, even though it was two years before I was born. You don't really get that from looking at old box scores and baseball-reference.com. Now I fully understand what it was like to watch Reggie Jackson at the peak of his powers, why people hang their head when talking about the final seasons of Willie Mays, and how George Steinbrenner built his ivory tower. It's a good read and worth your time. read my full review here:

http://chicagosportsblogs.com/mikej/a...

[Chris Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for 1970s baseball and this book was right up my alley. I was glad to see this book written to dovetail all of the stories happening that year; Aaron's march, Mays' goodbye, the Swinging A's, the DH all into one narrative. Nice work Mr. Rosengren!

[Gary Rosenthal · Rating 5 out of 5]

1973 - O what a year

well written. the author brings the excitement and reality of 1973 to those reading the book in 2014. You follow.Aaron and Mays on their long journeys cheering as they succeed, crying as they fail. Bravo Mr. Rosengren. You have succeeded.

[David Cordero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read on an amazing baseball season. Learned a lot and was entertained!

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may sound like a broken record, but I really enjoy the books about baseball seasons of the past. Its fun to relive the moments I was alive for, and fun to learn of the stuff that happened before I had any clues about what was going on! This book also makes me a little sad, sad to feel like I was experiencing the decline of a baseball legend. Sad to see that sometimes business gets in the way of the sport I love. I am not naive enough to pretend it doesn't happen, but sometimes its nice to look past it and just enjoy America's past time.

[Russ Jarvis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember 1973. Fifteen years old. Lived forty miles from classic Tiger Stadium where I would see my first major league game with my future wife three years later. A satisfying nostalgic look at a time when baseball and its characters were very different and yet still very much like the fans who cheered for them.

[Max Callan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot to learn more about a specific time and era of baseball that I wasn’t alive for. This book contains lots of fun stories and little moments that I’m sure aren’t mentioned many other places. Chapters switch off between different people and towards the end the focus lies on a select few. Felt like some games/moments were abrupt and could’ve been given a longer description.

[Jay Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edited like shit