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Season of Upsets: Farm boys, city kids, Hoosier basketball and the dawn of the 1950s
This is the incredible untold story of the 1949-50 Indiana high school basketball season. It chronicles the wild circumstances that captured the essence of Hoosier hysteria in all its glory. But this is much more than just a sports story. It explores the life and times of the 40s and 50s.
The students were born into the Great Depression and grew up in the shadow of World War II. The coaches were veterans of war. A fire destroyed a school, but its team kept on playing. A coal strike threatened everything. There were hard times and fond memories. But in the end, everyone shared one common love: basketball.
The students were born into the Great Depression and grew up in the shadow of World War II. The coaches were veterans of war. A fire destroyed a school, but its team kept on playing. A coal strike threatened everything. There were hard times and fond memories. But in the end, everyone shared one common love: basketball.
298 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2014
8 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Matthew A. Werner
5 books18 followersMatt Werner grew up on a farm in Union Mills, Indiana, and has taught management and leadership for eight years.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 13, 2019
If you are a Hoosier that loved basketball during the time when all schools were in the same class you will love this book
Author got into the culture during the early 50’s
I really enjoyed the book
Author got into the culture during the early 50’s
I really enjoyed the book
December 28, 2014
Even though I did not grow up with the Hoosier Hysteriain my blood, I found myself quite invo,ved in Matthew A. Werner's recollection of the magical time in Indiana High School basketball. He does a fantastic job of bringing old games to life through his extensive use of interviews of the participants. Werner brings so much information to light about how much high schhol basketball meant to those in big and little towns in Indiana. I received the book through the Firstreads program and it was a great thing. I found myself pushed back in time as I turned the pages
May 27, 2019
I was not going to read this book, because of thinking it was about only Union Mills winning the sectional. I knew something the story for I worked at the La Porte County Museum, where I categorized many of the artifacts from that time. I was surprised by all the history and human interest stories. I lived in La Porte for over 33 years.
February 22, 2015
This is the first book written about Indiana high school basketball that covers one season in one geographic area. Set in LaPorte County, this is the incredible untold story of the 1949-50 season. But it's about much more than just sports. The students were born into the Depression and grew up in the shadow of World War II. The coaches were veterans of war. One school burned to the ground, but managed to continue it's season. A coal strike threatened everything. Many struggled to get by, but everybody shared in one common love: basketball.
This book captures the essence of Hoosier hysteria even though it doesn't feature a single All-star or Hall of Famer. Ninety percent of the schools in Indiana never advanced to the state finals, yet the teams played their hearts out and fans cheered raucously for their boys to win. These teams represent the roots of Hoosier hysteria and this is their story.
I am the author of this book. Please ask me any questions you might have.
This book captures the essence of Hoosier hysteria even though it doesn't feature a single All-star or Hall of Famer. Ninety percent of the schools in Indiana never advanced to the state finals, yet the teams played their hearts out and fans cheered raucously for their boys to win. These teams represent the roots of Hoosier hysteria and this is their story.
I am the author of this book. Please ask me any questions you might have.
December 29, 2017
If you like high school basketball.
I liked this book a lot. At first I was confused as he talked about schools, towns, coaches and players in sections. Then he started talking about the games and Indiana basketball. It seemed like a slow read at first.
I liked this book a lot. At first I was confused as he talked about schools, towns, coaches and players in sections. Then he started talking about the games and Indiana basketball. It seemed like a slow read at first.
May 2, 2022
Boring
This was not a good read at all. This is a book that a person would for pleasure, yet it was worse than an OLD textbook. I would not recommend this book to anyone, not even someone who is/was a huge Indiana High School Basketball fan.
This was not a good read at all. This is a book that a person would for pleasure, yet it was worse than an OLD textbook. I would not recommend this book to anyone, not even someone who is/was a huge Indiana High School Basketball fan.
May 23, 2015
Review:
Indiana loves its high school basketball, especially in the 1940s and 1950s when all schools, no matter what size, played one tournament. There were chances for the small rural schools to upset their larger counterparts. The towns represented by these smaller schools would sometimes completely close to support these young athletes. During the 1949-50 season, tiny Union Mills enjoyed a run to the Sectionals that is burned in the collective memory of the town.
That season, not only for Union Mills, but for the entire rural county of LaPorte, is captured in this crisply written book by Matthew Werner. Through extensive research and interviews, Werner captures the spirit of the players and coaches of each of the twelve schools in the county.
However, the book is much more than just about basketball. The reader will have a good understanding of what life was like in rural Indiana during that time as the trials and tribulations of the player’s families are also described in rich detail. While reading these passages, the reader will feel like he or she is living with these hard working people.
It would be a disservice to the book to compare it to the movie “Hoosiers” because this book is a much more complete picture of what it was like for a small rural school’s basketball team to face a much bigger urban school. The basketball played by Union Mills in the county championship is just as exciting and good as any other basketball played. Werner’s recap of their games proves this. He also captures the spirit and emotions of these players and coaches in a manner that leaves the reader cheering for them until the very end. A very good book that any basketball lover will want to add to his or her library.
I wish to thank Mr. Werner for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Pace of the book:
I found the sections on describing rural life a little slow but very informative. The sections on the boys and the basketball seemed to flow a little better as a narrative but both are essential to the book.
Do I recommend?
For anyone who is interested in that time frame, be it about the basketball, society or life in that era, this book will give the reader a slice of the Midwest during the 1950’s.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
Indiana loves its high school basketball, especially in the 1940s and 1950s when all schools, no matter what size, played one tournament. There were chances for the small rural schools to upset their larger counterparts. The towns represented by these smaller schools would sometimes completely close to support these young athletes. During the 1949-50 season, tiny Union Mills enjoyed a run to the Sectionals that is burned in the collective memory of the town.
That season, not only for Union Mills, but for the entire rural county of LaPorte, is captured in this crisply written book by Matthew Werner. Through extensive research and interviews, Werner captures the spirit of the players and coaches of each of the twelve schools in the county.
However, the book is much more than just about basketball. The reader will have a good understanding of what life was like in rural Indiana during that time as the trials and tribulations of the player’s families are also described in rich detail. While reading these passages, the reader will feel like he or she is living with these hard working people.
It would be a disservice to the book to compare it to the movie “Hoosiers” because this book is a much more complete picture of what it was like for a small rural school’s basketball team to face a much bigger urban school. The basketball played by Union Mills in the county championship is just as exciting and good as any other basketball played. Werner’s recap of their games proves this. He also captures the spirit and emotions of these players and coaches in a manner that leaves the reader cheering for them until the very end. A very good book that any basketball lover will want to add to his or her library.
I wish to thank Mr. Werner for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Pace of the book:
I found the sections on describing rural life a little slow but very informative. The sections on the boys and the basketball seemed to flow a little better as a narrative but both are essential to the book.
Do I recommend?
For anyone who is interested in that time frame, be it about the basketball, society or life in that era, this book will give the reader a slice of the Midwest during the 1950’s.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
April 10, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and connecting to the era when county schools competed in high school basketball with city schools. This was the era when my father and mother were in (both attended similar county schools). A Hoosier Hysteria tale with a Goliath (Union Mills) overtaking a David (Michigan City) in a sectional championship. A great read!
April 19, 2017
Learned a lot! Plus was great to see my Uncle in one of the basketball pictures! Nothing like basketball in Indiana!!!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews