Whenever a book — especially a sports book — includes the words “best” (or “worst”), “ranking”, or “forever,” you know the author is looking to start an argument. Take John Roengren, for example. His new title on the 1973 season carries the “forever” brand.
Granted 1973 was an eventful season. The Mets, still mourning the lose of their beloved Gil Hodges, went from worst to first, defeating the Chicago Cubs on the last day of the season, upsetting the Big Red Machine in the NLCS and coming within a game of winning the World Championship against the Oakland As and theirburgeoning star and head case, Reggie Jackson.
With one hero on the rise, another was on the wane. It was time for Willie Mays to “say goodbye to America.” Mays had been returned to the Mets the previous year (just as Hank Aaron would go back to his roots in Milwaukee to finish his career) and was a shell of his former self. Baseball fans will never forget the sight of Willie Mays on his knees at home plate, pleading in vain for the home plate umpire to reverse his erroneous out call against Bud Harrelson, nor the image of the once-graceful centerfielder stumbling like a weekend softball player.
Hank Aaron inched closer to wresting the all-time home run record away from Babe Ruth. On the way, he endured the kind of bigotry one imagines (or hopes) would have been eradicated by this point, more than 25 years after Jackie Robinson had bravely broken the color line. But this story has been told before and better in other books devoted solely to the topic.
It was also that year that George Steinbrenner firmly planted his footprint on the butt of a lackluster Yankees team, trying to propel them back to their entitled state of frontrunners.
All in all, Hammerin’ Hank is no worse than other books and better than some in reliving an event. But I’m still waiting to understand how the game was changed “forever.”
is available on Amazon.com,
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