Fifty may not be as impressive as 100 when it comes to celebrating an anniversary, but it’s still a notable achievement.
They NY Mets hit the big 5-oh this year and, like the titles about Fenway Park, the hoopla began early.
Matthew Silverman, who carries on in the proud tradition of authors like Glenn Stout, Bill Nowlin, Jim Prime, et al by publishing several books about one team, continues with two titles: New York Mets: The Complete Illustrated History
The former is a CTE (coffee table edition) that takes a generally chronological approach, decade by decade. Fillers and factoids round out the narrative (I love the baseball card reproductions). Silverman also picks his “50 top Mets,” scattered throughout, as are box scores of important games in the team’s history. The volume concludes with an all-time record book in case the great stories and photos aren’t enough.
If 50 Amazin’ Seasons is an Acura, Best Mets, a paperback volume, is an Accord. Totally serviceable, but without a lot of the glitz. Silverman offers his considered opinion on the best players, managers, GMs, games (regular and postseason), trades and free agent signings, and broadcasting teams. And, for an extra bit of snarky fun, he includes the worst for several of the categories. This is WC reading of the highest order (and I mean that as a compliment), since you don’t have to go through it all at once to enjoy.
I’m ambivalent about books produced under the auspices of newspapers. As I’ve said in previous entries, I think they’re a money grab, reaping the benefits of putting out a new product that isn’t really new, but rather a repackaging of archival material. On the hand, it is somewhat convenient having everything in one tidy volume, especially if you’re a fan of said newspaper.
The New York Daily News and its tabloid rival New York Post each have a CTE marking the Mets’ milestone.
The Daily News’ The Mets: A 50th Anniversary Celebration
The Post’s offering — The Amazins: Celebrating 50 Years of New York Mets History
The breakdown includes articles about the Mets’ most popular and productive players over the decades, as well as the greatest games. There are also nods to the Managers, GMs, broadcast teams, and the three ballparks that have been home to the Mets since 1962.
The Amazins — a paperback — has the largest trim of the three CTEs and uses the space to its advantage, offering even larger photos than its counterparts.
If I don’t generally care for newspapers putting out scrapbooks, I get even more bummed out by reprints issued to take advantage of a special occasion. Sports Publishing is coming out with “updated” editions of two collections of Mets anecdotes: Tales from the New York Mets Dugout: A Collection of the Greatest Mets Stories Ever Told (Second Edition) (Tales from the Team)
What new Mets commemorative am I most looking forward to? Total Mets: The Definitive Encyclopedia of the New York Mets
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is available on Amazon.com,
{ 2 comments }
Small point, Ron, but it’s not quite accurate that I’ve made a “cottage industry” out of the Red Sox, as the club and/or its players have been the subject of only six of my 80 + books, and only one in the last 8 or 9 years. By the same scorekeeping I’ve also made a cottage industry out of the Yankees and the Dodgers.
Of course I meant it in the most complimentary sense, Glenn, as in what an expert on the topic you are.
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