Historical Times

October 24, 2021

The New York Times Book Review section celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. As could be expected, they gathered some of the most influential books over the decades, including classics such as The Bell Jar, Ulysses, Roots, The Road, and How to Win Friends and Influence People.

With the millions of books that have been published since 1896, it’s amazing that the Times believes the national pastime was important enough to include it in this 64-page recap.

So it was a welcome surprise to find this piece by Roger Angell, baseball’s laureate, on “Books About the Babe” from October 13, 1974.

The essay features Babe: The Legend Comes to Life by Robert Creamer; Babe Ruth: His Life and Legend by Kal Wagenheim; Babe Ruth’s America by Robert Smith; and Babe Ruth and the American Dream by Ken Sobol. There was a slew of books at the time thanks to renewed interest in the Babe as Hank Aaron approached and then surpassed the all-time home run record. (Coincidentally, these are some of the books included in my presentation at Hofstra University on the centennial of Ruth’s birth in 1995).

And isn’t it amazing to think that Angell is just 25 years younger than the book review section?

 

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Tagged as: Babe Ruth, New York Times, Roger Angell

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