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The Machine: A Hot Team, a Legendary Season, and a Heart-stopping World Series: The Story of the 1975 Cincinnati Reds Paperback – 31 August 2010
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From the best-selling author of Baseball 100
“Posnanski offers an eloquent reminder that the great Cincinnati Reds teams—especially the ‘75 Reds—deserve a place of prominence in our memory, same as this book demands a place of prominence on your shelf.” —New York Post
There are great teams in baseball—and then there are classic teams like the 1975 Cincinnati Reds. From 1972 to 1976, the franchise known as the Big Red Machine dominated the National League, and their 1975 season has become the stuff of sports legend.
In The Machine, award-winning sports columnist Joe Posnanski captures all of the passion and tension, drama and glory of this extraordinary championship team considered to be one of the greatest of all time. Helmed by Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson, the lineup for the ’75 Reds is a “Who’s Who” of baseball greats, including Pete Rose, Ken Griffey Sr., and Joe Morgan.
But that remarkable year was not without controversy: feuds, fights, insults, and run-ins with fans were as much a part of the season as hits, runs, steals, and strikeouts. Capturing this rollicking thrill-ride of a story, Posnanski brings to life the excitement, hope, and high-expectations that surrounded the players from the beginning of spring training through the long summer and into a nailbiting World Series, where, in the ninth inning of the seventh game, the Big Red Machine fulfilled its destiny, defeating the Boston Red Sox 4-3.
- Print length336 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication date31 August 2010
- ISBN-100061582557
- ISBN-13978-0061582554
Product description
From the Back Cover
From 1972 to 1976, the Cincinnati Reds—the franchise known as the Big Red Machine—dominated the National League, winning four division crowns, three league pennants, and two World Series titles. But their 1975 season was the stuff of sports legend.
In The Machine, award-winning sports writer Joe Posnanski captures all of the passion and tension, drama and glory of a baseball team considered to be one of the best ever to take the field. Featuring a who's who of stars—including Pete Rose, Ken Griffey, Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, George Foster, Cesar Geronimo, Dave Concepcion, and Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson—The Machine brings to vivid life all the hopes and excitement, fireworks and controversy of a remarkable team's extraordinary year in a rollicking thrill-ride of a real-sports story.
About the Author
A senior writer at Sports Illustrated, Joe Posnanski has twice been named the Best Sports Columnist in America by the Associated Press Sports Editors for his work at the Kansas City Star. He is the author of The Good Stuff and The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neil's America, which won the prestigious Casey Award for best baseball book of 2007. His work has also been anthologized in Best American Sports Writing, and he lives with his family in Kansas City, Missouri.
Product details
- Language : English
- Paperback : 336 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0061582557
- ISBN-13 : 978-0061582554
- Customer reviews:
Customer reviews
Top reviews from other countries
Posnanski correctly describes the team's slow start in '75 and the desperate lineup adjustment by Anderson - moving Rose from left field to third base, thus free up LF for a young, blossoming George Foster - that sparked the Reds amazing summer run. There has been no team as talented or good as the Reds since 1975 and Posnanski does a masterful job telling the entire season's story. Including a great job describing the infamous '75 World Series. Others may criticize his writing style as too simplistic, but from my perspective, the book reads as smoothly as any baseball book I have ever read. I could not put it down.
Finally, perhaps the most interesting part of the book is Posnanski's insights and discussions with Pete Rose. We all know about Pete's troubled past: the gambling on baseball, the lies, the tax evasion, the time in federal prison. I struggle with my feeling about Rose. One day I hate him for what he has turned into. Other days, (and as I read this book) I remember what an incredible ball player he was. Rose is truly a bigger than life character, possibly the most competitive person to ever play the game. Pete Rose is truly an American tragedy, but Posnanski allowed me to once again see Rose through the eyes of an unspoiled, awe-struck, nine year old. Pete Rose will always be one of the heroes of my youth. Thanks Joe for a great book.
I found myself laughing outloud a lot while reading this, not something I do that often. When Rose makes fun of Joe Morgan's height by telling him not to stand close to the bat rack because someone was liable to mistake him for a bat and use him, I was guffawing. The one thing Sparkey Andersen was always given a lot of credit for was juggling the many personalities of the Big Red Machine from Bench and Rose, to Morgan and Perez, and Griffey and Conception. The same can be said for Posnanski. He juggles all their stories, all their perspectives, all their talents.
A well written baseball book is hard to find. I find myself having to read at least ten of them to find one gem and this would be my latest. I think the author's best talent is showing instead of telling. Like when Joe Morgan is talking about how close the Big Red Machine still is and yet he is the only one of them to attend the funeral of Bob Howsam, the man who put them together. Or when Pete staunchly denies being sorry for betting on baseball, and then turns around and signs what is termed an apology ball at the autograph place he works where he signs it "I'm sorry I bet on baseball". Most authors would add their own commentary or make the point with a ton of bricks, but many times Posnanski lets these scenes speak for themselves. He does something most authors don't have the courage to do; give the reader a little credit.
I admire PASSION! Joe Posnanski's passion for writing and baseball allow the subjects in his book to showcase their passions. This book is about the passion of all the members of a great baseball team, the 1975 Reds. You will read about management and its passions for winning and being stingy. You will read about the manager and his passion for winning, at whatever cost. You will read about stars and their passion for personal fame, money and winning. And you will read about "turds" and their passion to be a bigger "cog" in "the machine"!
Some reviewer criticize Posnanski's style as being simplistic and shallow. But, I thnk they just don't get it. They are just like the people who say that baseball is boring. Those people are looking for action just like those reviewers are looking for literary perfection or a classic in every book they read. Baseball is beautiful because there is so much going on, but most of it is in the minds of the players, coaches and spectators. This book may seem simple or boring on the surface but if you love baseball you will love the simple stories of the members of the 1975 Cincinnati Reds. The author allows you to enter a world very few have entered and (mentally) explore it as you please.
I was taken back to a time when I was very young. I was taken back to 1975 and I enjoyed the journey. I was also taken into the professional lives of coaches and athletes. And I was even taken into their personal lives. These guys had personal lives? Sure they did!! But how many baseball fans or even Reds fans considered the personal lives of these "Gods of Baseball"? This book is refreshing because it reminds us that baseball players are not role models. Although we have ever-increasingly demanded them to be(because they make so much money). They can be heroes and not be role models.
In this book you will also get a look at our country, from sports standpoint, at a crossroad. Things were going on, things were changing, and all those things affected baseball and the Reds. There is a sub-plot regarding Sparky and his son that symbolizes the acute gap between the generations during this time in America. It reminds us that there will always be this gap and that gap CAN be bridged!! Baseball can bridge that gap! Baseball has bridged that gap! Baseball will continue to bridge that gap!
Joe Posnanski doesn't have a lot of experience writing books and that's OK. He is a sportswriter, columnist and blogger. He knows sports and especially baseball. He knows how to write baseball. He knows baseball words and baseball writing style. Although he is not an accomplished author he is an accomplished sportswriter (prize-winning). Don't let his lack of experience as an author fool you into thinking that he is not a great WRITER. He is a great writer and I expect his future books to be even better. But, don't come looking for his early books after you "discover" him later, as a prize-winning AUTHOR! You have your chance now! Buy this book! Enjoy it and pass it on! Buy "The Soul of Baseball" and do the same with that book!
Go back in time and rediscover America's national pasttime!!