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Book Review:
Tales of the 1962 New York Mets.
by Jonathan
Leshanski
May 8, 2004
Book
Review: Tales of the 1962 New York Mets - A collection of the Greatest
Stories Ever Told
by Janet Paskin
Published by Sport Publishing LLC, 2004
p. 203
In 1998 there was the home run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy
Sosa, in 2003 there was another race - although it was between a
current team and one from the past. The Detroit Tigers were desperately
trying to avoid catching up with the 1962 New York Mets as the team
with the worst record in the modern era of the game. The comparisons
between the teams were apt ones and the Tigers avoided the ignominy
of tying or surpassing the Mets only due to a late surge. The people
rooting the loudest against them breaking this record were strangely
enough the surviving members of that 1962 Mets team.
Unlike most of the books in this series this book is not just one
filled with anecdotes of established players rather it is a snapshot
of a specific season - the worst season in modern baseball history
and the origin of the New York Mets. Janet Paskin does a wonderful
job at delving into a piece of history and creating a tapestry from
all the disparate threads that made up that first and worst season.
Another thing that makes this book different is that it is a chronology
- from the birth of the Mets and the influence of Branch Rickey
and Bill Shea, running through the season, and wrapping up with
a where are they now section of the book.
However the core of the book is the interviews and anecdotes of
a team that was made up of some pretty well known names and some
very wacky characters. You’ll learn about “Marvelous”
Marv Thornberry whose glove work was compared to the legendary Dick
Stuart (aka: Dr. Strangeglove), Casey Stengel, who at 70 years of
age managed the team despite his penchant for napping during the
games and his inability to remember who his players were. Of course
there was also Harry Chiti who was traded for himself in a deal
between the Mets and Indians.
The stories are wonderful and they give an inside view of what went
on behind the scenes and how the original team handled the pressure.
There were plenty of stories to tell including those of the twin
20 game losers, the first win, and the first home run.
While the Dodgers had been the “bums” during their time
in New York the Mets took the field as lovable losers and the city
and the nation both watched in “amazement” as the team
found more and more ways to lose. Somehow, reminiscent of their
national league predecessors the fans came to love them despite
the bumbling, incompetence and bad luck. And it wasn’t just
the fans but also the media that climbed aboard their bandwagon.
This book tells all of those tales in a light and entertaining fashion
that even fans from outside New York will love. It is an easy read
and it is suitable for fans of all ages.
Give this one 3 of 4 balls, you’ll find it tough to
put down.
Our Rating System is
based on a four ball system as follows:
One Ball: Average. It has something to say but is nothing
special.
Two Balls: Something men usually have - also means its a cut
above average, and worth reading/owning.
Three balls: Stands out from its peers and is highly recommended.
Four Balls: More than just what two men have when hanging
out together, it means it is an exceptional book that truly earns
a walk - straight to the local book store to get a copy.
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