RED SMITH ON BASEBALL

Pulitzer Prize-winning Smith (who died in 1982) was a legendary voices in American sports journalism—particularly in

baseball. This wonderful collection reminds us why. Although Smith covered sports from 1926 to 1981, this collection only includes his writings from 1940 through the end of his career. The earlier years in this period—from the 1946 season (when baseball returned from WWII) to the late 1950s—are remembered by many fans as the golden era of the game, and Smith’s coverage of it stands to this day as some of the best sportswriting ever penned. His columns ran the gamut from obituaries of the game's greats (such as Walter "Big Train" Johnson and Casey Stengel) to play-by-play rundowns of some of the most memorable games ever witnessed (such as the 1951 playoff between the Dodgers and Giants). Also included are Smith's account of Joe DiMaggio's retirement, Jackie Robinson's start with the major league, and a thousand other memorable moments (not all of which happened on New York diamonds). These columns are a classic of the genre—informed, witty, and intensely connected to the reader—and, despite their age, all of them stand up to the test of time. Ira Berkow's foreword offers a remembrance of Smith from the years when they were both at the New York Times together, and provides a nice perspective on Smith as colleague and friend. Smith's "I was there" coverage will thrill anyone who wishes they'd been around for baseball's stellar moments or wants to remember them better. The collection as a whole will delight anyone who loves baseball’s past and takes an interest in its

future.