Product Description

In 1957 the Dodgers broke the hearts of blue-collar Brooklyn for the embrace of booming Los Angeles. Thus began a new era for the fabled Bums, whose exploits inside -- and outside -- the white lines have intrigued generations of baseball fans.

Based on scores of fresh and exuberant interviews, True Blue brings you into the dugout and the locker room, capturing the nearly half-century of clutch performances, World Series triumphs, blown pennant races, clubhouse brawls, contract disputes, stunning trades, and turbulent managerial changes -- all with a startling insider's perspective.

In their own candid and provocative words, a who's who of Dodger legends and stars such as Duke Snider, Maury Wills, John Roseboro, Don Sutton, Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Davey Lopes, Reggie Smith, Tommy Lasorda, Bill Russell, Dusty Baker, Kirk Gibson, Steve Sax, and Eric Karros recall their years with the Dodgers. Also providing their unique commentary are a number of noted opponents, writers, and broadcasters, including Willie Mays, Sparky Anderson, Pete Hamill, Roger Kahn, Tim McCarver, and Bob Costas.

Their voices, woven into a rich and fast-paced narrative, bring to life the rise and shocking retirement of Sandy Koufax, Kirk Gibson's dramatic 1988 World Series home run, the controversial trade of Mike Piazza, and so much more. It is the vivid story of how the Dodgers became one of the great successes in major league history, winning nine National League pennants and five World Series championships.

A fascinating and colorful history of a team, an era, and baseball itself, True Blue is must reading for any baseball fan.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1268142 in Books
• Published on: 2002-03-01
• Released on: 2002-03-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Delsohn traces the storied Dodgers, arguably the greatest franchise in National League history, from the time they left Brooklyn in 1957 to the present. He includes highlights, like Sandy Koufax's victory over the Yankees in the '63 World Series and Kirk Gibson's dramatic home run that turned the '88 Series, and low points ranging from the infamous Roseboro/Marichal brawl to the public feud between Mike Piazza and the Dodger ownership in 1998. Most of the book is devoted to quotations from Dodgers and their associates--from Duke Snider to Bob Costas and Fred Claire. The author comments briefly on, for instance, Darryl Strawberry's switch from the Mets to the Dodgers, then lets the people who experienced it personally do the talking. Offering pieces of his interviews to the reader exactly as he heard them, Delsohn's presence at times is hardly felt. Though the presentation of firsthand accounts precludes any kind of coherent narrative, this structure affords the reader a sense of immediacy and intimacy with colorful personalities like Mike Marshall and Tommy Lasorda. Moreover, Delsohn's style allows him to maintain a natural impartiality: in all cases where disagreements persist, he quotes men on each side of the issue, leaving the reader free to form an opinion. 16 b&w photos not seen by PW. (Apr.)Forecast: This is an obvious sale to baseball fans in L.A. and, peripherally, to admirers of the late Brooklyn Dodgers, but Delsohn hasn't exactly picked the team of today--or of tomorrow--to profile. Expect modest sales.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
When Walter O'Malley led the Dodgers to the greener fields of California in 1957, the team's Los Angeles era began. Delsohn (Out of Bounds) uses interviews with players, writers, and others to cover the years that saw nine National League pennants and five World Series crowns, along with intervening years of disappointment. Revealing comments on Walter Alston's and Sandy Koufax's retirements and controversies between Brett Butler and Mike Piazza, Tom Lasorda and Bill Russell, and Peter O'Malley and Bud Selig add spice to a winning story. Good for all public libraries.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"A complete portrait of the Dodgers' eclective blend of personalities and controversies...One that should be in every Dodger fans' library." -- Los Angeles Daily News

"Provides more than good reading...Plenty of tasty goodies that the baseball fan will devour like handfuls of popcorn." -- The Associated Press

Customer Reviews

Very good oral history- a must for Dodger fans
I really enjoyed reliving some of the great stories surrounding the Dodger franchise while reading this book. The interviews focus on the behind the scenes controversies as well as the on the field exploits of Dodger teams of the 50's through the 2000 season. For a Dodger fan much of the material is familiar but the book provides a chance to hear the players and front office guys tell their versions in their own words.
The Yankees may be the Bronx Zoo and the all-time leaders in colorful characters but the Dodgers certainly are not far behind in that category.
I highly recommend this to baseball lovers and particularly to Dodger fans. I learned some new things about the team and I thought I was fairly knowledgeable about Dodger history.

Top of the line sports writing
A little while ago, I gave 5 stars to a book called "The Greatest Baseball Stories Ever Told." While I stand by that rating, that book still pales in comparison to this one.

The Dodgers have a rich history and with the exception of the Yankees, are probably the most successful and stories baseball franchise. This oral history gives a behind the scenes look at the incidents that shaped L.A. Dodger history.

Every big event from 1958-2000 is covered, from the move to Los Angeles to Koufax's retirement to the Big Blue Wrecking Crew to Kirk Gibson's famous home run to the selling of the team to Fox. Delsohn does a good job at allowing both sides to speak about controversial issues and allows the reader to use his or her own judgment as to where the truth lies.

For any fan of baseball, I recommend this book. For any fan of the Dodgers, I would say this is a must-read.

I wanted to hate this book!
I am a transplanted Cub fan living in LA and am forced to endure the antics of the Dodgers. With the exception of Vin Scully. the preeminent baseball announcer, I can truly say I loathe the Dodgers, yet I really enjoyed this book.It really plays out like a soap opera and I really like how the personalities involved get to tell their side of the story. I found it interesting to read about the early days of the LA Dodgers when Leo Durocher was undermining Walter Alston, the holdout of Drysdale and Koufax, the events leading up to Maury Wills being traded. I also enjoyed reading about the team of the 70's and how the players really felt about Steve Garvey. Some pretty juicy stuff is revealed throughout this book and the reader is privvy to all of it. I just wonder if the author ever approached Mr Scully for his take on things.This book is a welcome addition to my sports library.