From the New York Times bestselling author of K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches comes the ultimate history of the World Series—a vivid portrait of baseball at its finest and most intense, filled with humor, lore, analysis, and fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from 117 years of the Fall Classic.The World Series is the most enduring showcase in American team sports. It’s the place where legends are made, where celebration and devastation can hinge on a fly ball off a foul pole or a grounder beneath a first baseman’s glove. And there’s no one better to bring this rich history to life than
New York Times national baseball columnist Tyler Kepner, whose bestselling book about pitching,
K, was lauded as “Michelangelo explaining the brush strokes on the Sistine Chapel” by
Newsday.
In seven scintillating chapters, Kepner delivers an indelible portrait of baseball’s signature event. He digs deep for essential tales dating back to the beginning in 1903, adding insights from Hall of Famers like Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, Jim Palmer, Dennis Eckersley and many others who have thrived – and failed – when it mattered most.
Why do some players, like Madison Bumgarner, Derek Jeter and David Ortiz, crave the pressure? How do players handle a dream that comes up short? What’s it like to manage in the World Series, and what are the secrets of building a champion? Kepner celebrates unexpected heroes like Bill Wambsganss, who pulled off an unassisted triple play in 1920, probes the mysteries behind magic moments (Did Babe Ruth call his shot in 1932? How could Eckersley walk Mike Davis to get to Kirk Gibson in 1988?) and busts some long-time myths (the 1919 Reds were much better than the Black Sox, anyway).
The Grandest Stage is the ultimate history of the World Series, the perfect gift for all the fans who feel their hearts pounding in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game Seven.
"From Babe Ruth's famous called shot, to Jackie Robinson stealing home, to Carlton Fisk hitting the foul pole, Kirk Gibson limping around the bases, to Blake Snell being pulled in the 2020 Series, the sport's most iconic moments have happened in October. There's no one better to bring this rich history to life than New York Times national baseball columnist Tyler Kepner, whose bestselling history of pitching, K, was lauded as "like Michelangelo explaining the brush strokes on the Sistine Chapel" by Newsday. In THE CLASSIC, Kepner talked to hundreds of people who've won - and lost - World Series, and looked deep into the records to present a vivid portrait of what it's like playing in the pressure cooker of the Series. He shows the human side of the game (the pitcher who gave up Ruth's called shot was still haunted by it on his deathbed), celebrates unlikely heroes such as Don Larsen (a mediocre pitcher who threw the only perfect game in World Series history), writes of the goats with compassion (the Phillies' Mitch Williams shouldn't have pitched the last inning in 1993), and busts some long-time myths (the Reds would have beat the Black Sox anyway.) The result is a vivid portrait of baseball at its finest and most intense, filled with humor, lore, keen analysis and memorable anecdotes. For every fan who's ever felt their heart in their mouth in the bottom of the ninth in Game Seven, and a great gift for those who love them, THE CLASSIC is the ultimate history of the World Series."--
