Splendor on the Diamond

"A real treat for any baseball fan."--Allen Lewis, sports writer, Philadelphia Inquirer, 1947-79 In Splendor on the Diamond, baseball author and historian Rich Westcott collects intimate interviews and personal profiles of 35 legends of the game. Each player from one of baseball's greatest and most momentous eras--the decades following World War II--is a recognizable and unforgettable member of that cast of characters who gave a special flavor to a distinctively American age. More than a third of the players featured are enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The lineup includes Warren Spahn describing what it took to become the winningest lefty in baseball history; Monte Irvin on his experiences as one of the pioneers in the desegregation of the game; Detroit Tigers legend Al Kaline discussing his splendid career, which included winning a batting title at the age of 20; and Pee Wee Reese recalling his glory days with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The book is packed with examples of players remembering historic--and often heroic--events: Ralph Branca's pitch that Bobby Thomson turned into the shot heard round the world; Dick Sisler hitting the most famous home run in Philadelphia Phillies history; Bobby Avila becoming the first Latin American to win a batting crown; and Alvin Dark switching from All-American football player to baseball star. What emerges from each interview is not only a fascinating glimpse into a historic period--an era in which professional baseball underwent some of its most sweeping changes--but also the opportunity to share in the players' first-hand descriptions of their experiences, to hear what it was like to have participated and performed on that stage. Whether you're a die-hard, dyed-in-the-wool fanatic or just a casual fan, Splendor on the Diamond will reward you with nine full innings of privileged insights into the game. Because each interview was conducted "up-close and personal" and at generous length, and because of the author's reportorial skill and flair, the players' revealing comments make this a unique and delightful companion to America's national pastime. Rich Westcott is the author or coauthorof nine books on baseball, including The Phillies Encyclopedia, Diamond Greats, Philadelphia's Old Ballparks, and No-Hitters. He has been a newspaper and magazine editor for nearly 40 years and was the founder, publisher, and editor of Phillies Report, the nation's oldest continuous baseball-team newspaper.