Reviews
Ken Burns, filmmaker, creator of the Emmy Awardwinning documentary series Baseball "As always, Tim Wendel gets to the heart of this game and the complicated republic it so precisely mirrors." David Maraniss, author of Clemente and When Pride Still Mattered " Summer of '68 captivated me from the get-go: I was eighteen that summer, reeling from the chaos of an unforgettable year, awestruck by the ferocious beauty of Bob Gibson, rooting for Willie Horton and the Tigers from the city of my birth. Cheers to Tim Wendel for bringing it all back so vividly." Hampton Sides, author of Hellhound on His Trail "A year of great convulsion and heartbreak, 1968 was the closest we've come to a national nervous breakdown since the Civil War. But as Tim Wendel so deftly captures in this fine book, it was also a year when baseball soothed and thrilled us-and urgently reminded us why it's called the 'national pastime.'" Tom Stanton, author of The Final Season and Ty and The Babe "No book better captures how in 1968 sports changed America-and vice versa. In splendid fashion, Tim Wendel takes us on a rollicking journey through an unparalleled year of tumult, tragedy, and, too, joy. Summer of '68 reads like a novel brimming with surprising action, colorful characters, and fresh insights. I enjoyed every page." John Thorn, Official Historian of Major League Baseball and author of Baseball in the Garden of Eden "It seems like only yesterday when both our nation and its pastime seemed in mortal peril. Tim Wendel's Summer of '68 brilliantly evokes the glories and the grim realities of that time, when America and baseball came to a crossroads, and emerged for the better on the other side." Library Journal, 2/1/12 "Wendel has interviewed many of the key participants to bring this crucial year to life. Transcending baseball history alone, this is recommended for baseball fans and students of the era." Kirkus Reviews , 2/15/12 "[Wendel] charts the thrilling Series game by game. More intriguing, though, is the season's unique backdrop: the 'Year of the Pitcher' in baseball and the national turmoil surrounding the sports world…An appealing mix of baseball and cultural history.", Special Libraries Association Baseball Caucus Readers' Choice Award Finalist Ken Burns, filmmaker, creator of the Emmy Award–winning documentary series Baseball As always, Tim Wendel gets to the heart of this game and the complicated republic it so precisely mirrors." David Maraniss, author of Clemente and When Pride Still Mattered Summer of '68 captivated me from the get-go: I was eighteen that summer, reeling from the chaos of an unforgettable year, awestruck by the ferocious beauty of Bob Gibson, rooting for Willie Horton and the Tigers from the city of my birth. Cheers to Tim Wendel for bringing it all back so vividly." Hampton Sides, author of Hellhound on His Trail A year of great convulsion and heartbreak, 1968 was the closest we've come to a national nervous breakdown since the Civil War. But as Tim Wendel so deftly captures in this fine book, it was also a year when baseball soothed and thrilled us—and urgently reminded us why it's called the ‘national pastime.'" Tom Stanton, author of The Final Season and Ty and The Babe No book better captures how in 1968 sports changed America—and vice versa. In splendid fashion, Tim Wendel takes us on a rollicking journey through an unparalleled year of tumult, tragedy, and, too, joy. Summer of '68 reads like a novel brimming with surprising action, colorful characters, and fresh insights. I enjoyed every page." John Thorn, Official Historian of Major League Baseball and author of Baseball in the Garden of Eden It seems like only yesterday when both our nation and its pastime seemed in mortal peril. Tim Wendel's Summer of '68 brilliantly evokes the glories and the grim realities of that time, when America and baseball came to a crossroads, and emerged for the better on the other side." Library Journal, 2/1/12 Wendel has interviewed many of the key participants to bring this crucial year to life. Transcending baseball history alone, this is recommended for baseball fans and students of the era." Kirkus Reviews , 2/15/12 [Wendel] charts the thrilling Series game by game. More intriguing, though, is the season's unique backdrop: the ‘Year of the Pitcher' in baseball and the national turmoil surrounding the sports world…An appealing mix of baseball and cultural history." Publishers Weekly , 2/20/12 Wendel mines one of baseball's more absorbing episodes in this rich chronicle of the 1968 season. It's a sociologically resonant account…Wendel provides telling color commentary…and sharp analyses of on-field strategizing and play-by-play." Cardial70.com, 2/6/12 Wendel doesn't disappoint in Summer of '68 …especially if you are a fan of the pitching side of the game…this is going to be a book that you are going to want on your bookshelf if you are a fan of baseball history in general or Cardinal history in specific. It's a quick and entertaining read and one that you'll probably come back to time and time again." Relaxed Fit e-zine, 2/22/12 A well-written, fast moving book…It would be useful for those who did not live through The Sixties to take a look back; it is useful for those of us who did to be reminded." PopMatters.com, 3/16/12 [Wendel] tells the story…with verve, in the familiar cadences found in sports j, Special Libraries Association Baseball Caucus Readers' Choice Award Finalist Ken Burns, filmmaker, creator of the Emmy Award--winning documentary series Baseball As always, Tim Wendel gets to the heart of this game and the complicated republic it so precisely mirrors." David Maraniss, author of Clemente and When Pride Still Mattered Summer of '68 captivated me from the get-go: I was eighteen that summer, reeling from the chaos of an unforgettable year, awestruck by the ferocious beauty of Bob Gibson, rooting for Willie Horton and the Tigers from the city of my birth. Cheers to Tim Wendel for bringing it all back so vividly." Hampton Sides, author of Hellhound on His Trail A year of great convulsion and heartbreak, 1968 was the closest we've come to a national nervous breakdown since the Civil War. But as Tim Wendel so deftly captures in this fine book, it was also a year when baseball soothed and thrilled us—and urgently reminded us why it's called the #145;national pastime.'" Tom Stanton, author of The Final Season and Ty and The Babe No book better captures how in 1968 sports changed America—and vice versa. In splendid fashion, Tim Wendel takes us on a rollicking journey through an unparalleled year of tumult, tragedy, and, too, joy. Summer of '68 reads like a novel brimming with surprising action, colorful characters, and fresh insights. I enjoyed every page." John Thorn, Official Historian of Major League Baseball and author of Baseball in the Garden of Eden It seems like only yesterday when both our nation and its pastime seemed in mortal peril. Tim Wendel's Summer of '68 brilliantly evokes the glories and the grim realities of that time, when America and baseball came to a crossroads, and emerged for the better on the other side." Library Journal, 2/1/12 Wendel has interviewed many of the key participants to bring this crucial year to life. Transcending baseball history alone, this is recommended for baseball fans and students of the era." Kirkus Reviews , 2/15/12 [Wendel] charts the thrilling Series game by game. More intriguing, though, is the season's unique backdrop: the #145;Year of the Pitcher' in baseball and the national turmoil surrounding the sports world…An appealing mix of baseball and cultural history." Publishers Weekly , 2/20/12 Wendel mines one of baseball's more absorbing episodes in this rich chronicle of the 1968 season. It's a sociologically resonant account…Wendel provides telling color commentary…and sharp analyses of on-field strategizing and play-by-play." Cardial70.com, 2/6/12 Wendel doesn't disappoint in Summer of '68 …especially if you are a fan of the pitching side of the game…this is going to be a book that you are going to want on your bookshelf if you are a fan of baseball history in general or Cardinal history in specific. It's a quick and entertaining read and one that you'll probably come back to time and time again." Relaxed Fit e-zine, 2/22/12 A well-written, fast moving book…It would be useful for those who did not live through The Sixties to take a look back; it is useful for those of us who did to be reminded." PopMatters.com, 3/16/12 [Wendel] tells the story…with verve, in the familiar cadences found in sports j, Kirkus Reviews , 2/15/12 "[Wendel] charts the thrilling Series game by game. More intriguing, though, is the season's unique backdrop: the 'Year of the Pitcher' in baseball and the national turmoil surrounding the sports world...An appealing mix of baseball and cultural history." Publishers Weekly , 2/20/12 "Wendel mines one of baseball's more absorbing episodes in this rich chronicle of the 1968 season. It's a sociologically resonant account...Wendel provides telling color commentary...and sharp analyses of on-field strategizing and play-by-play." Cardial70.com, 2/6/12 "Wendel doesn't disappoint in Summer of '68 ...especially if you are a fan of the pitching side of the game...this is going to be a book that you are going to want on your bookshelf if you are a fan of baseball history in general or Cardinal history in specific. It's a quick and entertaining read and one that you'll probably come back to time and time again." Relaxed Fit e-zine, 2/22/12 "A well-written, fast moving book...It would be useful for those who did not live through The Sixties to take a look back; it is useful for those of us who did to be reminded." PopMatters.com, 3/16/12, Special Libraries Association Baseball Caucus Readers' Choice Award Finalist Ken Burns, filmmaker, creator of the Emmy Award-winning documentary series Baseball "As always, Tim Wendel gets to the heart of this game and the complicated republic it so precisely mirrors." David Maraniss, author of Clemente and When Pride Still Mattered " Summer of '68 captivated me from the get-go: I was eighteen that summer, reeling from the chaos of an unforgettable year, awestruck by the ferocious beauty of Bob Gibson, rooting for Willie Horton and the Tigers from the city of my birth. Cheers to Tim Wendel for bringing it all back so vividly." Hampton Sides, author of Hellhound on His Trail "A year of great convulsion and heartbreak, 1968 was the closest we've come to a national nervous breakdown since the Civil War. But as Tim Wendel so deftly captures in this fine book, it was also a year when baseball soothed and thrilled us--and urgently reminded us why it's called the 'national pastime.'" Tom Stanton, author of The Final Season and Ty and The Babe "No book better captures how in 1968 sports changed America--and vice versa. In splendid fashion, Tim Wendel takes us on a rollicking journey through an unparalleled year of tumult, tragedy, and, too, joy. Summer of '68 reads like a novel brimming with surprising action, colorful characters, and fresh insights. I enjoyed every page." John Thorn, Official Historian of Major League Baseball and author of Baseball in the Garden of Eden "It seems like only yesterday when both our nation and its pastime seemed in mortal peril. Tim Wendel's Summer of '68 brilliantly evokes the glories and the grim realities of that time, when America and baseball came to a crossroads, and emerged for the better on the other side." Library Journal, 2/1/12 "Wendel has interviewed many of the key participants to bring this crucial year to life. Transcending baseball history alone, this is recommended for baseball fans and students of the era." Kirkus Reviews , 2/15/12 "[Wendel] charts the thrilling Series game by game. More intriguing, though, is the season's unique backdrop: the 'Year of the Pitcher' in baseball and the national turmoil surrounding the sports world...An appealing mix of baseball and cultural history." Publishers Weekly , 2/20/12 "Wendel mines one of baseball's more absorbing episodes in this rich chronicle of the 1968 season. It's a sociologically resonant account...Wendel provides telling color commentary...and sharp analyses of on-field strategizing and play-by-play." Cardial70.com, 2/6/12 "Wendel doesn't disappoint in Summer of '68 ...especially if you are a fan of the pitching side of the game...this is going to be a book that you are going to want on your bookshelf if you are a fan of baseball history in general or Cardinal history in specific. It's a quick and entertaining read and one that you'll probably come back to time and time again." Relaxed Fit e-zine, 2/22/12 "A well-written, fast moving book...It would be useful for those who did not live through The Sixties to take a look back; it is useful for those of us who did to be reminded." PopMatters.com, 3/16/12 "[Wendel] tells the story...with verve, in the familiar cadences found in sports j
Synopsis
The extraordinary story of the 1968 baseball season--when the game was played to perfection even as the country was being pulled apart at the seams From the beginning, '68 was a season rocked by national tragedy and sweeping change. Opening Day was postponed and later played in the shadow of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s funeral. That summer, as the pennant races were heating up, the assassination of Robert Kennedy was later followed by rioting at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. But even as tensions boiled over and violence spilled into the streets, something remarkablewas happening in major league ballparks across the country. Pitchers were dominating like never before, and with records falling and shut-outs mounting, many began hailing '68 as "The Year of the Pitcher." In Summer of '68 , Tim Wendel takes us on a wild ride through a season that saw such legends as Bob Gibson, Denny McLain, Don Drysdale, and Luis Tiant set new standards for excellence on the mound, each chasing perfection against the backdrop of one of the most divisive and turbulent years in American history. For some players, baseball would become an insular retreat from the turmoil encircling them that season, but for a select few, including Gibson and the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals, the conflicts of '68 would spur their performances to incredible heights and set the stage for their own run at history. Meanwhile in Detroit--which had burned just the summer before during one of the worst riots in American history--'68 instead found the city rallying together behind a colorful Tigers team led by McLain, Mickey Lolich, Willie Horton, and Al Kaline. The Tigers would finish atop the American League, setting themselves on a highly anticipated collision course with Gibson's Cardinals. And with both teams' seasons culminating in a thrilling World Series for the ages--one team playing to establish a dynasty, the other fighting to help pull a city from the ashes--what ultimately lay at stake was something even larger: baseball's place in a rapidly changing America that would never be the same. In vivid, novelistic detail, Summer of '68 tells the story of this unforgettable season--the last before rule changes and expansion would alter baseball forever--when the country was captivated by the national pastime at the moment it needed the game most., The extraordinary story of the 1968 baseball season--when the game was played to perfection even as the country was being pulled apart at the seams , The extraordinary story of the 1968 baseball season--when the game was played to perfection even as the country was being pulled apart at the seams From the beginning, '68 was a season rocked by national tragedy and sweeping change. Opening Day was postponed and later played in the shadow of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s funeral. That summer, as the pennant races were heating up, the assassination of Robert Kennedy was later followed by rioting at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. But even as tensions boiled over and violence spilled into the streets, something remarkable was happening in major league ballparks across the country. Pitchers were dominating like never before, and with records falling and shut-outs mounting, many began hailing '68 as "The Year of the Pitcher." In Summer of '68 , Tim Wendel takes us on a wild ride through a season that saw such legends as Bob Gibson, Denny McLain, Don Drysdale, and Luis Tiant set new standards for excellence on the mound, each chasing perfection against the backdrop of one of the most divisive and turbulent years in American history. For some players, baseball would become an insular retreat from the turmoil encircling them that season, but for a select few, including Gibson and the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals, the conflicts of '68 would spur their performances to incredible heights and set the stage for their own run at history. Meanwhile in Detroit--which had burned just the summer before during one of the worst riots in American history--'68 instead found the city rallying together behind a colorful Tigers team led by McLain, Mickey Lolich, Willie Horton, and Al Kaline. The Tigers would finish atop the American League, setting themselves on a highly anticipated collision course with Gibson's Cardinals. And with both teams' seasons culminating in a thrilling World Series for the ages--one team playing to establish a dynasty, the other fighting to help pull a city from the ashes--what ultimately lay at stake was something even larger: baseball's place in a rapidly changing America that would never be the same. In vivid, novelistic detail, Summer of '68 tells the story of this unforgettable season--the last before rule changes and expansion would alter baseball forever--when the country was captivated by the national pastime at the moment it needed the game most.
