| Title | : | Out of left field: Willie Stargell and the Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0846701278 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780846701279 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 223 |
| Publication | : | Published January 1, 1976 |
Out of left field: Willie Stargell and the Pittsburgh Pirates Reviews
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The subtitle of this book tells it all, or most of it. The Pirates dominated baseball in the 1970s, and Willie Stargell was their biggest star. They won six division titles, two National League Penates, and two World Series that decade. Willie Stargell hit more home runs in the '70s then any other man.
What the subtitle doesn't say is that Out of Left Field chronicles the 1973 season, the year the Pirates fell apart. This down season came after winning three straight division titles and a World Series in the previous three years. 1973 was their first season without long time star and team leader Roberto Clemente, who died the previous winter in a tragic plane crash. It was also the year that staff ace Steve Blass, hero of the '71 World Series and coming off the best year of his career in '72, crashed epically, posting a 9.85 ERA on his way out of baseball. Though remaining in the division race up to the season's final weekend, the Pirates finished 1973 with a record of 80 and 82, their only losing season of the decade. Willie Stargell was a rock amid the chaos of this disappointing year, leading the NL in six categories, including home runs (44) and RBIs (119) while batting .299.
Out of Left Field tells the story of the season with many photos and the players own words. The photos record Stargell and his teammates in and out of uniform, on the job, and relaxing. The text is almost all direct transcript of remarkably candid taped interviews recorded throughout the season. Stargell dominates, but many of his teammates (including the ever colorful Dock Ellis) add their perspective as well. There are interviews with player's wives, team general manager, and even a baseball Annie, all adding layers to the story. Topics as broad as contract negotiations, race relations, team politics, player drug use, and the sexual dynamics of wives vs girlfriends are all covered. It’s a great snapshot of baseball before the dawn of free agency, and of American culture itself in transition.
