An anthology of some of the best writing about the up-and-down history of the Philadelphia Phillies, this updated paperback edition features several new essays-including one about Citizens Bank Park-and the team's recent history. The stories herein provide fans with some of the best sportswriting about the woes and triumphs of Phillies baseball. The Phillies Reader features essays on the athletic achievements of such legendary players as Chuck Klein, Richie Ashburn, Dick Allen, and Mike Schmidt; the political turmoil surrounding the "ok" from manager Ben Chapman to "ride" Jackie Robinson about the color of his skin; the bizarre shooting of Eddie Waitkus; the heroics of the Whiz Kids; the heartbreak of '64; and the occasional triumphs and frequent travails of controversial managers Gene Mauch, Frank Lucchesi, and Danny Ozark. It asks why fans boo great players such as Del Ennis, but forgave Pat Burrell for his horrendous 2003 slump. Featuring essays by Red Smith, Pete Dexter, Roger Angell, and James Michener, among others, The Phillies Reader presents a compendium of Phillies literature that reveals what it is that makes legends.

The dramatic history of this legendary team

About the Author
Richard Orodenker teaches American Studies and English at Penn State Abington and Community College of Philadelphia. He is author of The Writers' Game: Baseball Writing in America, Twentieth-Century American Sportswriters, and American Sportswriters and Writers on Sports. Contributors: Charles Dryden, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Robert W. Creamer, Jack Orr, Al Horwits, Red Smith, Bill Veeck, Ed Linn, Roger Kahn, Wendell Smith, Dan Burley, Claude E. Harrison, Jr., Ira Berkow, Bob Stevens, Joe Williams, Edgar Williams, Mike Gaven, John Lardner, Ed Linn, Furman Bisher, Walter Bingham, Si Burick, Larry Merchant, Ray Robinson, Arnold Hano, Sandy Grady, Stan Hochman, Bob Uecker, Mickey Herskovitz, Roy Blount, Fr., Tom Cushman, Frank Dolson, Allen Lewis, Bill Conlin, James A. Michener, Tony Kornheiser, Pat Jordan, Ted Silary, Thomas Boswell, Wilfrid Sheed, Pete Dexter, Roger Angell, George Vecsey, Bruce Bushel.

Reviews
"Orodenker has assembled some great material from truly superb writers... The writing is so good that even those who detest the Phillies but love baseball will appreciate the 46 essays collected here."-Philadelphia Style "If you are a genuine Phillies fan, once you pick [The Phillies Reader] up, you won't put it down until you've read it cover to cover."-The Philadelphia Public Record



Book Information
ISBN 9781592133987
Author Richard Orodenker
Format Paperback
Page Count 368
Imprint Temple University Press,U.S.
Publisher Temple University Press,U.S.
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 23mm