Stolen Season: A Journey Through America and Baseball's Minor Leagues

by David Lamb

Book Overview

Fans of our national pastime and books like The Boys of Summer and Men at Work will applaud this acclaimed bestseller celebrating baseball's minor leagues, by noted journalist David Lamb. He... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 039457608X
• ISBN13: 9780394576084
• Release Date: March 1991
• Publisher: Random House (NY)
• Length: 283 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

A kind of minor league baseball 'Travels with charley'

As I read this book, I was reminded a bit of Steinbeck's old book, "Travels with Charley." In both books, the reader is treated to a commentary of "life on the road." However, in this case it's following the author as he travels across country in his RV to watch numerous minor league baseball games. How many of us as baseball fans secretly wish we could do just that? How many of us however actually have the time and more importantly the finances to do this? While the book is dated, it still is well worth a read. The author describes the dreams of numerous minor league ballplayers to make it to "the Show," but points out only one out of every fourteen actually makes it to the big leagues. And not only is this book about their stories, but the stories of numerous minor league towns, and the people the author encounters. He also gets to meet and talk with several of his boyhood idols, players from the 1957 Milwaukee Braves. Some of the stories of these people are sad, some hilarious, but all of them are quite entertaining. I've recommended this book to a friend with a son who aspires to be a "big leaguer" someday, because it entails some of the hardships involved in getting there. This book is a travelogue of places where time has seemingly stood still and the players are gods, even if they are only minor leaguers pursuiing a dream.

Outstanding book

David Lamb's summer through the minor leagues is one of the most outstanding baseball books I've ever read. He writes like a storyteller and really makes the reader care about every team and player he writes about. These players, particularly in the low minors, really play baseball for the love of the game and the chance they might make it big one day. Lamb also takes the time to make the local color of the towns he visited come alive. With all the problems of Major League Baseball now, this book will remind you why you care about baseball.

An American Classic

Mr. Lamb's use of baseball as the backdrop for this narrative of travel and rediscovery is entrancing. Though my enjoyment of Stolen Season was enhanced by my love of the game, I have passed this book around to friends who have no interest in the national pastime and they have enjoyed it as much as I. The vividly described scenes and characters are a delight - from the hills of West Virgina to the California Valley - from the aspiring pitcher Monson to Hurricane Bob Hazel, a player that lived the dream one fall many years ago. Outstanding!

A Love Story

David Lamb stole a season of his adult life in a gamble to strengthen his love affair with baseball. After spending an entire summer traveling across America in pursuit of minor league teams, owners, managers, bus drivers, fans, stadiums and, of course, players, it is obvious Lamb is all the more infatuated with America's game, in spite of the blemishes he very honestly reveals. And any reader who has the least bit of respect for baseball will find himself or herself falling in love again, with the game and with the people who make it up, people like David Lamb.

Great Book - A must read

Simply, one of the best books I have read. This book is more about life than it is about baseball. The underlying theme is of young men chasing their dreams and the baseball diamond is the medium.