The Colts' Baltimore: A City and Its Love Affair in the 1950s

by Michael Olesker

Book Overview

Third Place, General Trade Hardcover Nonfiction, 2009 New York Book Show. Bookbinders' Guild of New York.

This is Michael Olesker's nostalgic reminiscence of 1958, the year the Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants in sudden-death overtime in a game that still grips the emotions of Baltimoreans. Olesker recaptures the city's love affair with the Colts in a series of thoughtful and colorful stories that give voice to such notable characters...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801890624
• ISBN13: 9780801890628
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.1" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

A story of a city and a game

This is a story about the '58 NFL championship but it is also a story about the City of Baltimore. The author does a good job of weaving the two and both stories are delivered with great effect.

Great Book

The Colts' Baltimore: A City and Its Love Affair in the 1950sI grew up in Baltimore and experienced many of the events mentioned in the book, and recognized many of the personalities. This is not just a great history of the Baltimore Colts of the 50's but also of the city at that time. I highly recommend it for football fans of any era, and especially for fans of the real Colts.

If I awarded Pulitzers for nostalgia.....

I'd give the biggest Pulitzer ever to Micheal Olesker for this book. There are other really good books about my hometown (Charles Osgood)and other good books about the Colts (Gildea & Bowden) but nothing I've read comes close to this. I have no idea if someone who wasn't a Bawlmer native in the 50's will experience this book as I did, but it was magical! I read Olesker's column most days and frankly, didn't know he had this type of work in him. I'm so glad to find out he did. The only thing missing was a cold Natty Boh while I was reading. Thank you Micheal Olesker for writing the story of "us" that I always wanted to read.