The Year The Mets Lost Last Place

by Paul D. Zimmerman, Dick Schaap

For those who haven't kept up on their weekly news magazine reading, Maddick is the imprimatur of ""Schaap's shop"" where ""transcriptions are backed up like 707's at J.F.K."" The Namath book is the first and this is the second of many taped mss. to come and this one deals with nine games (beginning July 8th, 1969) when the meteoric Mets not only lost last place but showed signs of winning the pennant. In minute by minute, or ten to fifteen intervals, you'll not only follow the games but determine who eats breakfast where or what color socks superstar Seaver wears. According to Schaap's instant formula for these instant books there is the instant comment which makes them Jerry Koosman can be overheard saying ""I perspire more than the normal guy"" or Leo lipping a sullen ""Go love yourself."" Or Mrs. Babe Ruth echoing that national sentiment--""I think they're adorable.
- Kirkus

Genres: Sports, Baseball, Nonfiction

223 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

Reviews

[Daniel Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MUST read for all baseball fans, and a must-read twice for Mets fans. Excellent!

[Peter Conway · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a fun look at a 9 game stretch in the middle of July '69 that helped define the new New York Mets.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I've ever seen this pop up on lists of excellent baseball books, but it's much better than many books that are always on those lists. Written in a light journalistic style. It's a game by game account of a few weeks in the middle of the 1969 season, the year the Mets won the World Series. A must for Mets fans. Also: co-author Zimmerman was a writer for early Sesame Street, wrote a book about the Marx Brothers, and co-wrote King of Comedy!

[Michael Friedland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that The Year the Mets Lost Last Place was a very good book. The book provided many examples of intensity and excitement. I was very surprised when the Mets won the World Series because they were very bad before the start of this year. Even though I am a Yankees fan I absolutely loved this book.

[Sarah]

A clever, witty, and light-hearted depiction of a pivotal 9-game stretch in the Mets' 1969 season. This is one of the better baseball books I've read.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the writing style and pace, you really felt like you were in the ballpark.

[Ronald · Rating 2 out of 5]

read during fall 1969