Black and Blue: Sandy Koufax, the Robinson Boys, and the World Series That Stunned America

by Tom Adelman

Baltimore 1966. Suffering through a summer of heated racial animosity, baseball fans look hungrily to the Orioles to bring new respect to their once-great city. Their young team of no-name kids and promising prospects appears to have been strengthened by the recent addition of veteran slugger Frank Robinson - but the former National League MVP is bad news (it is rumored), washed up and unreliable. To lay these rumors to rest, Robby must play harder than he's ever played before. In his first year in the league, against unfamiliar pitchers in new ballparks, he resoundingly proves his worth -- to his city, his team, and himself -- by delivering a Triple Crown performance. Aided by a hilarious and memorable cast of characters -- the gentlemanly southerner Brooks Robinson and the wickedly inventive prankster Moe Drabowsky, a pitching staff of unknown kids like Jim Palmer and Dave McNally, and a gargantuan yet nimble fielder called Boog" -- Frank Robinson delivers his new team to its first World Series. But before they take it all, the Orioles must unseat the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers. With America's cities in mounting turmoil, Los Angeles seems like another world altogether, a sunny land of surfers and movie stars. Comfortably dwelling in this higher plane is pitching ace Sandy Koufax, arguably the greatest lefthander in baseball history, behind whom the Dodgers have won two of the previous three World Series, replacing the Yankees as the sport's dominant team. Though battling agonizing arthritis throughout the season, the godlike Koufax has nonetheless persevered to win twenty-seven games in 1966, a personal best. Few outside Baltimore give the Orioles more than a fighting chance against such series veterans as Koufax, Don Drysdale, Maury Wills, Tommy Davis, and the rest. Experts are betting that the Dodgers can sweep it in four. "What transpires instead astonishes the nation, as the greatest pitching performance in World Series history is capped by a redemption beyond imagining." -- Book Jacket

Genres: Sports, Baseball

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 1966 World Series was supposed to be a one-sided affair. Representing the National League were the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, led by the greatest pitcher in the game at that time, Sandy Koufax. With another Hall of Fame pitcher in Don Drysdale, plus other capable arms like Claude Osteen, the Dodgers were picked to easily dispose of the American League champion Baltimore Orioles. Even though the Orioles were led by Triple Crown winner Frank Robinson and a young pitching staff led by Dave McNally and Jim Palmer, they were supposedly no match for the mighty Dodgers. How that World Series played out and very good information on both teams is captured in this very good book by Tom Adelman.

The format of the book is very simple. There are six chapters in the book, plus an epilogue. The six chapters represent both teams and each game played in the series – a sweep by the Orioles, hence the subtitle of book. Aside from the most ardent Baltimore fans, there were not many who thought the Orioles would even win a game, much less the series. While Adelman’s writing is very fair and impartial throughout the book, which was a terrific characteristic, it was clear to the reader that the Dodgers were the heavy favorites.

The two star players for the teams that year, Robinson for the Orioles and Koufax for the Dodgers, are the two players featured most prominently in the book, but that doesn’t mean that others, especially Orioles players who performed well in the series, are overlooked. One very good example is Moe Drabowsky, the Orioles reliever who pitched 6 2/3 innings in game 2, striking out 11 Dodgers along the way. Another Orioles pitcher who has a nice write up in the book is Dave McNally, who was the winning pitcher in the clinching game 4. As for other Dodger players who are mentioned prominently in the book, they include Drysdale, Maury Wills and Willie Davis, the latter of whom suffered an inglorious fate when committing three errors in one inning during game 2.

While other books on the two teams, especially the Dodgers, may go more in depth about some of the players, this book is a very good synopsis of the two teams, their respective cities at the time and excellent accounts of all four games, especially in the discussions about the lack of offense by the Dodgers. Readers who are fans of either team or of the game in the 1960’s will enjoy reading about one of the most stunning World Series in the history of Major League Baseball.

https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some tidbits to read about the 1966 World Series; the author does not point it out, but the main interest to me is the contrast in attitudes in the game between then and now. Also some very limited comments on contemporary social conditions.

[Richard K. Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Really Good Read About the 1966 World Series

This book brought back many memories as a 14 year old who collected baseball cards and loved baseball. The GREAT players who are mentioned and played in this era are truly Hall of Fame players from the golden era of the game. I can still remember the shock of the Dodgers losing this Series, even though I was an American League fan. Then the sudden retirement of Sandy Koufax! If you are a fan of baseball and want a good recollection of the stars that played in the era of the 50's and 60's plus a great remembrance of a shocking World Series you will enjoy this book.

[Mike Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting Read

A very readable book about a very interesting season in MLB; and great narrative of the behind the scenes storyline between the Orioles and Dodgers. Also a very interesting take on how a young, sore armed Orioles staff set records in sweeping the Dodgers. A great book for avid MLB fans. Nice work.

[James Doughty · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absorbing read

A richly detailed account of a World Series that has been largely forgotten in comparison to other memorable series of the time period. These four games defined the deterioration of the majestic Dodgers and the arrival of the ascendant Orioles, and Adelman provides a great deal related information and anecdotes. Very well written.

[harvey l kaminski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was it outstanding book. Very well written
And researched. I was very familiar with this World Series. Yet the author surprised me so many facts and interesting stories that I never had heard.
An unexpected gem that I highly recommend.

[Eric Aubin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good baseball book.