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Ten Cent Beer Night: The Complete Guide to the Riot That Helped Save Baseball in Cleveland
Dive into the uproarious chaos of "Ten Cent Beer Night" in this gripping guide! Explore the infamous June 4, 1974 clash at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium, where cheap beer - and many other factors - fueled a riot during a game between the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians. Unravel the perfect storm of '70s baseball, Watergate, Vietnam War hangovers, and streaking. This book offers a nostalgic journey into baseball's past, revealing how this riot paradoxically helped save the sport in Cleveland. Raise your stein and get in line for this unforgettable tale!
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 29, 2026
The infamous Ten-Cent Beer Night riot at a Cleveland Indians game in June, 1974 has endured in baseball—and also social—mythology on several levels. It's a piece of bonafide Americana, when the Great American Pastime met the Purge, and thousands of lives were changed for the better, the worst, or just for the hell of it.
In part, it is a complex and symbolic tale evoking the landscape in Cleveland during the mid-1970s Watergate era, when unemployment was rife, the river caught on fire, and the city itself went bankrupt, while at the same time portraying the town’s (and the team’s) resilience in persevering. Likewise, it is recalled as a comedy of errors, as in ‘whose bright idea was it to sell cheap beer to a rowdy, frustrated fan base?’ It’s also fondly (and not so much) remembered as part of many people’s personal narratives (as well as my own), such as the former Meet the Press host, Tim Russert, who when asked how much beer he drank, replied, “I went with two dollars in my pocket. You do the math.”
Although there are many sources about that glorious and catastrophic night on the Internet, to the best of my knowledge Scott Jarrett’s lively narrative, “Ten Cent Beer Night: The Complete Guide to the Riot That Helped Save Baseball in Cleveland,” is the only book-length exposition on the subject. Jarrett’s tone is perfect for the task of rendering the events of that episode in all their aspects, from the gritty to the absurd. He manages to be empathetic and sardonic at the same time. For example:
“Behind the home run fence and in front of the bleachers, the beer was flowing; fans flocked to a beer truck manned by two young college girls who at first patiently accepted the tickets and doled out beers into plastic cups – as well as any other containers given to them. Creative fans smuggled in their own alcohol and containers. Some were empty and some were not. And some would soon be empty to make room for more beer.”
In addition to Jarrett’s pitch perfect tone, the book excels at its depiction of the various characters integral to the story, from Carl Fazio, the Indians’ young marketing director tasked with energizing a downtrodden franchise, to Nestor Chylak, the straight-laced head umpire who endeavored to maintain order, even when a topless woman tried to kiss him. Many of the key figures shared their recollections and anecdotes with Jarrett. Clearly, he researched the subject from various angles.
Finally, this book comes with several value-added extras, like a Shakespearean rendition of the story to several pages of a coloring book.
Overall, this book does justice to the madness, the comedy, the angst and joy, and the explosive catharsis of that night. You don’t have to be a fan of baseball to appreciate that this was a moment in sports history that’s worth telling, and retelling.
In part, it is a complex and symbolic tale evoking the landscape in Cleveland during the mid-1970s Watergate era, when unemployment was rife, the river caught on fire, and the city itself went bankrupt, while at the same time portraying the town’s (and the team’s) resilience in persevering. Likewise, it is recalled as a comedy of errors, as in ‘whose bright idea was it to sell cheap beer to a rowdy, frustrated fan base?’ It’s also fondly (and not so much) remembered as part of many people’s personal narratives (as well as my own), such as the former Meet the Press host, Tim Russert, who when asked how much beer he drank, replied, “I went with two dollars in my pocket. You do the math.”
Although there are many sources about that glorious and catastrophic night on the Internet, to the best of my knowledge Scott Jarrett’s lively narrative, “Ten Cent Beer Night: The Complete Guide to the Riot That Helped Save Baseball in Cleveland,” is the only book-length exposition on the subject. Jarrett’s tone is perfect for the task of rendering the events of that episode in all their aspects, from the gritty to the absurd. He manages to be empathetic and sardonic at the same time. For example:
“Behind the home run fence and in front of the bleachers, the beer was flowing; fans flocked to a beer truck manned by two young college girls who at first patiently accepted the tickets and doled out beers into plastic cups – as well as any other containers given to them. Creative fans smuggled in their own alcohol and containers. Some were empty and some were not. And some would soon be empty to make room for more beer.”
In addition to Jarrett’s pitch perfect tone, the book excels at its depiction of the various characters integral to the story, from Carl Fazio, the Indians’ young marketing director tasked with energizing a downtrodden franchise, to Nestor Chylak, the straight-laced head umpire who endeavored to maintain order, even when a topless woman tried to kiss him. Many of the key figures shared their recollections and anecdotes with Jarrett. Clearly, he researched the subject from various angles.
Finally, this book comes with several value-added extras, like a Shakespearean rendition of the story to several pages of a coloring book.
Overall, this book does justice to the madness, the comedy, the angst and joy, and the explosive catharsis of that night. You don’t have to be a fan of baseball to appreciate that this was a moment in sports history that’s worth telling, and retelling.
March 23, 2025
Jarrett disguised a fascinating history about baseball in this delightful tale about one of the most iconic moments in MLB history. His sly and rye humor season his writing into an enjoyable entree that is easily digested.
I’m a baseball fan starting in September each year, so nuances of the game pass through the webbing of my glove, but that didn’t prevent me from understanding the back-office and on-field strategies Jarrett was able to adeptly and fully recount, thanks in large part to his in-depth research and interviews.
Tip: Read each footnote and the Appendix, especially the Prologue which is an ode to The Bard. You’ll be glad you did.
I’m a baseball fan starting in September each year, so nuances of the game pass through the webbing of my glove, but that didn’t prevent me from understanding the back-office and on-field strategies Jarrett was able to adeptly and fully recount, thanks in large part to his in-depth research and interviews.
Tip: Read each footnote and the Appendix, especially the Prologue which is an ode to The Bard. You’ll be glad you did.
July 4, 2024
I have not read a book by Mr Jarrett before, but I certainly will look out for his next one!
His writing combines solid research, a good sense of humor, and a love for Cleveland and the Indians/Guardians.
I did not know very much about 10 Cent Beer Night before, but thanks to the engaging storytelling I feel like I could hold my own in a Cleveland bar.
I give this a hearty 2 thumbs up - and was heading to that conclusion before discovering the fun extras in the appendix (coloring pages? A play? Bobbleheada? Yes!)
His writing combines solid research, a good sense of humor, and a love for Cleveland and the Indians/Guardians.
I did not know very much about 10 Cent Beer Night before, but thanks to the engaging storytelling I feel like I could hold my own in a Cleveland bar.
I give this a hearty 2 thumbs up - and was heading to that conclusion before discovering the fun extras in the appendix (coloring pages? A play? Bobbleheada? Yes!)
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews