Battle of the Bay: Bashing A's, Thrilling Giants, and the Earthquake World Series

by Gary Peterson, Tony La Russa (Foreword)

1989 was a season of both triumph and tragedy for the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics, still marking baseball’s only cross-Bay series. But 1989 is remembered as much for the devastating earthquake that struck moments before Game 3 of the World Series as it is for the exploits of Mark McGwire, Will Clark, and other stars. In this history, Gary Peterson combines his firsthand observations with meticulous research and new interviews with players, coaches, and broadcasters to offer a fresh perspective of that unforgettable year. From Dave Dravecky’s emotional return to the mound after cancer surgery and his gruesome injury in his next start to highlight-reel performances by Clark, McGwire, Jose Canseco, and Rickey Henderson to Dave Stewart reaching out to rescue workers after the earthquake, Battle of the Bay captures the agony and excitement that surrounded the Bay Area in the summer and fall of 1989.

Genres: Baseball, Sports

233 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2014

Reviews

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a few of these season recaps and this was really well done compared to most. The day-to-day recounting of the season was well-edited and interesting, full of little details of a season's lost moments. The recap of the actual earthquake before Game 3 was very brief, but I guess I'd consider this more a baseball book than a geology book, so that could be forgiven. Really well done by an author who was there and was able to put the Series in a proper perspective about 14 years after the events.

[Tom Gase · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book that really brings you back to the 1989 season and the earthquake that nearly ended it. If you're a Giants fan or an A's fan you'll most likely enjoy this read. Really like the intro, where the reader explains what it was like the night of the earthquake and how difficult it was to send a story before the internet, cellphones, etc. Had almost forgotten how much of a head case Jose Canseco was and had forgotten how much of a kickstart Rickey Henderson gave the team when he was reaquired in a midseason trade. Well researched and written. Good stuff all around. I guess the one thing I would have liked in order to make it a five star book was more stuff on the earthquake. Where fans scared to go back? How about some more human interest stories on how people helped. Peterson, who is a good writer, stuck with the baseball stuff a little more, which was fine. I recommend for any bay area baseball fan.

[Chris Wagnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are an A's, Giants fan, Bay Area resident this book my colleague Gary Peterson is a must read. Peterson does an excellent job bringing 1989 back to life with insight from Tony LaRussa, Roger Craig, Dennis Eckersely, Dave Stewart, Will Clark and Dave Dravecky. The book chronicles the ups and downs of Major League Baseball in the Bay Area up to that season and chronicles one of the most dominating performances World Series history. And of course there's the matter of the Earthquake between before Game 3 that shift the focus to real life. The book chronicles how the A's and Giants help bring the Bay Area back together after the devastation. I would highly recommend it.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I lived through the earthquake and following the A's during this time, I thought it was very interesting. To enjoy the book, though, you have to be a pretty big baseball fan. Lots of details about the whole season leading up to the World Series and very balanced between A's and Giants. I mostly enjoyed all the other stuff beyond the facts and figures of baseball in terms of other stuff going on in sports and the world and off the field.

[Vernon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed book about both the A's and Giants during the 1989 season. It could be a little too detailed at times when it comes to recounting what feels like almost every game played during the year, but that's also how baseball is setup. It's a long year with lots of twists and turns and this book conveys everything from before spring training until beyond the last out of the 1989 World Series and nothing more can really be asked for.

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as it covered much more than just the earthquake or the World Series. Balanced account of both teams that season. Full review can be found here:

http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...

[Bill Freil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This is a great book with great writing. It was two exciting teams with great lineups. This is the first year that I followed baseball