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Metropolitans: New York Baseball, Class Struggle, and the People's Team
A wide-reaching, revolutionary narrative history of the Team of Destiny (da Mets, for anyone not keeping score), that takes us from their 19th century inception to their 1962 resurrection to the present day.
A love letter to a franchise and a thrilling study of New York City history, Metropolitans brilliantly shows us that sports have long been a site of political struggle, rousing class consciousness, and animating fights for racial equality. From purportedly calming riots in ’69 through the quality of their play to producing some of the greatest chokes in sporting history, from integration to desperate labor struggle against millionaire and billionaire franchise owners, Metropolitans makes a deeply humane and convincing argument for the fascinating singularity of the New York Mets—and why it should be not just the team of the counterculture, the freaks, and the losers, but anyone with a beating heart.
Gittlitz leads us through baseball’s amateur beginnings to the Mets’ first heady World Series on the heels of the Civil Rights and anti-war movements that many Mets players participated in to the bad boy years, the exploitative development of farm academies in developing nations, and their inglorious purchase by a new breed of capitalist—even after which they remained lovable losers.
But this is a book not only for Mets fans, or New York partisans, but anyone interested in the Mobius strip dynamic of sports and politics, the history of the national game, or the beautiful contradiction of baseball a middle-class game owned by billionaires, in which the players—like the spectators—look to traverse the diamond and ultimately safely escape its many dangers.
A love letter to a franchise and a thrilling study of New York City history, Metropolitans brilliantly shows us that sports have long been a site of political struggle, rousing class consciousness, and animating fights for racial equality. From purportedly calming riots in ’69 through the quality of their play to producing some of the greatest chokes in sporting history, from integration to desperate labor struggle against millionaire and billionaire franchise owners, Metropolitans makes a deeply humane and convincing argument for the fascinating singularity of the New York Mets—and why it should be not just the team of the counterculture, the freaks, and the losers, but anyone with a beating heart.
Gittlitz leads us through baseball’s amateur beginnings to the Mets’ first heady World Series on the heels of the Civil Rights and anti-war movements that many Mets players participated in to the bad boy years, the exploitative development of farm academies in developing nations, and their inglorious purchase by a new breed of capitalist—even after which they remained lovable losers.
But this is a book not only for Mets fans, or New York partisans, but anyone interested in the Mobius strip dynamic of sports and politics, the history of the national game, or the beautiful contradiction of baseball a middle-class game owned by billionaires, in which the players—like the spectators—look to traverse the diamond and ultimately safely escape its many dangers.
496 pages, Hardcover
Published March 31, 2026
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632 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When the New York Mets started play in 1962, they were not the first New York baseball team to have the team nickname of “Metropolitans” (not the official name, but many will call them that) nor were they the first team that captured the hearts of many of those in the middle class over the “richer” teams like the Yankees. This book by A.M. Gittlitz captures that connection between those citizens and the baseball team.
The book’s strengths are Gittlitz’s research and the passion for which he writes about the subject, whether it is baseball and the Mets or about the working class and the struggles they have with the political landscape, among many other things. I felt the writing and description of the early Metropolitans and the battles that players had to either form a union or field competing baseball leagues to go up against the National League in the late 19th century was the best aspect of the book.
He also does an excellent job of showing how the Mets of the 1960’s, capping it off with their 1969 championship, resonated with people who may not have cared one bit about baseball but showed how those who have been down for so long can still be successful. He goes deep into that topic as well as the other Mets teams, especially the 2000 team that lost the World Series to the Yankees. They too had connections with the middle class according to Gittlitz.
Where the book was a bit of a downer while reading it was the addition of much political commentary. This isn’t to say that I am one who says politics and sports don’t mix – they indeed do. It isn’t also because I want to insert my own political opinions while reading or writing this review because it doesn’t matter – what matters is how Gittlitz writes about his views and they come across as strong, consistent and passionate. I was only surprised at how much of the book discussed political issues without talking at all about the baseball connection. Nearly every sports book about a particular team, player or era will at least give a few sentences to the social and political climate at the time – this one goes well beyond that. And to the author’s credit, he does a very good job of laying out his beliefs and why he feels that way.
Overall, while I was surprised at the level of detail and how well connected the author put the Mets with the working class, it was quite an interesting book to read and one that is recommended not only for Mets and baseball fans, but also for readers who wish to read about politics and class struggles as well.
I wish to thank Astra Publishing House for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
The book’s strengths are Gittlitz’s research and the passion for which he writes about the subject, whether it is baseball and the Mets or about the working class and the struggles they have with the political landscape, among many other things. I felt the writing and description of the early Metropolitans and the battles that players had to either form a union or field competing baseball leagues to go up against the National League in the late 19th century was the best aspect of the book.
He also does an excellent job of showing how the Mets of the 1960’s, capping it off with their 1969 championship, resonated with people who may not have cared one bit about baseball but showed how those who have been down for so long can still be successful. He goes deep into that topic as well as the other Mets teams, especially the 2000 team that lost the World Series to the Yankees. They too had connections with the middle class according to Gittlitz.
Where the book was a bit of a downer while reading it was the addition of much political commentary. This isn’t to say that I am one who says politics and sports don’t mix – they indeed do. It isn’t also because I want to insert my own political opinions while reading or writing this review because it doesn’t matter – what matters is how Gittlitz writes about his views and they come across as strong, consistent and passionate. I was only surprised at how much of the book discussed political issues without talking at all about the baseball connection. Nearly every sports book about a particular team, player or era will at least give a few sentences to the social and political climate at the time – this one goes well beyond that. And to the author’s credit, he does a very good job of laying out his beliefs and why he feels that way.
Overall, while I was surprised at the level of detail and how well connected the author put the Mets with the working class, it was quite an interesting book to read and one that is recommended not only for Mets and baseball fans, but also for readers who wish to read about politics and class struggles as well.
I wish to thank Astra Publishing House for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Metropolitans
A.M. Gittlitz
Advanced Reader Copy from Net Galley. Thanks, Astra House.
New York City. City of amazing baseball lore, magnificent wins, and tragic, heart wrenching losses. This book tells the story of baseball’s beginnings with the Metropolitans and Gothams of the 19th century, the emergence of the New York Giants, Christy Mathewson and John McGraw, on to the New York Yankees with Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio, the Brooklyn Dodgers with Gil Hodges and Jackie Robinson, and finally the re-emergence of the New York Mets with Tom Seaver, Darryl Strawberry, Doc Gooden, Mike Piazza, Francisco Lindor, and finally Juan Soto.
This story is captivating and from the beginning is fraught with peril. The ins and outs of ownership struggles, new and dying franchises, cross country moves, wealth and greed, unfair labor practices, racial tension and bigotry all amidst a backdrop of political tension, social uprising, even upheaval at times give a unique perspective to the development of America’s pastime.
Gittlitz does a great job of weaving the story of baseball into the story of America and the tumultuous 20th century. The world wars, the Great Depression, Vietnam, the Civil Rights Movement, and the class and race struggles that defined much of the early 21st century in America all had direct impacts on Major League Baseball. This story is focused on the Mets, but the overarching themes give credence to the story of all major league franchises navigating the world and cities which they inhabit. The fan bases linking arms and loving their teams even though, in the end, it almost always ends in heartbreak.
This book is a well researched and thought provoking look at a city that loves its baseball. This city has found two distinct groups of fans to support their Yankees or their Mets. There is no in between and no love lost between the two franchises and fan bases. I learned a lot in this book and recommend it to New York baseball fans and really any baseball fans. It’s a unique blend of history, both social and political, and the baseball that took place along the way.
A.M. Gittlitz
Advanced Reader Copy from Net Galley. Thanks, Astra House.
New York City. City of amazing baseball lore, magnificent wins, and tragic, heart wrenching losses. This book tells the story of baseball’s beginnings with the Metropolitans and Gothams of the 19th century, the emergence of the New York Giants, Christy Mathewson and John McGraw, on to the New York Yankees with Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio, the Brooklyn Dodgers with Gil Hodges and Jackie Robinson, and finally the re-emergence of the New York Mets with Tom Seaver, Darryl Strawberry, Doc Gooden, Mike Piazza, Francisco Lindor, and finally Juan Soto.
This story is captivating and from the beginning is fraught with peril. The ins and outs of ownership struggles, new and dying franchises, cross country moves, wealth and greed, unfair labor practices, racial tension and bigotry all amidst a backdrop of political tension, social uprising, even upheaval at times give a unique perspective to the development of America’s pastime.
Gittlitz does a great job of weaving the story of baseball into the story of America and the tumultuous 20th century. The world wars, the Great Depression, Vietnam, the Civil Rights Movement, and the class and race struggles that defined much of the early 21st century in America all had direct impacts on Major League Baseball. This story is focused on the Mets, but the overarching themes give credence to the story of all major league franchises navigating the world and cities which they inhabit. The fan bases linking arms and loving their teams even though, in the end, it almost always ends in heartbreak.
This book is a well researched and thought provoking look at a city that loves its baseball. This city has found two distinct groups of fans to support their Yankees or their Mets. There is no in between and no love lost between the two franchises and fan bases. I learned a lot in this book and recommend it to New York baseball fans and really any baseball fans. It’s a unique blend of history, both social and political, and the baseball that took place along the way.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"From this communal vantage, the abstractions of statistics and standings are confronted by the reality of what we are really seeing--not a game between two opposing teams, but a common human struggle, within and against the economic, legalistic, and mechanical structure of the game itself, and its role as opiate for the physical and existential pain of wage labor."
Truly amazing read. A detailed history of the Mets, from a Marxist historical analysis perspective, written by a true fan of the orange and blue. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the origins of America's favorite pastime and the few highs and many lows of the New York Mets, as those peaks and valleys coincided with various class, civil rights, and labor struggles in American history. The Mets' perennial struggles reflect the near constant belittling of the working class in this country. Even now, the Mets maintain their status as "The People's Team" despite having the highest (or one of the highest) payrolls in the MLB. It was simultaneously heartening and disheartening to watch the players fight for their rights as laborers, only for capital (the MLB, the team owners, the government) to drive a wedge between them and the rest of the country's working people. Just a fascinating book overall. Loved it. A great message for baseball fans and everyone else working and living paycheck to paycheck alike. As Francisco Lindor said after the 2024 NLCS loss: "You have to build. You have to fight for each other. You have to create that bond and that trust. And like I said, fight for each other."
Netgalley and Astra Publishing House provided me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Truly amazing read. A detailed history of the Mets, from a Marxist historical analysis perspective, written by a true fan of the orange and blue. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the origins of America's favorite pastime and the few highs and many lows of the New York Mets, as those peaks and valleys coincided with various class, civil rights, and labor struggles in American history. The Mets' perennial struggles reflect the near constant belittling of the working class in this country. Even now, the Mets maintain their status as "The People's Team" despite having the highest (or one of the highest) payrolls in the MLB. It was simultaneously heartening and disheartening to watch the players fight for their rights as laborers, only for capital (the MLB, the team owners, the government) to drive a wedge between them and the rest of the country's working people. Just a fascinating book overall. Loved it. A great message for baseball fans and everyone else working and living paycheck to paycheck alike. As Francisco Lindor said after the 2024 NLCS loss: "You have to build. You have to fight for each other. You have to create that bond and that trust. And like I said, fight for each other."
Netgalley and Astra Publishing House provided me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Not your typical sports book. Be prepared to see some of your Mets faves in a whole new light, for better or worse. Thanks to the publisher for my ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
an absolute humdinger, hoo-ah
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews