Game 7, 1986 - Failure and Triumph in the Biggest Game of My Life - Autographed Signed Copy

by Ron Darling

Every little kid who's ever taken the mound in Little League dreams of someday getting the ball for Game Seven of the World Series. Ron Darling got to live that dream - only it didn't go exactly as planned. In Game 7, 1986, the award-winning baseball analyst looks back at what might have been a signature moment in his career, and reflects on the ways professional athletes must sometimes shoulder a personal disappointment as their teams find a way to win. Published to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the 1986 New York Mets championship season, Darling's book will break down one of baseball's great "forgotten" games - a game that stands as a thrilling, telling, and tantalizing exclamation point to one of the best-remembered seasons in Major League Baseball history. Working once again with New York Times best-selling collaborator Daniel Paisner, who teamed with the former All-Star pitcher on his acclaimed 2009 memoir, "The Complete Game," Darling offers a book for the thinking baseball fan, a chance to reflect on what it means to compete at the game's highest level, with everything on the line.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Autobiography, New York

Hardcover

First published April 5, 2016

About the author

Ron Darling is an Emmy Award-winning baseball analyst for TBS, the MLB Network, SNY, and WPIX-TV, and author of Game 7, 1986 and The Complete Game. He was a starting pitcher for the New York Mets from 1983 to 1991 and the first Mets pitcher to be awarded a Gold Glove.

Reviews

[Robert Greenberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find Ron Darling an excellent analyst and commentator on SNY's Mets broadcasts. As a result, I somewhat surprised at how slight this book felt. Considering he lasted less than 4 innings in Game 7 of the 19867 World Series, her really limited his scope, which is a shame. Had he and coauthor Dan Paisner (an old pal) widened it to encompass Darling's whole 1986 season, taking us from Openign Day through the playoffs and World Series, we might have gained a greater understanding of the mess his head was in when he took the mound.

Ever the gentleman, Darling sometimes skirts the controversial issues that clouded the team's ascendance that year nor does he delve deeply into his relationships with manager Davey Johnson and pitching coach Mel Stottlemeyer.

What's here is good and entertaining, but it felt too insubstantial to make me a happy reader.

[Joy D · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title accurately describes the content – this is a book about Ron Darling’s personal experience of Game 7 of the 1986 World Series. He was the starting pitcher for the Mets against the Red Sox in the deciding game. The “failure” has to do with giving up three earned runs and six hits in three and two-thirds innings. The triumph has to do with the overall outcome. Darling writes in a straightforward, colloquial, and lively manner. He inserts side stories about teammates and his family, and these stories are often humorous.

Darling vividly describes the pressures he felt at the time. In my opinion, he is overly hard on himself, but I am sure many athletes are so competitive that even performances some of us (fans) might think are not that bad, the person in question feels is much worse, especially with the weight of the “world” on his shoulders. Darling provides great insight into the psychological aspects of both pitching and the game of baseball in general. Though the Mets are not “my team,” I enjoyed it immensely and recommend it to baseball fans of any team.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about more than just baseball. I never played it, personally, and certainly have never experienced such a do-or-die situation as being the starting pitcher in Game 7 of the World Series, yet I understood every emotion Ron discussed. It truly isn't every day that you read a memoir entirely focused on what the author believes was basically the biggest failure of his entire career. I valued it for that unique perspective.

The 1986 Mets team has reached mythical epic proportions in the minds of most fans (confession: my father has been telling me stories about the Wonders of the 1986 Team since I was old enough to listen- I was two when they won, and am always reminded of how I was asleep at the time of victory) so to have Ron write a book taking us through Game 7's craziness- from rain delays to fans on the field- and explain how even thirty years later he still is coming to terms with that fact that though the team ultimately won the World Series, it was despite his performance, not because of it, means a lot.

It is so easy to identify with psyching yourself out in a big moment, feeling the pressure, and coping with less-than-stellar results no matter what field you are in. I loved Ron before reading this, because like most Mets fans I listen to him do a tremendous job calling the current games with Gary and Keith, but I love him more now for sharing this. It is easy to talk about the glories and bask in the triumphs, but to open up about how you felt you failed your team? That was compelling, and it was palpable how much he cared. So, thank you Mr. Darling, for telling this story.

[Pierce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting to get in Darling's head during such a pivotal game but his own lack of confidence in himself as a player kind of comes through in his writing and worldview.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unique in that it’s written from the perspective of failure rather than triumph. The Mets won Game 7 and thus the World Series in 1986 but as the starter of that game, Ron Darling had a terrible outing that dug a huge hole for his team to scrape and claw out of from. Despite winning the game, the series, and being part of a team that’s considered one of the best in MLB history, Darling has carried the weight of his dismal start with him for over thirty years. This book is an exorcism, of sorts. Now a broadcaster, one of the best pitching analysts in the game, Darling digs out and watches the footage of that game for the first time ever, dissecting it from his analysts perspective while also using it to jog his memories. It’s a fascinating, if somewhat repetitive read as Darling really does get bogged down again, reliving those emotions. He also takes time to single out his teammates across the innings for either high praise (Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, Kevin Elster) or earned opprobrium (Darryl Strawberry). As a Mets fan, this is a must and for people fascinated by pitchers (their psychological make-up, their pitch selection, the grind of the game, etc.).

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A birthday gift from my son who listened to my stories of the 86 season from the time he was in utero but became a Yankees fan anyway. It spoke to me on so many levels not the least of which was because I happened to be in the upper deck of Shea stadium on that magical evening. The retelling of Darling's journey has the advantage of a 30 year perspective bookended by his blue collar upbringing and Yale education and his later star turn as a thinking fan's baseball analyst. It is a much more compelling read than if he had written it the following year as was so often the case in those days. Wise, witty, self deprecating and insightful. A love letter to the 86 season I was so fortunate to help commemorate from much better seats at citifield in May.

[Joe DiLeo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Analysis From a Great Analyst

Ron Darling currently has a reputation as being one of the most thought-provoking and insightful color commentators in baseball and he shows why here. Terrific insight into what was going on inside the head and around the world of a professional athlete before the biggest moment of his career mixed with the benefit of hindsight make Darling's latest literary effort a must-read for Mets fans, obviously, but all baseball fans looking to be dropped into the circus-like atmosphere of a championship game off the field as well as dealing with struggling during that moment as it happens. Great book.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Darling unburdens himself with his 1986 World Series Game 7 performance, pitch by pitch.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

quite good exploration of one game, The Game, in the life of an MLB pitcher. one thing that annoyed me was the swearing but i'm prudish that way.

[Ken Heard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really, I'd drop this down to a 3.5 rating, but being reminded of that 1986 World Series was worth half a star.

I quit a newspaper job the day Mookie Wilson hit that 10th inning dribbler for the Mets to send it to Game 7 and the subsequent rain out let me be able to watch Game 7. Yes, Darling had a bad three innings in that game. But the Mets came back, maybe bolstered by the Red Sox curse of so many years, and won Game 7. For Darling to be able to write an entire book based on a subpar 3.6 innings of work is something in itself. I'm not sure what, but it is something.

I did like the strategy bits he included. For example, why the manager would leave a pitcher in to bat when many would think a pinch hitter was more deserved. Also, he wrote about Gary Carter bunting to start an inning and defended it when most would think that was a dumb play.

I also liked his inclusion of bits of that 1986 season. Fans have read more accounts of that with Doc Gooden's biography and the great Mets' book "The Bad Guys Won" by Jeff Pearlman. Darling's insights were good, although I had wished there were more looks at the season.

Overall, this is a decent book for hardcore baseball fans looking for a bit of history and behind the scenes look at strategies, but it's not one for anyone looking for an overall look at a Game 7 of the World Series.

[Jason Oliver · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to give this a 3.5 I haven't seen many sports books on here so I don't know if anyone will be interested but I love baseball.

Spoiler alert: Mets won the World Series in 1986. ooops did I ruin it?

Ron Darling was the starting pitcher of game 7 (final game) of the 86' World Series against the Boston Red Sox. This is the year of the ball between Buckners legs in game 6 to allow the Mets to win and force a game 7.

This books is unique as far as sports books go. This is not about Darlings triumphs and greatness. This is about the biggest failure of his career along side the greatest triumph. He blew game 7. Horrible pitching and put his team down 3-0 early in the game, but his team came back and won. This is his struggles with failing and succeeding all at the same time and trying to figure out if he earned the success since he failed on the biggest stage. Very interesting but the writing is as most sports books are: subpar. But I loved the story, especially from many years later as a sportscaster looking back. I also appreciate he does not go into much detail about the drugs and negative aspects of the 86 Mets. He touche on it, but stays focused on this one game. It was a good read.

[Hillsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a tremendously passionate Mets fan back in 1986. I had started a few years earlier, learning by listening to games on the radio with my father. By the time I started high school in 1984, I was pretty good at reading box scores and memorizing stats. I was from Queens and spent bus rides to school talking trash to my hapless Yankee fan friend. Yanks sucked then. I cut school to go to the parade and it was so worth it.

So when I found out Ron Darling would be signing books at my local Barnes & Noble, I was there. Ronnie wasn't my favorite Met, but he was a full member of that team and that '86 season was a team effort. The book was a little too much of a self-flagellation. Ronnie acts like he disrupted someone's marriage or is guilty of medical malpractice. He forgets that he contributed victories that counted towards an amazing season. And that we WON. It is a team sport. Sometimes you carry the team on your back, sometimes they carry you. No one is perfect and nothing is promised.

This book took me back to some good memories so I am just sorry that Ronnie had such hard feelings to work through all these years.

[Chris Brocks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was nothing short of phenomenal as Ron Darling shares his story on what he thinks should be the high point of his baseball career. Little do baseball fans know is that this day is on that Darling doesn't dream fondly of, even though he became a World Series Champion. Ron was unbelievable as he gave a pitch by pitch detail of every batter he faced and how some of the Red Sox he faced were his childhood hero's, being from Massachusetts. Darling reveals he has mixed feelings of Game 7 in the 1986 World Series as he is disappointed in himself as he pitched 3.2 innings and allowing 3 runs. On the other hand he is of course gracious as his team picked him up by coming back and picking up the 2nd World Series championship in the Mets history. This great story shows how athletes may not find joy in winning if they felt they couldn't do their best. I recommend this book to not only Mets fans but any baseball fan to get a different prospective on the game.

[Chuck Neumann · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started reading this book I assumed it was about Ron Darling's excellent performance in Game 7 of the 1986 World Series. I was wrong, he pitched poorly and was taken out in the 4th inning. It was about a failure on his part, even though his team did win the game and the series. Darling still seems haunted by his "failure", thirty years later. While the book is well written and an enjoyable read, Ron's constant bemoaning his performance seems rather harsh. He had a great World Series, coming in to game seven he had pitched 14 innings with no earned runs given up. Even counting game 7, he still had a great series. He gives interesting insights into how he prepared for the game, his teammates on the New York Mets and the coaching staff and the other team, the Boston Red Sox. His 1986 season, and the rest of his career is discussed only briefly. A good book, but I hope Ron gets over his "failure" soon.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a book I'd recommend to someone who isn't a sports fan. Ron Darling was one of my favorite players on the '86 and '88 Mets and in this book, I thought he did a pretty admirable job of putting us back on the field for the (underrated) game 7 of the 1986 World Series.

While I appreciated Darling going to great lengths to write a book about a bad performance, I'm not sure by the end of reading the book that he learned anything from that day's "failure."

It's a tough balance to remain humble, blame yourself, blame the other players and make excuses for why the game didn't go the right way. Despite some flaws, I really enjoyed the re-telling of the game that people forget happened... there's no Bill Buckner error here.

For it's brevity and its attention to (baseball) detail. I'd recommend this one to a Mets fan for sure.

[Mark Luongo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting account of one player's magical, and almost disastrous, moment in a 7th and deciding game of the World Series.
"RJ" beats himself at times for his poor start in that game that left the Mets with an uphill climb. But despite his "failure" it was his teammates who managed to pick him up and bring about the "expected" result. He does touch on the regret that the team wasn't able to follow up their success. But as he notes, for that one summer/season they were "invincible" and that will forever bind them together.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darling gives a good account of what can go through a pitcher's mind when he's about to start the biggest game of his career. He also doesn't flinch away from the fact that this was a terrible outing for him, so you get an honest look into the moment, right down to pitch-by-pitch. A great insight.

[Oliver Stern · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book! As a Mets fan myself, Ron Darling has always been a legend, but I never knew his story. Soon, I learned through 200 pages that theres a different side to his legacy. The truth. He happened that night. The beggining was very fast paced, and then towards the middle it got really slow and wasnt that detailed or well written. Other than that, i give this book 4 out 5 stars!

[Jake Chavez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for any Mets fan. It has sort of a 'For The Love of The Game' feel to it. Ronnie will dive into side stories between innings in recapping game 7 of the World Series.

I thought it was great for him to document one of his lousier games. Shows that not all performances have to be great in order to be a story book ending.

[Peter Conway · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's strange, I love Ron Darling, I l loved him as a player, although he could be frustrating as hell, and I really love him as an announcer, I think he is the best analyst in the game right now. But that said, I have now read two of his books and they both fell a little flat for me. I did find parts of this one quite interesting, but overall it was just okay for me.

[Jen McGovern · Rating 3 out of 5]

How could you not like a book about the Mets? Light reading for a tough work week. A bit too detailed on the pitch by pitch account of game 6 (and I would have enjoyed a box score printed in this book!) but gave me good perspective on the mind of an athlete during a big game

[Aldon Rachele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book but I'm a New York Yankees fan! Go Go Go Go Yankees! TheMets are ok!

Why not! I like the Utah jazz, Utes plus everyone but byu! Go go go jazz and Utes
PlusWeber state!

[Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may sound very biased because I'm a die hard Mets fan win or lose, but this book was really good and well written by Ron Darling and Daniel Paisner. I love how the main focus is Game 7 of the 1986 World Series but he does wonder off quite a bit and it's so good! Let's Go Mets!

[Alex Pfeffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting sports biography in that it takes the microcosm of a single game and blows it up into a few hundred pages (also weaves in some other material as well). Well written and engaging for me, but not sure it would be great for non-Mets fans

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not finish.

Not particularly compelling reading.

A bit repetitive.

Renewed it until I ran out of time at the library.

Will probably not try it again.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read and enjoyable for baseball fans. I am a long time Mets fan so most of this I knew but I did learn about a few things. Plus, for me, Ron is my favorite baseball commentator. Worth the read.

[Tim Hanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love Ron as a broadcaster but there are definitely better books about the 86 Mets out there.

[David Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quintessential book on the 1986 amazing mets championship run. The book typifies the highlights, and obstacles in winning on the biggest stage in the largest city.

[Paul Geoghegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a Met Fan, so the book has a happy ending.

[Kelly Bay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. Loved reading about the "game within the game" and his observations about baseball and life.